Pack Tracks 'Bed & Barkfast' Brings a Hotel for Dogs to Southington

Pack Tracks Country Club will soon offer overnight boarding opportunities for dog owners in the area, but it won't be the type of climate you typically see at a traditional kennel.

In March, the daytime country club for dogs will unveil the new “Bed & Barkfast” aspect of their business, a 24-hour service that more resembles a vacation for dogs than a kenneling experience. It’s a concept that owners Wendy Shaw, Kim Gravel and Christina Kirkwood said they hope will bring some pride to dog owners.

“This is a fantastic move for the business and we are excited to get it going,” Shaw said. “We have been waiting almost a year and it has costs us thousands of dollars to get here, but we are grateful to have this opportunity.”

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Under the plans approved this week by the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission, the business will open the service with the goal of providing a safe, home-like environment for Pack Tracks’ overnight guests.

Owners said the concept is to provide a “cage free” environment designed to simulate what dogs would experience at home, with the pets never being left unattended. Two trained handlers will spend the evenings with the dogs, according to the Pack Tracks website, with dogs having the opportunity to eat their own foods.

On a routine night, dogs will have the chance to eat in crates for dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will be allowed free access to the outdoor area from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. They would then be brought inside for the night and let out again for the next “potty break” at 6 a.m.

For the business, which first opened in late 2011, this is a positive move and one that fits with the long-range plan of providing a complete facility that caters to daytime daycare needs, grooming, nutrition, overnight stays and general socialization of dogs.

In the next several years, the business will unveil plans to install a huge dog pool and introduce an agility program into the mix, Shaw said.

“Our clients are family to us and we needed their support and they delivered above and beyond what we could have expected,” Shaw said. “We look forward to many years of service to our amazing clients.” 

For more on the Pack Tracks “Bed & Barkfast” program, visit their website by clicking the link provided or check out pictures, plans and more on the Pack Tracks Facebook page.

Still curious? Read more about Pack Tracks right here on Southington Patch.

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