K-9 Resorts Plans Luxury 'Dog Hotel' in Madison

A K-9 Resorts franchise plans to open on Prospect Street in Madison.

The business offers luxury, cage-free boarding, and doggie daycare, K-9 resorts co-founder Jason Parker said. Dogs are given a temperament test, and then are able to play in a large playroom throughout the day.

There is no maximum amount of time dogs can stay there, and some dogs have stayed for months at a time. Dogs can stay in private rooms with outdoor windows and TVs tuned to Animal Planet, Parker said.

The building at 22 Prospect Street in Madison, a former St. Hubert's location, is being outfitted with top-of-the-line ventilation systems and improved noise control.

The Madison location will be the fourth K-9 Resort. Other locations are in Fanwood, Fairfield and Middletown.  Nine more franchises are in development, he said.

"We went in and completely gutted the entire facility and built everything from scratch from floor to ceiling," he said. Materials used throughout the building are designed to kill odor and bacteria.

A parking lot in the rear of the building will be converted into an outdoor play area with artificial grass for dogs. The facility will have the capacity to house 80 to 90 dogs if full, according to Planning Board minutes. Ivan Kaplan and Teresa DeSousa are the Madison franchise owners. According to the company's website, the location is hiring and plans to open in December.

Parker said the pet care industry has grown each year even throughout the recession.

"People love their pets," he said. "They're becoming more and more members of the family. ... People are treating them better and better, which is a great thing."

Correction: Teresa DeSousa's name was spelled incorrectly in an earlier version of this story.