New York residents are lucky: if they can't bring their pets along on vacation, they can book a stay-cation at one of the country's most impressive daycare and boarding facilities: Unleash Brooklyn. I confess that I didn't travel long-distance for several years because there was no place I'd trust with my pack of dogs. Thanks to this incredible place, I'm now free to hit the road.
Banish thoughts of an ordinary kennel. In fact, the co-owners of this unique establishment are hardcore dog lovers who won't even use what they call "the K-word""”and to back this up, there isn't a single cage in the place. (I checked.) Constructed entirely of eco-friendly, repurposed, sustainable, and non-toxic materials, Unleash Brooklyn bills itself as a "holistic loft for cats and dogs."
The most remarkable thing you'll notice upon first walking in is the extremely fine air quality: it's perfectly clear of odor or scent. Now that's clean. Dogs are walked outside and enjoy carefully-supervised play sessions in three spacious exercise runs floored with shock-absorbing rubber, which is very kind to dogs with sore joints. There's even a treadmill for super-high-energy dogs to burn off steam"”or paunchy pooches, to help them battle the bulge.
When it's sleepytime, the canine guests repair to individual rooms and "dog suites," separated by wooden Dutch doors as in a posh horse stable. Homey touches include framed dog portraits, rugs, chandeliers, and deluxe doggie beds. And how's this for reassuring: The morning after my dogs' first night at Unleash Brooklyn, I received the following text message: "They are awesome and slept great!" They even sent me photos that proved just how much fun my guys were having in my absence!
But for those of us who believe in shelterdog rescue and adoption, perhaps the most irresistible selling point of Unleash Brooklyn is this: the owners also operate an excellent non-profit rescue called Dog Habitat, where"”thanks to the support of its generous sponsors"”previously abandoned and abused pups enjoy the same premium food, high level of care, and meticulous accommodations as Unleash's paying K9 clientele.
"Our rescues are part of our family," explain Unleash co-owners Rob Maher and Jay Lombard. "We go to great lengths to make sure they are adopted to the proper caretakers." Maher and Lombard are more than savvy entrepreneurs; they are true role models for American dog lovers who want to do well and do good. One can only hope that more boarding facilities across the country will follow their lead.
For more information on Unleash Brooklyn, or to inquire about rates, visit www.unleashbrooklyn.com To make a donation to Dog Habitat, or to become a sponsor, visit www.doghabitat.org
