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Inn Caters to Canines and their People

Vermont Inn Barking Up the Right Tree

By Dan Schlossberg
ConsumerAffairs.com

January 2, 2005
Confining Fido to a kennel while his human owners vacation is no longer necessary, according to the owners of a Vermont inn that caters to canines.

Mitch Frankenberg and Jennifer Fredreck left lucrative careers to open the Paw House Inn four years ago and never looked back. In fact, their seven-room property did so well that they've decided to turn the business into a national franchise.

Founded after the owners encountered considerable frustration in finding places that would accept dogs, the Paw House Inn has hosted dogs and owners from 36 states, three Canadian provinces, and three foreign countries. That list grows daily.

"Many inns and hotels accept dogs," said Frankenberg, "but we cater to dog-owners and their pets."

His inn, located on a three-and-a-half acre tract near the ski capital of Killington, illustrates that point. The property includes a 1,000-foot doggie playhouse, a dog agility course, plenty of room to roam, and guestrooms that include plush dog beds. There's also a soundproofed, temperature-controlled kennel for canine guests whose barking disturbs others.

The main building is a two-story, 18th century farmhouse built by Elijah Smith, grandson of Mayflower captain John Smith and his wife Pocahontas. Its guestrooms carry canine names: Good Dog, Bad Dog, Rin Tin Tin, Dogwood, Spot, The Chase, and Shakespeare's Retreat – a master suite named after the owners' yellow lab.

The dining room has 12-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows for mountain views but few carpets or knick-knacks (to reduce dander as well as damage). There's a WIPE YOUR PAWS welcome mat for dogs and a printed Rules of the House reminder for owners.

Not all canines are welcome. Owners must complete pet profiles that certify the friendliness, health, and age of their animals and also pay a $250 deposit against potential damage. The house enforces rules mandating use of leashes and pooper scoopers.

Fredreck, a one-time New York attorney, and Frankenberg, a financial analyst from Long Island, have fielded few complaints from guests, dogs, or maids – whose tips go to dog rescue groups and related animal charities.

Although figures from the American Hotel & Lodging Association show 40 per cent of hotels now accept dogs, few treat them as well as the Paw House Inn.

Two of their guests agree: Karen and Wes Smith have become the first to buy a Paw House franchise, planning to open in New Hampshire's White Mountains early in 2006.

For further information, contact Paw House Inn, 1376 Clarendon Ave., Rutland, VT 05777 (Tel. 866-PAW-HOUSE, www.pawhouseinn.com.

Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is president of the North American Travel Journalists Association, and a frequent contributor to AAA Traveler and USAirways Magazine.

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