The saga of The Animal Connection pet shop continues as its former operator, Isabella "Beya" Alcaraz, now faces a lawsuit over $9,500 in alleged unpaid rent from the property owner of the 3401 Irving St. location. Even though Alcaraz sold the business back in May, her name still appears on the lease, as reported by The SF Standard. The previous tenant's troubles have been further compounded by an eviction notice citing an ongoing rodent infestation due to lack of maintenance, a claim that surfaced back in July.
The beleaguered ex-supervisor, who had a fleeting tenure in the political landscape of the Sunset District, stated to the San Francisco Chronicle in a text message, "I don't have any outstanding rent or late fees from when I ran the business until April 2025," suggesting that the lawsuit came as a surprise to her. Meanwhile, Julia Baran, the new owner, describes inheriting a shop left in terrible condition. According to a past statement obtained by The SF Standard, Baran had been paying rent since taking over and attributes most of the claimed due amount to late fees incurred by both her and Alcaraz.
Earlier this week, landlord Janet A. Siniora, who signed a lease agreement with Alcaraz in 2021 calling for $3,700 in monthly rent, initiated legal proceedings, as both sources confirm. With Alcaraz's management in hot water following allegations of unsavory conditions at the pet store, her ill-fated political career came to an abrupt end. She resigned one week into her term at Mayor Daniel Lurie's request after the abysmally poor state of The Animal Connection was revealed.
Now, Baran faces the challenge of searching for a new location for The Animal Connection, courtesy of the impending eviction notice. However, her name does not appear on the contested lease. In a statement obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, she remarked, "I think my liability is very low." Baran believes she is not the target of the lawsuit and acknowledges her efforts in cleaning up the store, which she feels have been extensive and beneficial to the property. Community college trustee Alan Wong has since been appointed as Alcaraz's successor in the Sunset District.
