As a local dog owner looking for a new long-term rental in a quiet part of Ocean Beach, I find myself in a sudden predicament. If you look up OB on the Web, literally “everybody and their dog” is invited to “roll on down to Doggie Town.” Cool, one might think. And it IS great: a beautiful leash-free Dog Beach, dog parks, poop-bag stations nearly at every corner, concerned lost-and-found announcements, fancy dog parades, dog surf contests, dog adoptions — the available options are endless. It is no surprise that OB has more dog washes/groomers than gas stations, and at those gas stations, every other car sports a dog bouncing around. It is also interesting that OB seems to have a very low population of feral cats. Out-of-towners bring their dogs. Locals are seldom seen without their dogs (by the way: where do local dog owners live? Do all of them own homes?) and there is at least one dog to every “outdoors resident” of OB. Shops and eateries are super-lenient (thank you!!!), offering water bowls and tie-ups everywhere. It’s doggie paradise!! But here lays the problem: need a place to live for under $1,900 for Waldo and you? Good luck. All of a sudden you will find yourself confronted with: “No pets,” “Uh oh. Sorry. No dogs,” “Dog-free living,” etc. Most homeowners in OB generally have dogs themselves. But, unfortunately, that does not mean they will automatically welcome a tenant with a tail-wagging companion. Putting myself in any homeowner’s shoes, I realize what makes it hard to have dogs welcomed: short-term summer renters come and go every year — many with dogs. By the time their rental period has expired, the landlord is left with a big mess and/or costly damages to their property. After a couple of times of this, I would prefer dog-less tenants myself, was I to rent out my house. So, I do see the reasoning of not renting to dog owners. But still, landlords should at least give a responsible dog owner a chance. Meet the dog, take dog references from veterinarians and former rentals, charge a fair dog deposit that will cover possible damages! So PLEASE, dog owners, make it easy for all of us dog lovers. Be responsible, train your dog appropriately, have current vaccines and licenses, clean up after your pet, keep your doggie on the leash and do not leave homes pet-wrecked and yards destroyed when you move. And, PLEASE, landlords, give dogs a break. Meet the dog and owner, charge dog deposits that will cover your needs in case of damage (responsible dog owners will gladly pay such a deposit), and please do not hang up the phone when I ask you, “Do you allow dogs?” In order to keep OB “dog friendly,” I strongly urge dog owners to not let your dog off the leash anywhere except in the provided, designated areas (dog park, Dog Beach ONLY) and do not assume your dog is allowed in every store/food establishment. Only service dogs (not therapy dogs) with proper information on the specific service the dog provides and an official “California assistance dog” license tag (yellow/gold) are allowed in otherwise-restricted areas. Vests or bandanas are not accepted as sufficient ID. Also, service dogs MUST BE LEASHED AT ALL TIMES. No exceptions. Dog owners and their dogs who are exceeding or who have exceeded their stay over 30 days must provide current paperwork in compliance with all California dog licenses and be able to provide a current rabies certificate when asked. Owners of female dogs in season (estrus) must prevent the attraction of male dogs by securely confining the female in a humane manner. Also be aware that a dog tied to a backpack, bicycle or lamppost is considered “at large” and could be impounded by officers of the San Diego County Department of Animal Services. In conjunction, San Diego police officers will also issue tickets and fines to those who ignore these codes. As of January, the Ocean Beach Farmers Market will be enforcing these codes with officers of the Department of Animal Services, along with SDPD officers, who will patrol the market area on Wednesdays between 4 and 8 p.m. For more information, contact the San Diego County Department of Animal Services at (619) 767-2603. — Bianca Koch is an Ocean Beach resident and local business owner.