Posts in Dogs
Taking on China's Dog Meat Trade

By Joel P. Engardio -- “There is no humane way to eat a dog because the dog is our best friend – and that is not just a western slogan,” animal rights activist Andrea Gung said to counter the claim she is imposing her value system on people who live in China. “The dog has always been associated with the word ‘loyal’ in Chinese culture.”

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DogsJoel Engardio
A Coyote Whisperer for Urban Coyotes

By Joel P. Engardio -- For seven years, 64-year-old Janet Kessler has been voluntarily observing and photographing urban coyote behavior throughout San Francisco’s parks. She regularly logs six hours a day, taking up to 600 pictures. “People think coyotes are vermin, dangerous or the big bad wolf,” Kessler said. “But they’re wonderful animals we can live with if we treat them with respect and take the right precautions.”

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Are Families Going Extinct in San Francisco?

By Joel P. Engardio -- By evolutionary standards, San Francisco should be headed for extinction. We have fewer children than any major American city. More dogs than kids live here. It's not that we aren't making babies. The first generation of Google and Facebook engineers are 30-somethings and starting families. Lots of gay couples are having children. The problem is many parents flee San Francisco when their kids reach ages four or five.

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Dogs, Education, HousingJoel Engardio
Dogs Gone Wild?

By Joel P. Engardio -- We love dogs in San Francisco. About 150,000 live here, which means we have more canines residing in The City than kids. But in finding park space for all those dogs to play, there's an escalating debate: Are they our best friends or dogs gone wild?

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DogsJoel Engardio