An airport terminal catering to pets will soon open at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The facility, a $65-million terminal for animals, was revealed last Monday. The roll-out was only the first of three parts.
Upon completion, the ARK Pet Oasis will also house a 20,000-square-foot spa where pets can undergo grooming and massage therapy, swim in pools, and even get pedicures and nail polish. It will also include an overnight kennel, boarding, veterinary care, a diagnostic lab, and a USDA-approved import quarantine area for necessary cases, reports Travel + Leisure.
The place will help educate pet owners on flight requirements before takeoff, microchip pets if needed, provide food and water as needed during flight, get pets boarded, receive pets coming into JFK, and other services. An Equine & Livestock Export Center and an Aviary In-Transit Quarantine are now also fully operational. The new facility's mission is to provide a safe and healthy environment for animals in transition.
Pets which stay overnight in the luxury suites will sleep in big beds, watch TVs, keep in touch with owners via webcam and look at photographs chosen by owners to make them their pets feel at home. The Ark will be able to accept pets, horses, livestock, birds and even exotic animals once the facility is fully operational. The space was designed in cooperation with Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Worldwide Flight Services and Paradise 4 Paws.
According to Equnews, Paradise 4 Paws is a luxury pet resort that already operates near airports in Chicago, Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth. At the resort, prices range from $55 to $125 a night for dogs and $30 to $45 for cats. There is a playground for cats and a swimming pool and an an indoor grassy area where pets can roam.
