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

Below is the article featured in Madison Patch Journal surrounding the new K-9 Resorts location opening in Madison, NJ. Read full article here or begin below.

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

BY: Jake Remlay


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.

Read full article here. 

K-9 Resorts featured on Cesar's Way (blog)

Avoiding Back to School Doggie Blues

Kristina N. Lotz

As September approaches again, that means it’s back to school time for many households. With all the hustle and bustle of getting the kids ready and off for school, it can be easy to forget the dog. While back to school is usually an exciting, fun time for the humans in the home, for your dog it can mean loneliness and boredom.

All summer long, there was most likely someone home with your dog — the older students on break, or little ones with a babysitter. Now that everyone is back to their fall schedules, your dog may feel neglected and can even fall into depression.

Depression and Anxiety
According to veterinarians, dogs can suffer from depression just like us. Watch for symptoms such as listlessness, lack of energy, loss of appetite, hiding or cowering, and not wanting to play.

Other dogs suffer from separation anxiety. Unlike depression, separation anxiety manifests itself in erratic behavior, including excessive barking and whining, frantic clawing at doors, windows, or fences to get out, destructive chewing, and going to the bathroom in the house. Dogs with separation anxiety will be ecstatic when family members get home, whereas a depressed dog may not even get up from his bed.

If your dog displays any of these symptoms, she is probably upset by the recent change in schedules.

This change can be particularly hard on your dog if your child is starting kindergarten and you are going back to work for the first time. At this crucial time, it is important to not disregard your dog’s feelings — he loves you and he will miss you when you are not around.

(Read More)

K-9 Resorts featured in Middletown Patch

K-9 Resorts was recently featured in the Middletown Patch in an article titled, "Doggie Daycare and Resort to Open in Middletown." The article discusses Dan and Lisa Cody's love for animals as well as some features of the facility. Click here for the full article, or begin reading below.

Doggie Daycare and Resort to Open in Middletown
K-9 Resorts Daycare and Luxury Hotel will open at 889 Route 35 in Middletown offering a luxury resort stay for dogs.

A new resort will soon be opening on Route 35 but this one is for the dogs.

K-9 Resorts Daycare and Luxury Hotel will open its doors later this year offering cage-free spaces and a clean environment equipped with flooring systems with Microban built in and an air purification system that includes a specially designed ventilation system to kill airborne bacteria.

The K-9 Resorts franchise will open in Middletown at 889 Route 35 between the 7-11 and the old R&S Strauss, right across from Borough Hall under the ownership of Dan Cody.

(Read More)

K-9 Resorts Holds Second Franchising Event

We had a great turnout again on June 27th, 2012 as we held our second Franchising Event for those interested in becoming a K-9 Resorts owner. About 75 groups and individuals attended the event, which included a presentation from co-founders Steven and Jason Parker, break-out tables with lenders, real estate experts, and vendors, as well as the first few signed franchisees in the system. It was a fun an informative event, so check out some photos below, or view the rest on our Facebook page!

K-9 Resorts featured on CNBC.com

K-9 Resorts was featured on CNBC.com in an article titled “10 Unusual Franchise Opportunities,” which ran on Thursday, June 21, 2012. The slideshow features how K-9 was started and the various amenities. Click here for the article or read it below.

10 Unusual Franchise Opportunities

K-9 Resorts
Number of franchises: 3
Fee: $35,000
Year started franchising: 2011
Visit the website

Jason Parker, owner of K-9 Resorts, began his business with his brother Stephen as a dog-walking business back in 1999. By 2005, the siblings had opened their first luxury hotel for dogs in New Jersey. The cage-free environment includes private rooms for dogs with plasma TVs (tuned to Animal Planet), high-end dog food and a window in every room.

“People want the best for their dogs,” said Parker. “They want to go away knowing their pet is safe, healthy and happy. So we offer the Ritz Carlton of dog hotels."

