The first Sunday of every month in San Francisco marks the enthusiastic welcoming of a new month with the playdates of four-legged and two-legged creatures alike. The gathering at Alta Plaza park in Pacific Heights not only has fantastic sweeping city views, but welcomes a large crowd of pug dog owners from all over the Bay Area.

After a friend mentioned this monthly event to me a while back, I just had to check it out for myself. It did not disappoint. All sorts of dogs, not just pugs, come to the park to play with their new furry friends, and the owners have a great time too. Dogs run loose, leash-free, hopefully enjoying some sunny weather. People love to bring picnic blankets and dog treats to hopefully catch the eye of a furball running around chasing its new friends. I even found myself buying dog treats specifically for the park.

It’s always fun to sit out in the sun and get some doggy kisses on a Sunday afternoon!