AUSTIN, Texas -- Air travel can be stressful, especially if you have to worry about boarding pets.
Bark & Zoom is a new luxury pet hotel situated across the highway from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
"Pets are often the No. 1 concern when people go out of town. They worry about their pets almost as much as they worry about their kids," said Melanie McLeroy, co-owner of Taurus Academy.
For pet owners, the hotel provides long term parking, and shuttle service to and from the airport.
"Bark & Zoom is a one stop shop for people with pets who need to fly. You drop your car off at the valet and then you can drop your pet off at Taurus, go on your trip, and come back and pick up your animal the same day that you get home," said McLeroy.
For pets, the hotel provides luxury kennels with beds, TVs, and web cameras.
"These are our luxury suites. The first four are called elite suites. They include beds and televisions. All 15 of our suites have cameras, so you can always check in on your dogs," said Shivani Drinkall, president of Taurus Academy.
"It's about creating comfort not only for the dogs, but for the owner too," said Wallace McElyea, chief learning officer with Taurus Academy.
The facility also has four outdoor play areas, and a swimming pool in the shape of a guitar.
"You know, at first they're a little hesitant. Often they're like, 'Am I at the vet? The last time I was at the vet it wasn't fun.'" By the time they get out of the lobby and into the kennel area, and certainly by the time they get in the yard, they realize this is a place to play and meet other dogs," said McElyea.
Bark & Zoom's grand opening is Saturday, and is accepting reservations.
"Most of us who work here are dog owners ourselves, so we know how it feels to leave your dog with somebody else. It can be stressful and scary, so we want to make sure that when folks leave their dogs with us, they have total peace of mind," said McElyea.
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