San Francisco, CA – District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that Nino Fiopoto (28), and Rubin Mesa (30), both of San Francisco, have been charged in connection to unlawful and reckless dirt bike riding on September 21, 2025. Mr. Fiopoto and Mr. Mesa are scheduled to be arraigned on September 25, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 17 at the Hall of Justice. Mr. Fiopoto and Mr. Mesa are each charged with reckless driving (VC 23103(a)) and participating in a speed contest (VC 23109(c)).
According to San Francisco Police, on September 21, 2025, SFPD officers seized sixSan Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and City Attorney David Chiu announced today, in coordination with the District Attorneys of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, the settlement of a civil law enforcement action against Wag Hotels, Inc., a corporation operating pet boarding facilities in California.
The Complaint alleges that Wag Hotels violated various provisions of California’s Pet Boarding Law, as well as state and local laws regarding the reporting of dog bites, at its locations in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties, and elsewhere around the State.
“For many of us, pets are members of the family,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “When we drop them off at a boarding facility, we do so expecting that they will be treated like beloved family members. This settlement helps ensure that Wag Hotels lives up to these high standards. I want to thank San Francisco Animal Care and Control for assisting in this investigation. I also want to acknowledge the work of my fellow District Attorneys and the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, with whom we formed a strong partnership in this investigation.”
“Our pets are integral members of our families, and we want to ensure they are safe in boarding facilities,” said City Attorney David Chiu. “We are pleased to reach this settlement with Wag to ensure our furry friends are in good hands. I am grateful for the work and partnership with San Francisco Animal Care and Control, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and the Santa Clara and San Mateo District Attorneys to achieve this paw-sitive result.”
“San Francisco Animal Care & Control is dedicated to upholding animal welfare laws,” said Amy Corso, Deputy Director of San Francisco Animal Care & Control. “Our agency is pleased with the operational reforms that will help keep dogs safe and healthy while staying at Wag Hotel.”
The judgment includes comprehensive injunctive terms requiring Wag Hotels to comply with the laws pertaining to pet boarding facilities. It requires the company to institute operational reforms, including:
• The creation and maintenance of an animal welfare department, overseen by a qualified animal safety coordinator;
• The implantation of an employee training program on animal welfare, disease recognition, and emergency response;
• The appointment of a corporate officer with responsibility over facility maintenance, hygiene, and pest control;
• Retention of video surveillance footage for certain animal welfare incidents;
• Designation of an on-call veterinarian or emergency pet hospital to assist with any veterinary needs on a 24-hour basis;
• Detailed recordkeeping and timely reporting of bite incidents to local health authorities; and
• Annual field audits conducted by a qualified auditor.
The judgment also requires Wag Hotels to implement and maintain a Playgroup Safety Program to ensure the proper supervision and management of dogs placed in daytime playgroups. Requirements include monitoring and adjusting dog groups based on each dog’s energy level, size, and temperament to prevent overcrowding, over-stimulation, fatigue, and aggression. The company is also required to maintain at least one separate enclosure available for dogs that appear overstimulated, tired, or aggressive.
Wag Hotels cooperated throughout the investigation. Without admitting liability, it agreed to pay a total of $150,000, consisting of $75,000 in cost reimbursement and $75,000 in civil penalties.
Below are tips some tips for people considering overnight boarding or daycare for pets:
When Selecting a Pet (Cats or Dogs) Overnight Boarding Facility, Consider the Following:
• What information is required to admit a pet? (vaccination records, behavioral history, in-person meeting with the pet, etc.)
• Ask for a tour during a time of day when more pets are present (usually midday on a weekday for daycare, weekends and holidays for overnight boarding).
• Inquire about the number of pets being boarded during that time. Do staff stay overnight at the facility in case an animal exhibits distress? (Note that holidays are typically busy times where staff-to-animal ratios can be thin.)
• Does the facility offer remote viewing (i.e. web cam) opportunities for pet owners?
• When and how are issues (e.g., behavioral concerns, injuries, illness) communicated to pet owners?
• Does the facility accept special requests for food or medication?
• What is the protocol if your pet becomes ill or is injured while in the facility’s care? Is there an on-call veterinarian’s office available in the event of emergencies?
When Selecting a Daycare or Overnight Boarding for Your Dog, Consider the Following:
• What information is required to admit a pet? (vaccination records, behavioral history, in-person meeting with the pet, etc.)
• Ask for the training and qualifications for the employees interacting with your pet, especially in playgroups.
• Ask if there is a limit on the number of dogs accepted for daycare each day? Are reservations required?
• Ask about the staff-to-animal ratio for care outside of playgroups? Is there sufficient staff to accommodate special feeding requests or administer medication during your pet’s stay, whether for daycare or boarding?
• For playgroups, ask: how large are the play groups? Are dogs separated by size? How long do dogs stay in a play group? When do dogs have opportunities for downtime throughout the day? What is the staff-to-animal ratio in playgroups?
• When and under what circumstances do staff separate dogs in play groups? What kind of safety equipment do they use? Note: Use of spray water bottles, shock collars, physical correction (such as hitting, rolling, or helicoptering), or snappy snares to deescalate aggressive animals should be discouraged.
• Ask for the protocol when there is a dog-on-dog bite.
Always report any serious concerns you have about the treatment of your animal to San Francisco Animal Care and Control at (415) 554-9400 (emergency dispatch number) or ACC.Dispatch@sfgov.org.
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