Developers work to lure dog owners

Talk about getting a treat. Dog owners are increasingly winning attention from developers who now offer comprehensive dog care services in luxury buildings around the city, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Because dog ownership restrictions still do exist in buildings around town, newer developments are now “bending over backwards to cater to pet owners as potential buyers because they know that that problem exists,” Fox Residential Group President Barbara Fox told the Journal.

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For example, Rose Associates this summer will debut a joint concierge program in 20 of its properties in the city with the Spot Experience, a dog services provider, which will offer drop-off and pick-up services and dental work. Related Companies has also contributed to the trend. Last year it created “Dog City” at MiMA, which has spa services, dog walkers, puppy playdates and indoor and outdoor space for the building’s four-legged residents. This marks a change from the 1980s, when Related limited its residents to a single dog weighing 50 pounds.

No official count of the number of dogs in New York City exists, but the Journal said about 97,568 dogs were licensed with the Health Department last year. Dog groups said the number came closer to 1.4 million. [WSJ]