For years, parents have enjoyed the luxury of checking in on their kids while they are at home with the baby sitter or at a daycare center through the power of baby cams. Now pet owners in Houston will have the opportunity to do the same for their four-legged friends while they are on vacation. The new Pet Paradise Resort, which will open up next to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) later this month, takes the trouble out of finding an animal sitter for pet owners traveling out of the city for business or pleasure. For a fee, the folks at Pet Paradise Resort will pamper common household pets like dogs or cats while their owners are on vacation. With just over 200 dog suites and 15 kitty condos, the brand new 14,000 square foot facility sits on 100,000 square feet of property, giving the animals lots of room to move around. It is conveniently located off of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, just five miles south of Bush Intercontinental Airport’s terminal area. “The main thing is to give the traveling public a place where they can leave their pet, feel comfortable that their having a good time, be able to check on them when their gone and know they can get them whenever they get back,” says Fred Goldsmith, founder of Pet Paradise. “Our operation is 24/7, so you can drop off at anytime and pick up at anytime you like.” Goldsmith began the business in 2004 after his own 15 year old Bichon, Samantha needed a place to stay while he was away.

© Houston Airport System Animal Kingdom. Pets will enjoy a luxurious vacation at IAH now, while their owners are out.

He didn’t have anyone to watch the dog while he was away for 10 days and his quest for a trustworthy pet caregiver led him to the realization that providing this service could be a viable business opportunity.

Armed with that knowledge, he inaugurated the first Pet Paradise Resort in Florida. Today, the company has crossed state borders and is opening its first location in Texas – at IAH.

For airport authorities, having the facility near the airport represents an added convenience for travelers.

“What a better way to relieve the stress of having to find a pet sitter than to have a facility right next to the airport,” says Caroline Schneider, customer service manager for the Houston Airport System. “You can drop them off before your flight and pick them up as soon as you exit the airport.”

Goldsmith looked at the Texas market and decided to choose Houston as the first location, due to the fact that George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) served more than 43 million passengers in 2007. At Pet Paradise, each cat has its own three by seven foot kitty condo that comes with plush bedding and seven levels for them to play in. Each dog has their own eight by five foot indoor/outdoor suite, with a private patio that gives them the choice of enjoying the sun’s rays or living it up in the air conditioning.

The IAH location offers seven different play areas where dogs are able to socialize together, swim in the in-ground dog-bone shaped pool or play alone, depending on their personality.

Each kitty condo and dog kennel come equipped with its own web cam, so owners are able to peek in on them at any given time. Public cams are also set up, so anyone can watch the dogs play in the courtyard or swim in the pool. Pet Paradise has chosen to take another extra step for your pet’s safety – artificial grass. The artificial grass allows the facility to have pets outside without dirt, mud, pesticides and with the ability to play after it rains, instead of being stuck inside all day. Goldsmith is predicting great success in Houston.

So much success, that the company is currently building a larger facility next to William P. Hobby Airport with 250 dog suites and 20 kitty condos.

“Airports make good sense for location. We thought IAH was a good place to start and we’re under construction at Hobby,” says Goldsmith. “We’re glad to be in Houston and we’re excited about the opportunities that Intercontinental brings.”

For more information about Pet Paradise Resort, please visit www.petparadiseresort.com.

Copyright © 2008 - Houston Airport System