Pets
| 30 Nov 2022 | 05:53
The owners of Barking Dog NYC set out 30 years ago to create a neighborhood spot where locals could dine with their pets. Photo: barkingdognyc.com
The Black Lab Cafe is a place that serves coffee and pastries, and one where dogs can run off-leash. Photo: Kay Bontempo
A kitten cuddle from the Bideawee website.
Bark Avenue Grooming on the UWS will try to accommodate extra-speedy grooming for service dogs. Photo: Kay Bontempo
With several locations on the UWS (and one on the UES), the Pet Market has the inventory of the big chains while maintaining the family feel of a local mom-and-pop. Photo: Kay Bontempo
The 105th Street Dog Run on the lower level of Riverside Park has ample space for dogs to run and play. Photo: Kay Bontempo
Best Grooming
BARK PLACE NEW YORK
1404 First Ave
212-737-3510
The professionals at Bark Place are experienced with anxious dogs and expert at putting your pet at ease. The facility is cage-free and caters to both dogs and cats. Customers come back, pleased with the calming and pleasant way Bark Place cares for their pets.
BARK AVENUE GROOMING
167 West 83rd St.
646-861-3083
Bark Avenue has been grooming dogs on the Upper West Side for upwards of two decades. Their team will take care of de-matting and de-shedding as well as breed standard cuts. They care for all sizes, types and breeds, and will try to accommodate extra-speedy grooming for service dogs.
NOW YOU’RE CLEAN
279 East 10th St.
332-257-2376
Your dog won’t just leave this East Village spot sparkling clean — he’ll get some playtime in too. Now You’re Clean has an open backyard for dogs to run before or after their bath. Dog washes are self-service, with shampoo and conditioner provided. Onsite staff will do nail trimmings, teeth and ear cleanings and more.
Best Dog Park
CARL SCHURZ BIG DOG RUN
Corner of East End Ave. and 86th St.
Constructed specifically with large dogs in mind, the aptly-named Carl Schurz Big Dog Run is spacious and provides a water station and doggie bags. The grounds are sandy, so your dog may need a rinse before heading back into the house. It’s also located next to the East River promenade, perfect for a riverside stroll after the park. (A separate dog run is available nearby for smaller dogs.)
105th STREET DOG RUN
Riverside Park at West 105th St
This dog run is situated on the lower level of Riverside Park, surrounded by lush foliage. There is ample space for dogs to run and play, and dog toys are available for them to share. The dog run also features a washing tub to rinse your dog off before departing, plus drinkable water and a dog dish (though the running water is not available in winter.) The space has a nice balance of sun and shade, ensuring the comfort of both dogs and owners on hot summer days.
MADISON SQUARE PARK CONSERVANCY
11 Madison Ave.
Best known as the home of Madison Square Garden, Madison Square Park is also an underrated destination for dogs, thanks to its dog run added in 1997. For safety’s sake, the Conservancy has separately designated spaces for smaller and larger dogs. The area is small but open, with benches and seating for owners to rest while their pets frolic.
Best Pet Stores
PET TOWN
1676 First Ave.
212-996-6273
Pet Town inspires loyalty with its above-average customer service and personal touch. A true neighborhood store, its employees are familiar with their customers and will go above and beyond for them. They will order items upon request if not in stock, and also deliver to homes.
THE PET MARKET
132 West 72nd St.
917-409-3225
224 West 72nd St.
212-799-4200
2821 Broadway
212-864-3300
For three decades, denizens of the Upper West Side have visited the Pet Market’s multiple locations for their wide selection of dog and cat food and supplements. Through their growing network of 5 retail outlets (including one on the UES), the Pet Market has the inventory of the big chains while maintaining the family feel of a local mom-and-pop. It provides home delivery, and caters to families with the standard dog, cat and aquarium needs. The helpful and knowledgeable staff get to know pets and their owners personally, and are eager to meet the needs of the local community.
BEASTY FEAST
327 West 14th St.
212-300-4346
While the name suggests a place that sells pet food and supplies, it’s slightly misleading — Beasty Feast does much more. Not only does the store sell supplements, crates and pens, carriers, leashes and much more, it also offers a grooming service and training facility.
