The Ultimate Kennel for your pampered pet
By GRETCHEN METZ,
All Around Philly PETS

If Wagsworth Manor Pet Resort owner Deedee Francis has her way, Fido and Miss Kitty will have a better vacation than their owners.Opening in August , the totally upscale $6 million kennel offers services beyond pet needs, and goes into the realm of fulfilling pet dreams.

For the pampered pooch, amenities include a special artificial turf for outdoor romping, indoor play areas for rainy days, an indoor pool, piped-in music, a TLC room with a sofa and TV for one-on-one time with a handler, indoor training room with agility course and eight color-coded kennel rooms with beds complete with individual artwork.And then there is The Silo doggie suites with windows, individual TVs and a Web cam so owners can check in online on Fido during their travels. "In The Silo, nothing is spared," Francis said.

For the catered cat, feline suites have individual ventilation systems, windows, a TV tuned to Animal Planet in the cat room and a speciality cat play room with a tree if Miss Kitty enjoys climbing. The pet resort offers both overnight or long-term boarding and pet day care.The 24,000-square-foot stylized barn is located on six acres on Phoenixville Pike at Spring Mill Road. "The six acres are key," said Francis, who owns the pet resort with her husband, Brad. Daughter Chelsea, 19, an animal science major at Pennsylvania State University, is also part of the management team.

Allowing dogs outdoors for bathroom needs is what makes a better stay at a kennel, Francis explained. It is confusing for a dog who is accustomed to going outside, to be in a cage and have to relieve themselves indoors. Dogs at Wagsworth Manor will get five outdoor "potty breaks" a day, according to a company brochure.

Francis also owns the Great Valley Pet Hotel on Davis Avenue in East Whiteland. She said she got into the high-end pet care business because of her sister. A few years ago her sister took Francis to look at a pet resort in Westlake, Ohio. "You've got to see this," Francis remembered her sister saying. After their tour, her sister suggested Francis should get into the business herself. After that, Francis bought the Great Valley Pet Hotel. With that up and running, she said it dawned on her that the Greater Philadelphia area did not have a "good luxury pet care" facility. That's when she said she started planning Wagsworth Manor. Three years later, she's getting ready to open.

The Francises of Tredyffrin traveled around the country to look at other pet resorts to put together the best plan possible, she said. The heating-ventilation-air conditioning system was designed by Scott Learned, who did similar work for NASA. Francis joins a growing trend in pet care luxury. A new survey found that the family dog is sitting prettier than ever more popular, more coddled, more considered, and treated more human than ever before.

The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's National Pet Owners Survey, released in June, found that pet ownership is at its highest level ever, with 71.1 million households, or 63 percent, in the U.S. owning at least one pet.That's up from 64 million households five years ago, the nonprofit trade association's research reported. The study helps explain the increasing number of doggie boutiques, gourmet dog treat makers, mobile pet groomers, and, at the other end of the, uh, spectrum, the proliferation of poop-scooping companies who will haul dog waste away.

And it won't stop there.Americans continue to spend more on dogs, and pets in general, than ever before, with sales expected to hit $40.8 billion by the end of the year, the association forecasts. "If you're worried that you may be obsessed with your dog just because he has his own cell phone, frequent flyer miles and page on My-Space, you're not alone," the Greenwich, Conn., association stated in its report. "Expect the trend of the humanization of pets to continue," The Herman Group, a business futurist organization, advised. "As more baby boomers become empty-nesters, they will seek to fill the vacuum left by their departed children with the four-legged variety.

"Herman started reporting on the humanizing of family pets in 2000. When it is time for Fido or Miss Kitty to have a "vacation," today's savvy pet owners favor a complete package. They want pickup and delivery. They want to know that their pet will receive love and personal attention, has ample space and they want to believe that their Fido and Miss Kitty are enjoying a perfect pet vacation, the group reported.

At Wagsworth Manor, the base price for dog suites are $30 a night for pooches under 20 pounds. The prices depend on the dog's weight, up to $44 for large breed dogs. A night in The Silo costs $69 no matter what size the dog. An activity selection is required in addition to the boarding rate. Activities such as individual play, group play and TLC time range from $10 to $20 a day. If one activity isn't enough, there are speciality plans, including: sports, puppy, senior, splash-and-swim, TLC and The Works, a full day of activities and treats.Base price for the cat studio is $22. The additional $16 Cat's Meow package includes a catnip toy, tuna snack, one-on-one time with a Ôcaregiver' and a comfy bed. "Pet owners are given a copy of their pet's itinerary so they can take it on vacation and, for instance, if they are eating lunch, they can look at it and see what their pet is doing then," Francis said.

To contact staff writer Gretchen Metz, send an e-mail to gmetz@dailylocal.com.

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