Wednesday, March 15, 2000
'Pet resort' plans creature comforts
Kennel to open near airport
BY TERRY FLYNN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ERLANGER — If people can take vacations, why not pets?
Joe Mason of Mount Lookout took that thought and converted it into a plan that will result this fall in an upscale indoor dog and cat boarding facility off Interstate 75.
“We want people to think of us as a pet hotel or pet resort,” Mr. Mason, a former Mercantile Stores Co. Inc. retail executive, said of his concept, known as PETSuites of America. “When people go away on vacations, their pets will have a vacation with us.”
The building will be on Holly Lane, just off Donaldson Road at the I-75/Erlanger interchange. Mr. Mason said PETSuites will be just two minutes drive from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
It will include such animal amenities as customized play programs for individual pet needs; a happy hour in a large open area where dogs can socialize; multilevel cat condos complete with windows to watch birds and aquariums to watch fish; and Internet access for people to view their pets at play from anywhere in the world.
“I remember taking our dog, Elvis, to a boarding facility near Kings Island when my wife (Tracy) and I were traveling on business,” Mr. Mason said. “It was a hassle. That started me thinking about a top-flight boarding facility near the airport.”
He said he and his wife have worked on the idea for nearly five years. “With our facility so close to the airport, people will no longer have to drop their pet off a day before they leave and pick up the pet the day after they return,” he said.
Industry specialists estimate dog owners spent nearly $23 billion on their pets last year, up from $21 billion in 1998 and $17 billion in 1996. Mr. Mason said predictions call for spending of nearly $30 billion by 2001.
When he decided to move ahead with plans for PETSuites — after losing his job when Mercantile was sold — he began looking for a site, a developer and investors all at once.
“We found the site, and when we talked to Ashley Development in Edgewood, we found our developer and investors,” he said. Ralph Dusing, Ashley general manager, became a partner in PETSuites and the corporation's president. Ashley co-owners John Yeager and Bill Kreutzjans are also investors.
“When I talked to Ralph and the people at Ashley, they were really excited about our idea,” Mr. Mason said. “We had our investors almost immediately.”
Mr. Mason, who said being an animal lover made the PETSuites plan easier to develop, traveled around the country looking at new and/or unique pet boarding facilities.
He also attended a seminar in Colorado Springs, Colo., conducted by Jim Krack, executive director of the American Boarding Kennels Association.
PETSuites will have 114 dog rooms, including six dog “penthouses” with additional upgraded features and space. There will be separate runs where dogs can exercise and a large common area for the happy hour gatherings.
Prices haven't been set yet.
“The cat condos are 3 feet square and 7 feet high with four levels for eating, sleeping and other activities,” Mr. Mason said.
He said the upscale pet boarding business is relatively untouched nationwide, with virtually no such facilities near major airports.
“We hope to grow nationally, with PETSuites pet resorts near a lot of the larger U.S. airports,” he said.
PETSuites is scheduled to open in October. A Web site — www.go2petsuites.com — will be in service in early May. For additional information, write PETSuites of America, 1151 Salisbury Drive, Cincinnati 45226.
Police shot 26 times
Investigations launched in police shooting
Norwood police shooting described
Officer injured in skywalk attack
How to dodge I-75 construction backups
Barrels back in familiar locations
Kenwood Rd. work irks businesses
Multistate lotto link possible for Ohio
Gov. Taft battling NRA on gun bill
Public should have say on our stadium
Advisory group sought for Reds ballpark
Lebanon asks state to return buyout money
Manager suggested for future festivals
Meeting bars shelter supporters
Senate to vote today on hotel tax
Vigil held near site of Avondale shooting
Antioch students slain in Costa Rica
Classic R&B on tap for Coors Light Fest
GET TO IT
Playhouse announces ambitious new season
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Budget time lot like game show
Board approves plan for school
Butler plan calls for unity in youth-crime prevention
Cheerleaders go national
Church awaits decision on home
Commissioner backs light rail
Florence signs off on Boone master plan
Hamilton again tries new charter
Judge raises bail in Internet prostitution case
Kenton to appeal decision on meetings
Late-term abortion procedure targeted
Lincoln Heights could land Fergus
Megamall forum runs one way
'Pet resort' plans creature comforts
Sex-bias claim to go forward
TRISTATE DIGEST
Woman finds racist fliers on her door
