San Francisco's pet hotels are being held to stricter standards following a recent settlement with Wag Hotels, Inc., a chain of pet boarding facilities throughout California. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and City Attorney David Chiu, in coordination with officials from Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, announced the settlement after allegations of state and local law violations, including the reporting of dog bites.
"For many of us, pets are members of the family," Jenkins said, per the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. "When we drop them off at a boarding facility, we do so expecting that they will be treated like beloved family members." The suit has led Wag Hotels to agree to pay $150,000, split equally between cost reimbursement and civil penalties, and to quickly implement a raft of changes to ensure the health and safety of their furry guests.
The mandated changes include establishing an animal welfare department led by a qualified coordinator and launching an employee training program for better animal care and emergency response. Wag Hotels also designates a corporate officer to oversee facility upkeep and pest control. Moreover, the company must retain video footage of certain animal welfare incidents and ensure a vet or emergency pet hospital is available around the clock. Additionally, the settlement prescribes timely bite incident reporting and annual field audits by a qualified auditor.
Perhaps critical to daily operations, Wag Hotels must maintain a Playgroup Safety Program to closely monitor and segregate dogs by energy level, size, and temperament to mitigate risks of overcrowding and aggression. At least one separate enclosure must now always be available for dogs who appear overstimulated or show signs of aggression. "Our pets are integral members of our families, and we want to ensure they are safe in boarding facilities," Chiu affirmed, as cited by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
