New York City's dogs are being pampered like never before with luxury clubs in the city catering to both the four-legged creatures and their affluent owners; Dog PPL, a members-only club originally from Santa Monica, is setting up shop in Williamsburg, promising an array of amenities including dog trainers, organic pet food, and even curated experiences for the humans who tag along. As reported by Gothamist, Liam Underwood, co-founder of Dog PPL, described the new Williamsburg location as "kind of a magical space because everyone there is a dog person," signaling a community-like atmosphere where dog and owner indulgences align.
While these high-end pooch palaces serve up human perks like coffee shops, bars, and events such as DJ nights and pottery classes these embellishments seem almost as critical as the dog-centric services; prices, however, may induce a little sticker shock ranging from roughly $60 for half a day at clubs like Happy Tails in Tribeca to about $1,400 monthly at more comprehensive dog care facilities – according to Gothamist, these figures have some locals laughing at the lavishness in a city battling housing and homelessness issues, with one Reddit user expressing their dismay, "If you have the disposable income to waste north of $1300 per year for what essentially sounds like a glorified dog park membership, don’t tell me you give a [s***] about dogs. You give a [s***] about being seen as elitist and cool."
Beyond the debate on their cost, the clubs tout a sense of community among dog lovers and a more controlled environment for the canines, with owners citing issues such as poor behavior and injuries at public dog parks; Happy Tails, for example, was likened to a preschool for dogs by dog owner Bree Groff during a club visit she watched over by a one way mirror, as seen in Gothamist interview.
However, not everyone is convinced that these luxurious dog lounges are necessary, or even desirable, in the proximity of existing public amenities; the new Dog PPL outpost in Williamsburg will be only steps away from the public McCarren Park Dog Run – a point of contention among local pet owners who, like Scott Gary, 31, find this "bougie" incarnation both indicative of the neighborhood's trend-chasing nature and somewhat redundant given the free facilities already available though he did admit to The Post that an increase in the run's maintenance could sway his opinion given the current dusty and barren state of the park.
Criticism also hinges on the exclusivity of such spots – with strict member guidelines such as a prohibition on personal dog toys and outside treats to minimize aggression, and no children under the age of 16 permitted, as stated on Dog PPL's website – some locals, like Katie Booth, 33, lament that public spaces for dogs should receive more investment from the neighborhood to make them more appealing and negate the need for such upscale versions. Dog owners like Michael Laudenslager and Cara Forgione, who still visit Tompkins Square Park despite having moved to Greenpoint from the East Village believe the organic community that forms at public dog parks can’t readily be replicated in a paid, members-only setting, this sentiment also shared in a The Post report.
