Our dog, Alice, and me in the best place in San Francisco
Having a young pup in San Francisco can be a challenge. Pups need to exercise and plenty of TLC. We are fortunate to live close to McLaren Park, a large area where Kaili could romp to her heart’s content
Kaili on the lookout for anything the moves in the park
Trees, trees, trees in McLaren Park
While we have good size yard, she needed space to run like the wind
We adopted—aka rescued—her from the San Francisco SPCA Adoption Center. She was two months old, scared and happy to become our new family member. While we have good size yard, she needed space to run like the wind. With McLaren Park in proximity, she found instant happiness romping up and down the hill. We took her to puppy school for socialization, and she did well. She wasn’t perfect in her training, but good enough.
As she grew up, we took her to many dog parks throughout San Francisco; she was happy and ran faster than nearly every canine in the pack. While she ran and play well, she seemed bored with manicured parks. Since the pandemic and my working remotely, we defaulted to take her often to McLaren Park. Alice would contently sit at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater and talk to park regulars like us. It would be Kaili and me on long winding walks on the hillside covered with branches, twigs, pinecones, and holes.
Alice and I raised two dogs (Grover and Cody) before we added Kaili to our home. People often say that dogs will choose their favorite human. Grover (a girl) loved Alice; Cody was my boy, and Kaili treasures and protects Alice. Yet when Kaili and I ventured deep into the park, she would give me special attention as she explored and looked back at me.
The park is full of lost and found orange balls
Like many dogs, Kaili has an orange Dura ball. She expects me to bring it with me, and when we are in the middle of nowhere, she would give me this look, “I want you to throw the ball, now.” Follow her orders, I toss it. She gets it and runs around. She often runs crazily with the ball and drops it somewhere. If I am not paying attention, we lose the ball. I ask her, “Kaili, find the ball!” Sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn’t. The park is full of lost and found orange balls.
There is no better place in San Francisco for a dog who loves to run
McLaren Park is 313 acres, and it is San Francisco’s largest park. I grew up in San Francisco and spen much of my childhood near Golden Gate Park. I knew the park from Kezar Stadium to the beach and Lincoln Way to Fulton Street. It is one of the city’s great landmarks and popular tourist attractions. McLaren Park is mostly for locals. Aside from special events at the Amphitheater and other organized groups, the park hosts people on walks, dog walkers with their four-legged critters, bicyclists, joggers, daycare groups, and those looking for solace. Kaili, Alice, and I love McLaren Park for its ambiance. Kaili looks forward to her daily routine; there is no better place in San Francisco for a dog who loves to run.
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A cool day for a quiet picnic
