At the 2025 Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, a controversy erupted during French DJ Dombresky’s set when two men brought a husky into the crowd without any ear protection. Festival-goers witnessed what many described as the rough handling of the dog, triggering boos and vocal outrage across the audience.
Reddit discussions and social media posts quickly identified the men wearing merch.com shirts, raising questions about the authenticity of the dog’s service animal status and how security permitted the animal into the high-volume environment. The incident sparked heated debate about pet safety at music festivals, spotlighting the challenges of allowing animals in settings typically loud and crowded enough to stress pets.
- Attendees condemned the mishandling and the lack of ear protection for the husky.
- Concerns grew around the responsibility of pet owners in festival spaces.
- Calls intensified for clearer, stricter pet and service animal policies at large music events.
- Discussants raised questions about security enforcement and animal welfare safeguards.
This incident at Outside Lands—a major gathering showcasing headliners like Tyler, The Creator, Hozier, and Doja Cat—has underscored the tension between inclusivity and safety. As festival culture evolves, so does the conversation on ensuring responsible pet ownership and balancing the needs of all attendees, human or otherwise.
Organizers and festival-goers alike are reminded of the profound impact that such situations can have on community trust and animal welfare advocacy. Moving forward, clearer guidelines and enforcement protocols for animals at music festivals may become a priority to prevent repeats of this emotionally charged breach.
Source: r/OutsideLands