San Francisco's famously dog-friendly culture is colliding with growing frustration over where dogs should roam freely.

The big picture: We asked readers last week where they draw the line on off-leash dogs. The responses touched on everything from dog bites and leash etiquette to grocery stores and reactive pets.

State of play: Dogs may be part of San Francisco's identity, but for many, that doesn't mean every public space should function like an off-leash dog park. Most said the issue comes down to control, recall and consideration for others.

🤝 Michelle A. said off-leash spaces should be consensual: "You must enter the space knowing it's dogs off-leash. You shouldn't have dogs off-leash forced on you."

🗣️ Ocean M., who owns a reactive pitbull, said she has no problem with off-leash dogs, but only if they have perfect recall.

🌳 David S., who said he has been bitten twice by off-leash dogs, argued they should be leashed except in enclosed dog parks or limited designated areas.

Between the lines: Several readers said the problem revolves around irresponsible owners.

⚠️ Ben H. argued that while some owners can responsibly judge when their dog can be off-leash, others can't, pointing to an incident where his dog was attacked.

• "There should be more enforcement against owners with problematic off-leash dogs," he said.

🩹 Madeline C. loves dogs, but being chased by one as a child left her fearful of them. She feels many owners don't realize how common that fear is when off-leash dogs approach her.

🛒 Molly H. said some owners in the city are too entitled, especially when they ignore dog-free zones or falsely label pets as support animals to bring them into places like grocery stores.

• However, she doesn't see off-leash dogs as a major issue: "There are a ton of incredibly well-behaved dogs that follow their owners off leash and I do not see a problem with it."

🚫 Paul J. took a much harder stance: "There are too many irresponsible dog owners. Should we do away with speed limits because we can depend upon people to drive responsibly?"

🐾 Yes, but: Even readers who support stricter leash etiquette said more dedicated off-leash areas are needed, including Karen C. who said well-trained energetic dogs need spaces to run freely.

💭 My thought bubble: The off-leash dog debate has everything a classic San Francisco fight requires — competing interpretations of public space and shared accusations of entitlement. But beneath the contention lies a relatable frustration over rule-following and public courtesy.

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Tick bites are sending a record rate of people to the ER for this time of year, according to new CDC data.

Why it matters: An estimated 31 million Americans are bitten by a tick each year and roughly 476,000 are treated for Lyme disease.

By the numbers: April saw 104 ER visits for tick bites per 100,000 total ER visits — up from 68 in April 2025.

• In all regions except for the south-central region of the U.S. — where blacklegged ticks are less common — weekly rates of ER visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017, the CDC reports.

Between the lines: Lyme is the most common tick-borne illness in the U.S., but ticks also spread other serious diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis and alpha-gal syndrome.

⚠️ To prevent tick bites:

👕 Wear EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing outdoors.

🌲 Do a tick check after being outside — ticks like leaf litter, tall grass and wooded areas.

🩺 Remove attached ticks within 24 hours. Watch for a rash or fever in the days or weeks after a bite. See a doctor promptly if either appears.

🏛️ Mayor Lurie's chief of staff, Staci Slaughter, is retiring in June after helping lead the administration through its first 18 months at City Hall. (SF Chronicle)

A person has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed while at Carnaval over the weekend. (Mission Local)

🤖 Project Open Hand, a nonprofit in the Tenderloin, is using AI-powered robots to prepare meals for people facing food insecurity. (Wired)

🏢 The city backed away from a lease deal to let a nonprofit with ties to former Human Rights Commissioner Sheryl Davis operate the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center in the Fillmore. (SFist)

💰 Billionaires Chris Larsen and Sergey Brin are among the many tech moguls spending heavily on California's 2026 midterms as they fight a proposed wealth tax and try to influence local and state elections. (SF Standard)

Nojo Ramen Tavern makes the case for paitan better than any other restaurant in the city. I'd happily choose this over a pork-based broth any day.

• Since opening in 2016, the Hayes Valley restaurant has quietly built a reputation around doing one thing exceptionally well: deeply flavorful chicken soup that is unlike any other broth I have yet to try in San Francisco.

Dig in: I dine here quite often, so I've ordered nearly everything on the menu by now. But one standout that I choose regularly is the chicken paitan soy sauce ramen ($23) with a braised chicken leg, black garlic oil and slow-boiled egg, accompanied by satisfyingly springy noodles.

• The slow-simmered broth is a deliberate departure from its more popular pork tonkotsu cousin.
• I also recommend the rich tan-tan spicy miso ($20.50), a definitive must-have for anyone who appreciates spice but also likes a creamy and nutty broth thanks to the addition of toasted sesame paste.

If you go: Hours vary, open daily except Mondays at 231 Franklin St.