September 8, 2025 • 10 mins
Local Owners of K9 Resorts in Grand Rapids Megan and Mark Ivaska join us to discuss what is offered at K9 Resorts.
More informationc an be found here:
https://www.k9resorts.com/grand-rapids/
More informationc an be found here:
https://www.k9resorts.com/grand-rapids/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Talk of the Town on news radio with
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM. It's Steve
Kelly and Brett Pikita. We should point out from West
Michigan's Morning News that we are both dog owners and
dog lovers. In fact, I like dogs more than most
people I've met. But will we'll edit that out of
the interview house. You still like me, right, Steve, for
the most punk. Although Rudy is a pretty cool dog,
(00:23):
You're a dog whisper when it comes to Rudy. Canine
Resorts is brand new in Grand Rapids. You'll find out
more at Canine Resorts dot com. In studio. The local
owners are Megan and Mark Ivasca. Guys, thanks for coming
in today.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Our pleasure, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Let's start with the business. Talk to us a little
bit about what makes Canine Resorts special. You'll find it
out by Woodland Mall. That's the best way to put it.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yep, absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Canine Resorts was actually inspired by places like the Ritz,
Carlton and Disney Nice just a little over twenty years ago.
So when you look at an experience factor in the
number of locations that have been open up, there's a
huge level of learning and improvement that's happened over the
last twenty years. We are coast to coast. Started out
in New Jersey, but now even just right across the
(01:10):
street from lax So have spanned the country and made
improvements along the way. So when it comes to a
five star experience, we look at, Hey, you and I
Steve have got places that we can go to and
absolutely be floored away.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Why can't dogs?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Right?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
And so when you look at just the build out
and what has happened, the Parker brothers who founded it
back when they were seventeen and nineteen, said, how can
we bring in ideas from Disney and Riz Carlton to
serve the dogs?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So it is really really neat. So you guys, what's
your background?
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Obviously married couples started this business, but you have to
have a dog background, right If you're dealing with dogs
or your staff is dealing with dogs all day, imagine
there's got to be some background of how you got
to this point.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Megan is the dog lover, absolutely adores them. I get
jealous sometimes. Yes it can be frustrating, but.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Yes, so always had dogs from a young age, grew up.
I was writing my parents notes, leaving him under my
parents' pillows for about two years. Wanting a dog, how
I would take care of the dog? Fast forward, Mark
and I have pretty much always had two dogs. We
began fostering dogs in twenty twenty and have welcomed dogs
(02:25):
into our house throughout that time. But being dog owners
and moving to Grand Rapids in twenty seventeen, found it
extremely difficult traveling with our boys on the school calendar
to find availability for boarding and or with daycare. And
so we got introduced to Canine very stay art, forward
(02:45):
thinking experience as far as being best of.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
The best for dogs.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
We are talking in studio on Talk of the Town
with Megan and Mark Ivasca. They owned canine resorts right
here in Grand Rapids Canine Resorts dot Com. I think
that makes it huge difference, doesn't it. I mean there's
a lot of trust. We talk about businesses that come
into your home. We're trusting you with our little loved ones,
right and I like to know that you're a dog
(03:11):
freak like me. Talk to us about the difference that
makes Some of us have had some negative experiences, right yep.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
So as far as our team and our staff, so
My background is I have a doctorate in physical therapy.
Mark's got a background in business and hiring and leading
a team. He's very passionate about that. Our staff is
highly trained. We've got that texts, that assistance with backgrounds.
We have graduates of degrees with animal science that are
(03:41):
moving on to that school long term. But on our
team highly trained. Keenine Resorts prioritizes that every team member
receives high level of training in pet behavior and communication
as well as safety and CPR. So everyone that is
on our team goes through that training.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, we're so blessed and fortunate just by the team
members that we have. When you have people that have
the experienced factors working in a professional environment and be
it an emergency animal hospital, be it behavioral training with dogs. Now,
while we're not a vet and while we are not
a trainer, they do an incredible job just connecting with
the dogs in a great way that just makes their
(04:20):
tails wag and it's fun fun to see.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I mean, Rudy and Maze, they would love it.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I mean, you guys have got dogs right well, and
you guys have been opened just a few weeks. But Mark,
you made a comment to me when you're coming to
the studio, which is what it's all about. And to
Steve's point, you don't want your dog fearing to go somewhere.
And then the anxiety when you pick them up right
and they're like, okay, that whole experience. I know, Rudy
shakes as he gets into the car until we realize, oh,
we're going to the park. We're not going to the
(04:46):
pet resort or whatever the case might be. What makes
your place different because you said to me the dogs.
You actually see them when they get out in the
parking lot, pulling their owners towards your door.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Instead of running the other way. Yep. So we I
only do things that dogs love.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
And so dogs are great at remembering the smells of places,
and so when you look at just as soon as
they walk in the door, as soon as they get
out of the car door, even in the parking lot,
they're recognizing the smell of the resort, and then they're
thinking of those memories that they had of Hey, I
was back there playing with my buddies. I got to
meet Boozy, I got to meet Remy, I got to
(05:22):
meet Kiva, I got Sally. I hope Sally's back there today.
