Dogs live luxurious life at kennels
Pompano Pet Lodge, Camp Canine offer perks for pets
Dog grooming and boarding in the U.S. is a $4 billion industry.
It's a dog eat dog chase for those dollars, and kennel owners are doing all they can to provide perks to owners and pets.
At the Pompano Pet Lodge, Tanner played a game of fetch in the pool and Mack headed home after a morning with friends.
”I just dropped my last child off at college, and he's now my family,” said Tamara Canterbury, Mack’s owner.
A dog's life now a days can include a flat screen TV and their own bed at $79 a night.
”Even in this recession, we are busier than ever. I cannot complain," said Lisa Schettino, owner of Camp Canine. "The past three years or so, we've been growing at least a 20 percent rate.”
PHOTOS: Pooches luxury living
To keep up with growing demand in the doggie day-care industry, John Glorieux, owner of Pompano Pet Lodge, is building a $4 million facility full of perks for pooches.
”We are able to build to, where instead of having 30, 40, or 50 or 100 dogs in one building, we've got 6 to 10 dogs in each building, so we're able to group those better by personality,” said Glorieux.
These days, facilities have indoor-outdoor runs, air-conditioned kennels, doggie pools and AstroTurf in the play areas.
Pet boarders also offer incentives to dog owners, including valet "barking" for quick drop offs, and pick-ups in a doggie decorated school bus.
“It sticks out like a sore thumb. People see it and they will call from their car phone. Every time the bus is out, we get a call,” said Schettino.
Many of those calls are asking about amenities, like web cams, so owners can keep an eye on Fido while working or traveling.
The Pet Lodge near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is scheduled to open late October, and Camp Canine is looking into franchising in West Broward to expand their share of the market.
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