As it happens, where there are dogs, there is typically what they leave behind.
And in a seven-by-seven-mile city where dogs outnumber children, the feces some dog owners choose to leave behind can pile up. On Third Street in the Bayview, residents say that’s increasingly the case.
Small efforts have been made to remedy the problem, with community leaders handing out rolls of waste bags to Third Street businesses to distribute to dog owners. Or placing “Smile you’re on camera” signs in public planters. But these efforts haven’t made a significant dent in the long and ongoing dog poop crisis.
Monique Hayes, owner of Let’s Eat BBQ & More at 5130 Third St, said dog poop has always been an issue in the neighborhood since she opened her doors in 2011 — and in fact has gotten worse since she returned in February 2025 after temporarily closing for some years
“I’m here Thursday through Sunday, it’s every day,” said Hayes.
On her block of Third Street she said, the person from San Francisco’s Department of Public Works who comes each week to clean up the dog poop is always on top of it — but he’s not there every day.
“When he’s off, they need to have somebody to come into his route,” she said. “Because when he’s off, nothing gets done.”
Bayview Police Station’s Captain Bernadette Robinson told a community meeting that, by law, any individual walking a dog must have materials on hand to pick up after their dog. Robinson is currently in conversation with community leaders about putting a plan together to tackle what she described as a “rampant” issue.
If you’ve ever wanted to take the idea of birdwatching a step further, you may be in luck. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the San Francisco Public Library is hosting Birds, Bay And Belonging, a community bird walk at Heron’s Head Park from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Ayanna Brown, the wildlife biologist behind Phoreign in Nature, that helps people reconnect with the outdoors, is guiding the “gentle” walk.
Participants can meet near the Eco Center at Heron’s Head Park at 32 Jennings Way before starting their journey along the tidal marshes and mudflats.
If you’ve seen a bird or two and your itch for gazing at nature still hasn’t been met, later that day check out astronomy night at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area Community Garden at 1150 Carroll Avenue from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees can learn from San Francisco Amateur Astronomers, a local nonprofit founded in 1952 that works to promote and popularize astronomy. Telescopes will be available for use.
The Bayview branch library just set up its ofrenda for Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, which takes place Nov. 1 to Nov. 2. The traditional Mexican holiday, when families welcome back the memory of their deceased relatives, features home-made altars, or ofrendas, decorated with marigolds. Día de Los Muertos has been an annual tradition at the Bayview branch library. Lucy Chiem, the youth services librarian, organized it this year, and welcomes community members to bring photos of people they’d like to honor to add to the ofrenda.
Along with the rest of the city, Bayview is celebrating San Francisco Restaurant Week, which started on Friday, Oct. 16 and will run until Sunday, Oct. 25. Participating Bayview restaurants include Gumbo Social, Old Skool Cafe and Creative Ideas Cafe, which are offering price-fixed menus.
Bayview is going all out for Halloween this year, and you don’t have to leave Third Street.
Next Saturday, Oct. 31, Gumbo Social is hosting a block party from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 5176 Third St. The free event will feature music from DJ Casanova and a pop-up bar by The Perfect Bevi, a mobile bartending service. RSVP here to receive a complimentary taste of gumbo or a mini-hoecake at the event.
A short walk away, 415 Car Club, a local group dedicated to classic cars, is hosting a Trunk-or-Treat contest and a haunted house from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the same spooky night. The event will be located in the parking lot at 5300 Third St, site of the former Walgreens. To participate in the trunk-or-treat contest, cars must be parked on site by 5 p.m.
Third Street’s festivities don’t end there. The Southeast Community Center’s indoor family movie club has a movie night with free snacks on Halloween. The center, at 1550 Evans Ave., will be screening A Minecraft Movie from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Let’s Eat BBQ & More is also hosting a “spooky movie Halloween event” from noon to 8 p.m. at 5130 Third St. There will be cocktails, discounted meals and activities for kids to decorate treats. Movies will be shown throughout the day for the whole family to enjoy.
On the same night, you can also stop by Smoke Soul Kitchen for Halloween until dark at 4618 Third St., which will include a bat wing special, drinks and games.