K-9 Resorts launches iPod Touch Facebook Sweepstakes

In a fun an easy way to give back to current and potential Facebook fans, K-9 Resorts has launched a sweepstakes on Facebook for an iPod Touch. The only requirements for entrants are that they must be a fan of K-9 Resorts' page and they must fill out a brief form. Once entered, fans can share their unique referral link. When fans' friends use a referral link, the original fan will win an extra entry in the sweepstakes. For more information and to enter, visit this link: http://bit.ly/K9Sweeps.

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel Signs Third Franchisee in New Jersey

New Jersey native makes bold career change and teams up with K-9 Resorts to pursue his true passion for dogs

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel, the nation’s emerging pet facility franchise, has signed its third franchisee since its franchise launch in early 2011. New Jersey native, Bill Ippolito, will become a first-time business owner as he plans to open the brand’s third location in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

“Bill’s decision to change his career and pursue his true passion for dogs is exactly the type of entrepreneur we want to help launch our franchise system,” said K-9 Resorts’ Co-Founder and CEO Steven Parker. “We are thrilled to now be the go-to luxury pet facility in Monmouth County, and look to be a community leader in the area for many years to come.”

Bill Ippolito has been a physicians assistant for the past 10 years, and while he enjoyed his career in medicine, Bill felt it was time for a change. A lifelong dog owner, Bill has always had a strong connection to the pet care industry. Inspired by the entrepreneurial success of Steve and Jason Parker, the co-founders of K-9 Resorts, Bill decided to invest early in the franchise. Despite the brother’s young age, Bill was impressed by their professionalism, customer service and passion for pet care.

Over the years, Bill had experienced many other pet care facilities that did not make safety, care and customer service priority. When deciding to open a pet care business, K-9 Resorts was the first choice that came to mind because of the high-quality daycare experience each pet receives, and the incredible trust Steven and Jason have built with each customer. Bill saw a high demand for these types of services in the Monmouth County area and approached the Parker brothers about opening a franchise.

“As a lifetime dog owner, I understand the need to have a safe, clean and trustworthy place to leave a pet,” said Bill Ippolito. “I share the same values as Steven and Jason and ultimately have similar visions and goals. I am not only excited about becoming a first-time business owner but also helping build K9 from the ground up. This brand has incredible potential and I can’t wait to be a part of its future.”

“Our goal is to build K-9 Resorts into the nation’s largest pet care franchise company, but do so, staying true to our mission of being No. 1 in quality,” said Jason Parker. “We believe we’ve got our business down to a proven system that works, and can’t wait to teach our secrets to our first franchisees.”

Based in Fanwood, NJ, K-9 Resorts is expanding throughout the region and plans to open six locations this year alone throughout the state. Targeting areas where time-strapped pet owners are looking for a way to keep their pooch occupied during the day, K-9 Resorts has aggressive growth plans in greater New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut region.

Giving Back to the Community

Giving back to our community is something that K-9 Resorts prides itself on and takes very seriously. At K-9 Resorts, community service isn’t about padding our resume; it is about building a stronger community. If there is something K-9 Resorts can do to help others in the community, we feel it is our obligation to do so. Asking why we incorporate community service into our business is like asking why we incorporate breathing into living.

K-9 Resorts is proud to not only participate in but also host several fundraisers each year that directly benefit our local community. We are honored that both of our company’s founders have each been awarded a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in recognition of outstanding & invaluable service to the community! Being recognized by the United States Congress is a tremendous honor and is something we are enormously proud of!

K-9 Resorts Hosts First Facebook Photo Contest

Where does your dog like to lounge? That was the question that K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel wanted to know about from their Facebook fans in their first Facebook contest earlier this year. Over 20 fans submitted photos of their dog taking it easy in their beds, or even by the fireplace.

Taking the top prize of a $100 K-9 Resorts gift certificate was Facebook fan Lynn Sorf, whose dog Ruby Sue loves sprawling out in her owner's lap.

Currently, K-9 Resorts is looking for fans to vote on finalists in their Most Mischievous Dog Contest, running until the end of March.

