$65 Million Animal Terminal Opens at JFK, Complete With "Pet Oasis"
New York's JFK International Airport is one of the worst in the country — for humans. But for traveling pets, it's now home to one of the best airport experiences ever. Phase 1 of The ARK at JFK opened earlier this week, making it the world's first privately owned, 24-hour luxury pet terminal and quarantine center.
The ARK at JFK caters to animals of all kinds — not just cats and dogs. This week's opening includes The ARK Pet Oasis, an Equine & Livestock Export Center for horses (and other large livestock cargo animals) and an Aviary In-Transit Quarantine area just for birds. The ARK Pet Oasis can best be described as an all-animal wellness center — after all, pets need a break during their travels, too.
Highlights of the Pet Oasis include a splash pool; vaccine and micro-chipping services, US Customs clearance for pets arriving from international destinations and an on-site veterinarian available 24/7 for emergency care, evaluation and treatment of any acute medical conditions. Animal relief and grooming areas are also available to all in-transit pets. According to an article by Bloomberg, standard boarding fees will start at $125 and owners anxious about the well-being of their precious pets and cargo animals will be able to pay a little extra for photo and FaceTime updates.
A full-service equine quarantine and import/export center, as well as extensions to the aviary, are set to open in in a few months, while a full veterinary clinic, laboratory and pet boarding and grooming facility will follow later this year.
The $65 million ARK facility is a 178,000-square-foot space located in Building 78A that's divided into three sections: one for air cargo and ground handling operations, another for the ARK and Red Bank Veterinary Hospital's administrative offices and a third that's home to the ARK Pet Oasis.
This looks like a pretty neat option for pet owners and their in-transit animals in need of a break from the stress that goes along with traveling. Let us know what you think in the comments section, below.
Images courtesy of The ARK at JFK/AnthonyCollins.nyc.