Scott Wiener Wants Dogwalkers to Pay to Use Parks

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Man's best friends, unless that man is Supervisor Scott Wiener

​Last month Supervisor Scott Wiener launched his campaign against San Francisco's nudists and their chorus of exposed cocks. Now he's turned his attention to (naked) man's best friend. The supervisor says he will introduce legislation today cracking down on commercial dog walkers in the city.

If passed, the legislation would mean that dog walkers who use city parks to walk their gang of pups would now have to pay a business licensing fee as well as get permitted by the city. They would also have to get training and prove that their vehicles are safe and equip for carrying multiple dogs across the city.

Oh, and they won't be able to walk more than seven dogs at a time, according to Wiener.

"Commercial dogwalkers provide a critical service to the many San Franciscans with dogs," Wiener says. "This service must be carried out in a professional manner that respects city property and the other users of that property. There are many responsible and professional dogwalkers in San Francisco, and we need to ensure that the few irresponsible dogwalkers don't give the many good ones a bad name."

Wiener says he has worked with all the right people to get this legislation right, including dog walkers themselves. According to Angela Gardener of San Francisco Professional Dogwalkers Association:

"For the many professional dogwalkers who are well-trained, who know how to care for dogs, and who respect the city property they use, this legislation will legitimate them and will require dogwalkers who lack training or skills to get training," she said in a statement released through Wiener's office. "It will also provide firm standards to ensure that all of us in the industry operate under the same rules."

And no, Wiener doesn't own a dog.

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