Best Rescue
BIDEAWEE
410 East 38th St.
866-262-8133
Located by the East River, this branch of New York State chain Bideawee allows you to search their online database of pets available for adoption before visiting in-person. The shelter is clean and organized, and the adoption process is quick and streamlined. Beginning in February 2022, Bideawee Manhattan stopped requiring appointments, allowing prospective adopters to walk in and take a pet home the same day. They also encourage adopters to adopt multiple kittens from a litter when possible, to keep siblings together.
MUDDY PAWS RESCUE
821 Ninth Ave FRNT 1
Muddy Paws’ mission is to end euthanasia of unwanted dogs. To that end, they found homes for nearly a thousand last year. A foster-based program with no physical shelter, Muddy Paws relies on foster homes to save the lives of dogs who may otherwise have nowhere to go; once fostered, they’re available for adoption. They also provide training classes for foster families who want to continue helping.
ANIMAL HAVEN
200 Centre St.
212-274-8511
Animal Haven is just that — a safe haven for dogs and cats in need of adoption. They pull animals from kill shelters and unsafe situations and make every effort to find loving homes. The rescue also allows prospective adopters to visit and play with animals before taking them home, to make sure it’s a good fit. They also ensure that adopters are living in a building that allows pets and will be able to provide a safe and loving home.
Best Dog Daycare
INSTINCT DOG BEHAVIOR & TRAINING
181 East 111th St.
212-828-3647
While it provides daycare, this East Harlem spot has a special focus on behavioral health. Dogs staying with them are entertained with obstacle courses, hunting and chasing games, digging games, and scent training. Apart from daycare, Instinct offers ‘puppy camp’ and coaching programs which promise to potty train or crate train your pets, and train them to sit, stay, or come when called. Their “Nature- driven Nurture” approach is designed to build confidence and responsiveness in dogs of all ages.
DOG DAYS
2581 Broadway
212-767-9022
The whimsically named Dog Days provides daycare and completely cage-free overnight boarding on the Upper West Side. Founded by local residents and dog owners, the mission was to create a dog daycare that reflected their views about how dogs should be treated; for instance, the belief that dogs deserve to be engaged throughout the day, not just supervised. They offer half-day care including drop-off or pick-up, and for members they also provide hourly care — perfect if you need to leave your dog while you run some errands.
DOGMA DOG DAYCARE
21 Seventh Ave. South
212-366-4060
The two-story facility at Dogma houses abundant resources for dogs that go beyond overnight boarding and daycare. They offer behavior training classes, which equip dog owners with the tools needed to train their pets. And the “agility and socialization” playgroups offered three times a week build dogs’ physical agility, while also teaching them to respond to verbal cues. Dogma also has dog walkers who will pick up, walk and drop off your dog from your home or business. Overnight stays are cage-free.
Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant
BARKING DOG NYC
1678 Third Ave.
212-831-1800
The Barking Dog was founded specifically with dog owners in mind: since most NYC restaurants won’t allow animals inside, the owners specifically set out 30 years ago to create a neighborhood spot where locals could dine with their pets. Their website also features detailed recommendations for how to safely and responsibly bring a dog to a restaurant. The outdoor dining area even includes a tiled water fountain for dogs.
BLACK LAB CAFE
420 Amsterdam Ave.
646-343-4089
The Black Lab somehow manages to be simultaneously an excellent location for remote work, a café serving coffee and pastries, and a place where dogs can run off-leash. They accomplish this by separating the place into two sections. On one side, you can order a pain au chocolat or a latte; then, bring it back to the seating area, where dogs can frolic and socialize with one another. A glass partition allows owners to keep one eye on their pets’ antics while ordering.
THE WILSON NYC
132 West 27th St.
212-529-2671
The Wilson goes beyond dog-friendly; it actually has a separate menu for dogs. Located inside INNSIDE New York, the restaurant focuses on classic New American cuisine and cocktails (for humans), while offering multiple protein options and a classic dog biscuit for canine customers.