Prepare Your Dog for the Warmer Season

It's starting to get warmer out and your dogs will start to lose their winter coat soon. It is essential to properly prepare them for this warmer weather. Thanks to the folks at the examiner.com we can provide you with tips for preparing your friends for the new season. Read full article here or preview below.

"Tips on grooming and preparing your dog for the warmer season"

BY: Susan Lee

Wherever you live across the country, you are anticipating the beauty of spring and the onset of warmer weather. Along with those changes comes the increase of insects and parasites which can be a real annoyance when it comes to your dogs. For their health and protection, you will want to take the necessary steps to prevent any parasitic infestation that could affect your dog. The friendly staff at your local Rockford area Petsmart or Petco as listed below (or one closest to your home) can help you with all your grooming and parasitic needs to help your dog through the warmer season.

And although bathing and grooming your pet is a year-round responsibility, you and the dogs will be spending more time outdoors when weather permits. In early spring, it is advisable that you bring your dog in for a heartworm test, which is a blood test, in order to begin a heartworm preventative program. Chewable heartworm tablets are administered once monthly although you can opt for the six-month Pro-Hart vaccination if your dog is less than eight years old.

Some more advanced heartworm medications also work to prevent fleas and ticks; otherwise, liquid flea and tick preventatives are available in tube form which is applied at the neck area between the shoulder blades on your dog. Your veterinarian can best advise you on the most effective flea, tick and heartworm preventative medications.

Read full article here.

Sochi Dogs Still Need to be Rescued

Interested in adopting a dog? The Olympic torch has officially been extinguished, but stray dogs are still out there. Thanks to the folks at The Examiner we can learn more about what can be done for these helpless pups. Preview the article below or read the full article here.

"Olympic flames extinquished but Sochi stray dogs still need to be rescued"

Although the flames of the Sochi Olympic torch have been extinguished, the stray dogs of the city are still in dire need of rescue. Stepping up for her first two rescue pooches from Sochi on Saturday, was actress Katherine Heigl and her mother who joined up with Ali Fedotowsky, an Olympic news correspondent, reported Celebrity Yahoo.com as they waited at LAX for two rescued puppies to arrive.

Fedotowsky, a former Bachelorette contestant, visited the most popular shelter on the outskirts of Sochi called Povodog, funded by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who admits he may even adopt one of the strays in the near future as soon as his children choose their perfect new pooch.

Read full article here.

Dress Up Your Pet!

K-9 Resorts is proud to bring you the Dress Up Your Pet Facebook contest. We are asking you to submit all those great photos of your adorable puppies all dressed up. Once the submission period is over you can rally your friends and family to vote for your photo for the chance to win a $150 Visa gift card. The submission with the most votes by January 20th will be announced the winner, it's that easy! So break out those cute little costumes and start snapping pictures!

Submit your entry here!

15 Homemade Holiday Pet Treats!

The Holiday season is upon us! As you prepare to start your shopping and spreading of holiday cheer, don't forget to treat your furry friends. What better way to show your puppy with love then by treating them to some special holiday snacks. We came across this great article by the examiner that shares some wonderful holiday treats you can use to pamper your pup. So keep the holiday cheer flowing and let shower your pup with these tasty delights!

15 Homemade Holiday Pet Treats: ‘Bone-afide’ Christmas Recipes for Fido & Fluffy

By: Jace Shoemaker-Galloway

With the holidays right around the corner, many people are scouring the crowded stores in hopes of finding those last-minute gifts, busy wrapping presents and/or preparing for that big holiday meal. But in the hustle-and0bustle of a busy and hectic holiday season, many folks overlook other valued members of the family – our furry, four-legged friends.

Whether your family consists of a Fluffy or a Fido, it’s important to remember our beloved pets during the holidays too! And you don’t need to spend a fortune either. Why not whip up a batch of homemade pet treats that are safe to eat and guaranteed to be tail-waggin’ “bone-afide” hits? Grab a few of your favorite holiday cookie cutters and you are on your way to being the cat's meow and the top dog in your house!

While the holidays can hold additional hazards and dangers for our furry friends such as tinsel, certain table scraps and poisonous plants, it is important to remember certain ingredients humans consume can cause serious illness or can be deadly to pets!

Recipes for Homemade Holiday Doggy Treats

• Gourmutt Holiday Peanut Butter Treats – This simple recipe sounds dog-gone good! You’ll need molasses, natural peanut butter and oil! There is also another recipe for Christmas Carob Mint Dog Cookies too!

Click here to read the entire article, and see the full list!

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."

Franchisee Profile: Bill Ippolito

Bill Ippolito is a New Jersey native with a background in medicine. Having been a physicians assistant for the past 10 years, Bill has now transitioned into the corporate world, where he has decided to open a K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Bill is lifelong dog owner and new a dad.

How did you learn about the brand?
My girlfriend’s (Larisa Citsay- who will be helping me run the business) brother is friends with Jason and Steven Parker, the co-founders of K-9 Resorts. Their entrepreneurial accomplishments at such a young age really inspired me to invest in opening my own K-9 Resorts.

What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?
I am currently a physicians assistant so the business world is somewhat new to me. I knew as a franchisee owner, I would get great help with the process and have instant support on day one and well into the future.

What makes your business different?
K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel is a very well organized and clean facility. Cleanliness is very important for pet owners. K-9 Resorts doesn’t have a distinct pet odor, is incredibly clean and runs efficiently. It is the perfect option for people who need a safe, comfortable place to leave their pets. K-9 Resorts is also a very young franchise, and I am very confident that it will be successful. I thought it would be best to get in early and help them grow.

I have also been a physicians assistant for the past 10 years and decided to do something I was truly passionate about. The career change is an exciting adventure.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?
Well, acquiring the funds was a little bit of a challenge, and I actually had to liquidate some of my retirement assets to help with the money for the down payment on a loan. It would have taken too long if I didn’t use this money to aid in the process. Finding a location took some time and research. I looked at the competitors, the population and the distribution of wealth in the community. Monmouth County seemed like the perfect fit.

What are your expansion or development plans?
Once we open this location, I would love to be able to open a second location in the near future. I am confident in success of this business.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?
I love dogs. I grew up with a yellow lab and now I have a 5 year old Rottweiler. I am also a new dad! I have a 9 month old son, who consumes a lot of my time. I also enjoy exercising, sports and cars.

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.

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.

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