Many pet owners are just not leaving their pets behind. It’s not happening. While a few hotels accommodate pets, many don’t. A few years ago, Scott and Jackie Winston discovered they had booked a stay for themselves and their beautiful Maltese, Baby, at a hotel and casino.

When Scott and Jackie left the room for a while, hotel security discovered Baby who was barking. The Winstons were given a choice, “the dog goes or you go.” Needless to say the Winstons, Baby, and their business left without a second thought.

Recognizing there was a demand for quality kennel style, hotels for dogs, in 2006, Scott and Jackie started their own business, the Atlantic City Pet Hotel and Grooming, which they billed as Atlantic City’s only 24 hour pet hotel.

Currently, the hotel is preparing a re-launch with five designer luxury suites for owners who want their pets to be pampered as much as they are. The suites will definitely have their owners wanting to visit with their pets because they will include entertainment units with DVD/Blu-Ray players, platform beds, armoires, toys, and slides.

The guests, typically dogs and cats, relax for a few days, and while they are at the hotel, they are regularly let out of their cages to play, walk, and be groomed. There are even training classes for those pampered pooches who want to improve themselves.

In the future, pet owners will be able to log onto the Internet to check on their pets at any time through the use of online camera. All this may sound quite unusual, but similar hotels are opening up all over the country. There also are plans to get Internet cameras set up for owners to check on their pets at any time.

While a pet hotel concept may be unique to the resort, similar businesses are growing in popularity across the country, near airports in particularly because travelers often need a nearby place to board their pets. Business is indeed booming for those who want to reach into the pet hotel market. The American Pet Products Manufacturing Association estimates that Americans spend around $3.2 billion each year on grooming and boarding for their pets.

Cape May County has many cottages and inns which allow guests with pets. One of these, pet friendly hotels is the Billmae Cottage with has rooms especially designed for dogs and even has a happy hour for the dogs to mingle and meet.

It’s getting nice out there for pets.