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You better believe it! Free puppies.
Now there are some good sides to this idea and some bad but let me explain! San Francisco as you may or may not know has an issue with the homeless population panhandling, despite the countless attempts that Bevan Duffy, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s Person in Charge of the 
program’s attempt to solve the issue. Duffy has sought every angle from an employment program to enforcing curbside removal. Either way the average panhandler will simply move to another location.
This program starting August 1st has one pretty sweet name if I do say so myself. The program is called WOOF. Wonderful Opportunities for Occupants and Fidos. Very clever.
The program that that takes on an entirely new view to the issue actually sounds like an insanely great idea! Homeless will be moved to a city-funded Single Room Occupancy to remove them from the streets and into a shelter. The person will be given a puppy that has yet to be adopted. Now how is the puppy going to be fed you ask? Participants in the program receive a stipend of $50-75$ Weekly to feed the puppy, and to fund other canine necessities. Of course $75 dollars weekly adds up, and there is no way the puppy would require no more than 50$ a week to live, id say that may be spoiling it of course once all the food is bought and toys and such the money will add up! For taking care of the puppy the participant is also entitled to a share of the money. Thus taking care of the pan handling problem.
Of course there are strict rules to this program. All participants absolutely must not panhandle, if caught doing so the puppy will be taken away. If they have an addiction they must be undergoing treatment or seeking help. If they are mentally Ill, a hoarder or they have a history of violence, they are not eligible to participate in WOOF.
I have faith in this program. A puppy is a huge responsibility for the average person who has a job friends, family and things to do on a daily basis. A person that panhandles has nearly no responsibilities making the puppy not only their best friend, but also building a friendship to remove loneliness, building pride, gaining money, and doing a service to get more puppies out of the shelter. Regular check-ups will be performed to ensure the puppy’s are in good hands. I am excited to see this program in action to reduce panhandling in San Francisco.
You can read more on the story here