IF they can’t bring pets along with them, traveling animal lovers go to unusual lengths to avoid kennels and ensure their best friends will be comfortable during their absence.
Brooklynite Jay Lombard was one of those pet owners, schlepping his dogs to family in Maine or Massachusetts, and flying out of Logan Airport, rather than subject his dogs to what he shudderingly calls “the K-word.”
Now Lombard doesn’t have to add extra miles to his travel itinerary: He boards his dog at Unleash Brooklyn (unleashbrooklyn.com), a doggie day-care facility in Greenpoint where he’s co-owner. In fact, he left a career in education to work here full-time as the overnight caretaker.
Co-owner Rob Maher calls Unleash Brooklyn a “holistic loft for cats and dogs” — and he’s not kidding. Not only does the place look and smell immaculate, it’s also got green appeal, constructed entirely of “eco-friendly” repurposed, sustainable and nontoxic materials.
For pet owners who hate the idea of crating four-footed family members, there isn’t a cage in sight — or, in fact, anywhere on the premises (I checked). And for dog owners without wheels, Unleash Brooklyn will soon offer pickup/drop-off service via a repurposed school bus that uses bio-diesel fuel.
Maher and his wife Bea Boado, who also co-own the Greenpoint pet-supply store District Dog, recall customers asking them to recommend a reputable place to board pets. “I couldn’t honestly think of one,” she says.
At Unleash Brooklyn, dogs are walked outdoors and exercised in three roomy runs outfitted with shock-absorbing recycled rubber flooring, which is especially kind on senior dogs’ tired joints. They get as much or as little playtime as they want, not to mention carefully supervised opportunities to socialize with other dogs.
“We welcome puppies to seniors, and accommodate them with play groups for their energy level,” Maher explains. Tasmanian devil dogs can zoom around, while couch potato hounds can relax and just chill.
Here, dogs aren’t the only uncaged creatures who get to stretch their legs and play while their owners are away. Feline guests stay in tall, spacious, vertical “cat condos” decorated with captivating murals of fish and birds. They also spend at least two hours
a day in a custom-built “cat park” that features a 7-foot-tall wooden climbing tree, plus shag carpeting to encourage upwardly mobile kitties to stretch and scratch.
Meanwhile, the dog digs are positively palatial: Individual rooms and “dog suites,” separated by wooden Dutch doors as in a fancy horse stable, redefine creature comforts with amenities such as plush dog beds and real rugs. Additional homey touches include framed dog portraits and, no kidding, chandeliers!
With prices ranging from $43-$50 per night depending on length of stay, Unleash Brooklyn aims to give pet owners peace of mind — but from a pet’s perspective, it’s more like a long-overdue play-cation.
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