K-9 Resorts featured on TheStreet.com

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was recently featured on TheStreet.com in an article titled "An NFL Panther Runs the Pet Care Field." In a story on the rise in doggy daycares and pet care facilities, K-9 Resorts was included because they are a company in this industry growing and finding success. The piece also gives a brief overview of the business and inception story, and includes a quote from Steven Parker about how they expect to be the best and number one in quality within the industry. Click here to read the full article or read K-9 Resorts' section below.

And NFL Panther Runs the Pet Care Field

By Laurie Kulikowski

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel is also looking to expand its doggy day care business. The company was founded in 2005 by two brothers, Steven and Jason Parker, who had experience in the dog-walking and pet-sitting business in New Jersey but decided to combine those operations and expand in the quickly growing business of luxury dog day care. Last year they started to franchise their operations.

(Read more)

Franchisee Profile: Dan and Lisa Cody

Projected Opening: Summer 2012

Location: TBA, New Jersey

Q: Where do you live?

A: Dan: My wife, Lisa, and I have both lived in Lodi, NJ in Bergen County our whole lives.

Q: What was your career before franchising?

A: Dan: I own a bonding and insurance company.

     Lisa: I am an elementary school teacher.

Q: Why did you decide to open your own business?

A: Dan: We have been thinking about owning another business for a while and we were looking for about a year before we came across K-9. We saw an ad in NJ Monthly and started to look more into the brand.

Q: What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?

A: Dan: We saw a presentation when we went to a franchise seminar for K-9 and were really impressed with the business and the model that was already in place.

Q: With regard to your previous experience, what skills do you feel helped you in your business?

A: Dan: We both bring different aspects to the business because I have first-hand experience running a business and Lisa has a lot of experience with animals. She loves pets and is very involved in the animal community and volunteers at the Bergen County Animal Shelter.

Q: Why did you choose to enter this industry?

A: Dan: We are both big animal-lovers and enjoy working with them. We have fostered and adopted several pets over the years. We currently have two Wheaten Terriers.

Q: What makes your business different?

A: Dan: What stood out the most to us about K-9 is that the animals and their owners are all treated with so much respect and the facility itself is so inviting.

Q: How does your business connect with the community?

A: Lisa: We will definitely be very involved with animal shelters and organizations because that is extremely important to us.

K-9 Resorts featured in Huffington Post

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was featured in an article on Huffington Post (formerly AOL Small Business) titled, “Dog Businesses Find Success Even During Tough Times: Made in the USA.” The article features Steven and Jason Parker, who not only inspired the entire article but shared their entrepreneur story and the successes they have found in the dog care industry. Click here to read the article, or begin reading below.


Dog Businesses Find Success Even During Tough Times: Made In The USA

by Geoff Williams

Like many kids, when Jason and Steven Parker were teenagers, they wanted a dog. And like many parents, theirs said no. So they came up with the next best thing to spend some time with man's best friend -- they started their own pet-sitting business.

The brothers, now 24 and 27, kept it going through college and eventually sold it for six figures. After they graduated, they went on to start K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel.

(Continue reading...)

K-9 Resorts featured on TheStreet.com

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was featured on TheStreet.com in an article titled, “When Customers Become Franchisees,” that ran online on Monday, October 31, 2011. This article was based on an interview with franchisee Andy Lubalin and co-founder, chairman, and CEO Steven Parker. Steven spoke about the development of the concept and how the franchise intends to grow throughout the Northeast. In addition, Andy Lubalin offered great praise about how the customer service and cleanliness of the K-9 operation, along with the solid business model, were the main reasons that he and his wife decided to invest into this concept. Click here to read the article, or begin reading below.

When Customers Become Franchisees
By Laurie Kulikowski

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was founded by two brothers in the dog-walking and pet-sitting business in New Jersey who decided to combine the operations -- then to expand a quickly successful business through the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area.

"We always knew wanted several stores," co-owner Steven Parker says.

They decided franchising was the best way to do that and officially became a franchised operation this year.

(Continue reading...)