K9 Playland, Charlotte

Three out of four of K9 Playland’s co-owners can’t answer the phone without barking. That’s because Alvin, Zoe, and Allie-Gator are a pug, dachshund, and german shepherd who belong to co-owner Erica Iglesias. Erica and her staff view their canine clientele as being every bit as important as these three pups.

When owners leave for top-secret CIA missions, dogs can take vacations inside 4’x8’ kennel spaces equipped with miniature cots and blankets. Doggy daycare takes place in a 4,000-square-foot indoor space where pups play in groups divided by age, size, and temperament, and an outdoor play area entertains with playground equipment, toys, and pools. The facility also offers gentle, meticulous grooming treatments, such as balmy oatmeal baths, in addition to training programs, which aim to instill perfect table manners and obedience deep in pets' psyches.