San Francisco dog owners hope to sway mayoral race

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — There are more dogs than kids in the City by the Bay. So it stands to reason dog owners carry a lot of clout — so much so they believe their endorsement can sway the upcoming mayoral race.

Dog lovers have formed a political action committee to promote the interests of their four-footed friends, namely space to run free in one of the world’s largest urban national parks. And they are calling on mayoral candidates to defend their stands on canine affairs.

There are an estimated 150,000 dogs in the city, compared with some 108,000 children, in the 7-by-7 square mile city named for St. Francis, patron saint of animals, according to the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the 2010 U.S. Census.