Wild in the Streets! A Punk Rock Response to Dog Rescue

Event poster for Wild in the Streets, a benefit art show for Rocket Dog Rescue that was at Fallout SF

There are many reasons people love San Francisco, with countless songs and books written over the years to explain that love. But what I love most about our city is its incredible history of art, literature, and music. It’s always a thrill for me to walk down a street knowing the building I’m passing was where Dashiell Hammett once lived and wrote. Or where Frida Kahlo stayed when she visited.  Or where the members of Jefferson Airplane lived and did … well, everything. 

I also love that our history is filled with artists who were alternative and cutting edge. They were the outsiders and outlaws. And that’s especially true of those who were involved in the city’s early punk rock scene.

When it comes to San Francisco music, many people first think of the psychedelic music and events of the late 1960s. But our punk history is actually even more exciting. 

Not only was San Francisco the last place the Sex Pistols performed before breaking up in 1978, but it was also home to many leading bands of the era, including the Avengers, Crime, the Dead Kennedys, and U.X.A. The burgeoning punk scene also found support from other local outfits like Target Video, the Deaf Club, Mabuhay Gardens, and the Search & Destroy zine. Without a doubt, San Francisco, along with New York City and Los Angeles, had one of the most exciting and influential punk scenes in the country, and that scene continues to thrive today.

But not only does San Francisco boast a very creative punk scene, we also love our animals. And many compassionate people in that scene want to do all they can to help them.

Artwork on display and sale at the art show to benefit Rocket Dog Rescue. photo: Michael Angelo Torres

Recently two of these animal-loving punkers  - Farida Mazlan and Angel Fischer - joined forces to create an amazing benefit for Rocket Dog Rescue held in March at Fallout SF in the North Beach District. Their “Wild in the Streets” event featured adorable dogs for adoption, dog rescue-related information, a raffle of artwork by local artists (much of it doggy-influenced), as well as studio time donated by a number of well-known tattoo artists. A howling success by any measure, the event sparked energy and interest in Rocket Dog Rescue’s work that was literally off the charts.

If you’re not familiar with Fallout SF, here’s the 411. It’s a community space created by Farida Mazlan and artist Craig Vincent in partnership with Winston Smith, the legendary artist most known for his iconic collages and his album cover work with such bands as the Dead Kennedys and Green Day. Fallout SF regularly shows art curated by Farida and created by local and nationally known punk and underground artists. In addition, Fallout SF has lots of cool punk memorabilia for sale, including shirts, posters, jewelry, books, and fanzines. So if you’re looking for a gift for that special punk rocker in your life, this is the place!

The “Wild in the Streets” benefit came about when Angel Fischer, a volunteer with Rocket Dog Rescue, approached Farida about having an event at Fallout SF to support the rescue group. Farida, who had worked with organizations such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare during her time in London, was immediately on board with the idea.

In fact, Angel wasn’t yet a volunteer at Rocket Dog when she first hatched the idea for the benefit. But after a chance meeting at a local music venue with Pali Boucher, the founder and president of Rocket Dog Rescue, she was inspired to begin planning. 

Fabulous Rocket Dog Rescue volunteers, Angel Fischer (left) and Farida Mazlan (right). photo: Michael Angelo Torres

Because she was so busy with her own dogs and work obligations, Angel didn’t have extra time for traditional volunteer work, but she still wanted to do something more to help the animals at Rocket Dog. So in addition to planning the benefit, she also came up with the idea of starting a running and hiking club to support shelter dogs.

“I really wanted to volunteer and do something to add value to my life and the dogs’ lives. But I also wanted to bring awareness to other individuals with busy lives and schedules that volunteering doesn’t have to be that time consuming,” Angel explained. “If each person who enjoys hiking or running were to take a shelter dog with them even once a week, it would make a huge impact overall on their quality of life.”

Fallout SF is still a relatively new art space and “Wild in the Streets” was their first animal-related benefit. Will there be more?

“Angel and I have definitely been mulling over ideas for future exhibitions to benefit Rocket Dog,” Farida told me. “Fallout SF is an animal-friendly place, so we will continue to fit fun fundraisers into our calendar. The work will not stop, so stay tuned!”

We can’t wait to see what comes next at Fallout SF, where the punk rock DIY attitude is alive and well today. And if that scene can help our city’s rescue dogs, so much the better. To paraphrase Billy Idol’s classic Generation X anthem: “100 Pups Rule!”

Fallout SF is open 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday at 50-A Bannam Place in San Francisco’s North Beach District.

Rocket Dog Rescue is always looking for volunteers to help at adoption events and at their sanctuary. For more information, please visit their volunteer page.