San Diego has quietly stopped giving out tickets to people with off-leash dogs that have been pooping on and digging holes in school fields since the pandemic, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Off-leash citations were the city's main way of keeping cavorting canines from fouling local parks and fields.

Driving the news: But city budget cuts aimed at cutting San Diego's deficit mean officers stopped patrolling and writing tickets this summer, Parks and Recreation Department spokesperson Benny Cartwright confirmed to Axios.

Catch up quick: The city contracts with the Humane Society to run animal shelters and enforce leash laws. That included sending officers on patrols to off-leash hot spots.

• The program started in 2021 after schools were closed during COVID and people got used to letting their dogs run free at fenced-in school fields.
• Dogs then did what dogs doo-doo.

When schools reopened, kids were stepping in dog poop or tripping on holes dug by dogs.

The intrigue: Schools have been battling the problem ever since. Some even have extra pairs of shoes on hand to give to kids who step in poo, San Diego Unified spokesperson Samer Naji told Axios.

Reality check: Humane Society officers were also verbally harassed when they tried to give out tickets, San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava told Axios.

• "It actually became dangerous for them because those dog owners got very irritated," he said.

Follow the money: The city cut $1.5 million from the Humane Society contract for this fiscal year that began July 1, resulting in the end of such off-leash enforcement.

• Humane Society spokesperson Nina Thompson said they don't have data on exactly how many off-leash tickets were handed out in San Diego during the program.
• But Humane Society officers were giving out 200 citations a month back in 2021, and the typical fine was almost $300.

Plus: With officers no longer on field patrol, residents are supposed to submit off-leash dog reports through the city's Get It Done app.

• But as of Wednesday morning the app doesn't take off-leash reports and the parks section on the city's Get It Done website says "coming soon."
• The city notes it usually takes days for staff to respond to Get It Done reports.

What's next: San Diego is also embarking on a pilot program where residents will be asked to police themselves.

• School fields open to the public will get new signs marking them as either green, yellow, or red.
• Green means people have been keeping it in good condition.
• Yellow means too many holes and too much dog poop, and the field will be closed for a few weeks.
• If the problems continue when the field reopens, it could escalate to red and the park would be shut down for longer, LaCava said.

Tell a dog owner

California has the third-lowest rate of annual lung cancer diagnoses, according to the American Lung Association's 2025 State of Lung Cancer report.

Why it matters: Lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths — but the five-year survival rate has increased to almost 30% nationwide, the group finds, up from 18% about a decade ago.

• That's thanks in part to screening, testing and treatment developments.

Between the lines: Screenings help doctors detect lung cancer earlier, which makes it more treatable and less deadly. But only 17% of high-risk individuals (longtime, heavy smokers over age 50) are getting screened in California.

• The state ranks among the best for five-year survival rates, but below the national average for early diagnosis and screenings.
• Scripps Health launched the Jana Oliphant Hackett Lung Cancer Screening Program in 2022 to get more at-risk people in for annual scans in San Diego.

Go deeper

⚾️ San Diego named a street after late Padres owner Peter Seidler. (Fox5)

🏨 San Diego sharply increased valet parking fees at hotels but held off on charging restaurants more for on-street dining. (Union-Tribune)

🏟️ Midway's ambitious redevelopment plan is putting state housing laws to the test. (Voice of San Diego)

👩‍💻 The shift to remote work affects men and women differently, and more men are returning to in-person work, new research shows. (KPBS)

👋🏻 Poway City Councilmember Tony Blain resigned.

• The effort to recall him was overwhelmingly ahead as of Wednesday evening. (Times of San Diego)

Lou's Deli might have created one of my favorite caesar salads.

The big picture: When my husband heard I'd sometimes be writing about food for my new job at Axios, he joked, "are you going to tell them about every chicken caesar salad in the city?"

OK, fine. I do order a lot of chicken caesar salads.

Yes, but: This one at Lou's Deli in North Park is really good. It has big pieces of shaved parmesan, fresh kale and everything bagel crumbs.

• Those crumbs are what makes it memorable.
• You can also get a wrap with the same flavors, or try the new sandwich version.

Go deeper

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Hit reply with your best guess of where Claire found this bridge for a chance to get a shoutout in the newsletter.