Dick Palazzo believes Purr’n Pooch Pet Resort is the best pet boarding facility in the world.
It is a bold claim, especially coming from the owner of a hands-on pet care destination with locations in Wall and Tinton Falls. Yet it is not one that invites immediate disbelief. According to Grand View Research, the United States alone is home to roughly 9,000 pet boarding facilities. So what makes Purr’n Pooch stand apart?
“Experience cannot be bought,” Palazzo said, offering the first and most steadfast reason behind his confidence.
It is a quality he has spent decades building. Before opening Purr’n Pooch more than 55 years ago, Palazzo studied veterinary medicine while mastering grooming and dog training. Alongside a colleague, he began developing a concept that was largely unheard of at the time — an all-in-one pet resort focused on socialization, enrichment and individualized care.
“Fifty years ago, most people relied on friends or family to watch their pets,” Palazzo said. “Otherwise, dogs went to kennels where they might not leave a crate all day.”
From the start, Purr’n Pooch was different.
Palazzo was also an early adopter of doggie day care when it began gaining traction in the 1970s as work patterns changed. Today, dog day care is a multibillion-dollar industry — valued at $1.7 billion in 2024 and growing, according to Grand View Research — but Palazzo was experimenting long before it was mainstream.
“Nobody thought of putting multiple animals together, especially animals that weren’t yours,” he said. “I’d open the kennels and say, ‘Come on, guys, follow me. We’re going to have fun.’”
Equally unconventional was his leash-free approach to group play. To ensure safety, Palazzo later developed the Purr’n Pooch Pet Shield — a rigid plastic tool designed to safely separate, direct and protect dogs if needed while they enjoy their freedom to play.
Dogs at Purr’n Pooch are grouped by play style and energy level rather than size or breed. Lower-energy dogs enjoy relaxed indoor-outdoor spaces, while more active dogs are given room to run and play freely. Boarding dogs spend most of their day socializing alongside day care dogs, reinforcing a sense of routine and normalcy.
That individualized approach extends across all services. There are no one-size-fits-all policies. Every pet is evaluated individually — dog by dog, cat by cat.
Purr’n Pooch is also one of the few facilities in the area to board both dogs and cats. Its custom-designed catteries feature natural elements such as rock waterfalls and faux foliage, allowing feline guests to explore throughout the day.
Experience is reflected not only in philosophy, but also in staff. Of the resort’s approximately 110 employees, many have been with the company for more than 20 years.
Jen Connors, who has worked at Purr’n Pooch for more than 30 years, recalled once turning on the news in a dog suite at an owner’s request — just one of many small touches designed to make pets feel at home.
That continuity is no accident.
Purr’n Pooch remains family-owned, with Palazzo’s daughters leaving corporate careers to return to the business. It is not a franchise, nor is it located in a strip mall. Both locations were purpose-built to house animals, complete with hospital-inspired ventilation systems designed to prioritize health and comfort.
As private equity increasingly acquires veterinary and boarding facilities nationwide, Palazzo said many compromises are made. Purr’n Pooch chose a different path.
“Every staff member who walks through my door loves animals,” he said. “But the real question is whether they can care for them, be with them and love them around the clock.”
That commitment also extends beyond the resort itself.
The Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals was created to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary and formalize decades of charitable giving by Dick and Mary Palazzo. Inspired by their long-standing support of animal welfare, the foundation honors the unsung heroes of animal rescue while helping animals in need. The Purr’n Pooch Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to continuing that legacy of giving back.
For Palazzo, those details matter. Taken together, they explain why he believes Purr’n Pooch is not just exceptional — but world-class.
For more information, visit purrnpooch.com and purrnpoochfoundation.org.