I hope I can play with Sally. And so that
socialization is huge. Dogs are highly social creatures. That's why
they do such a great job loving at.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Way, have you met Rudy yet? I hear Rudy's pretty big,
big personality. Yeah, big personality.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Wait to find out more about how it works out
when you guys go Canine Resorts dot com. So you
do overnight accommodations, like if we're getting ready to go
for spring break, but daycare too.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Correct, yep, So we do two main focuses. So we've
got our overnight accommodations, We've got our luxury suites. It's
eight by eight private accommodation. You will sleep better in
that then many hotels that I have ever stayed in.
So it is eight by eight, like I said, is
actually built with soundproofing material. So we actually borrowed some
material that is are originally engineered for NASA applications to
(06:12):
help dampen the sound in the room. In addition to that,
in terms of the health standpoint and talking about since
two dogs have to be in the exact same room
to be sharing air with one another, so if a
dog is staying in our luxury suite.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
It's really really.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Hard for them to even smell other dogs. All that
lowers their stress and anxiety. We've got TVs in those
rooms tuned to dog TV, which lowers Oh yeah, Zuzu
is absolutely gonna love the dogs. Zuzu's staying in our
luxury suite and being able to watch dog TV. We
know from sound research that even the background sound of
(06:47):
TV lowers the stress and anxiety of dogs. Some dogs
are even TV watchers, and so it just makes them
feel right at home as well. Then our most common
accommodation is our executive suite. It's a five seven area.
It's a panel system, so no chain link, so you
go to a lot of places in that chain link.
Like when I grew up, the dogs stayed outside. It
(07:08):
got to come in the garage twenty degrees you know,
below zero, it got to come upgraded to the garage. Well,
today dogs are so much more a part of our family,
and so our run system. It's a panel system so
that dogs can't see each other, which can create anxiety.
If they can't play with one another, then from a
health mitigation standpoint, they're also not breathing on each other.
And so when you think of things like canine cough
(07:30):
or kennel cough in our resort, that helps get mitigated
even by our UV airpece system. So think of a
bleach wipe going in the air. It's killing bacteria, mold,
mildrew viruses.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
It's also helping take odors out of the air.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
So hospital grade HVAC system super important to lower in
the stress and anxiety of the dogs of those constant
fresh air exchanges. Our final level of accommodations traditional compartments
for dogs that like that cozier environment or who still
are might be great trained. But you're exactly we do
do dog daycare too, so going back to dogs are
(08:03):
highly social and energetic. They just love it being interact
with other dogs, seeing their buddies. Great for people that
have remote work or coming in the office all day,
just being able to get that dog full of life.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
So Steve mentioned you guys are by Woodland Mall, but
to be more specific, it's the old TGIF restaurant right
that you guys have taken.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Over exactly, So the TGIF sat abandoned, are emptied for
almost five years, and we really have transformed the entire
facility from top to bottom, nook and cranny, everything has
been built out. So we have about twelve thousand square
feet dedicated to the dogs. Nine thousand square feet is
under the roof, and we have three thousand square feet
(08:44):
outside for play areas. We are all inclusive, tying back
to our boarding, so dogs aren't required to be dog friendly.
We include the same price for either the group play
or the private play. Every dog is going to get
an evaluation to determine the best fit for them.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Let's talk about that a little bit real quick for
people who are listening and interested, So pricing kind of
shared just the basics for that. And then also can
people go on a physical tour or online tour to
see the facility.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Oh, tours are incredibly important. I mean you got to
think if you're dropping off your kids at preschool or
daycare before.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
You signed up, you do want to see the place.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, and to make sure that where you're taking the
dogs the right place, you absolutely should tour it. I'll
let Megan jump into the pricing some and kind of
how that works, but yeah, that tour is huge.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Love to have you.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Guys in sometime. You are absolutely welcome. Love to see
Zuzu and Rudy and.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
All both there. That would be awesome.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
We're in so as far as daycare, what's really popular.
People buy a package, so they might buy ten visits
or twenty visits essentially like a punch pass that brings
the cost down to as low as around thirty dollars,
and they're just bring their dog on their way to
work or they're going to be working from home and
let their dog get some stimulation in our group environment.
(10:00):
And then for our boarding, we have a various fees,
but it's all inclusive, so it does include either that
private or group play. It includes our betting because we
are very strict about what we allow into our facility,
so we're fully cleaning our betting that is an orthopedic
premium style betting. And then we also have a prescription
based house food as dogs when their away from home
(10:22):
can't experience some digestive changes, so we're very proactive about
ensuring a most comfortable stay, and all that pricing is
included in the price of the overnight.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Make a visit or check out the website kninresorts dot com.
You'll find the Grand Rapids location. Local owners Megan and
Mark Ivaska a pleasure. Thank you for coming in today.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Great thank you both really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
This is Talk of the Town on news radio WOULD
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.
This is Talk of the Town on news radio with
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM. It's Steve
Kelly and Brett Pikita. We should point out from West
Michigan's Morning News that we are both dog owners and
dog lovers. In fact, I like dogs more than most
people I've met. But will we'll edit that out of
the interview house. You still like me, right, Steve, for
the most punk. Although Rudy is a pretty cool dog,
(00:23):
You're a dog whisper when it comes to Rudy. Canine
Resorts is brand new in Grand Rapids. You'll find out
more at Canine Resorts dot com. In studio. The local
owners are Megan and Mark Ivasca. Guys, thanks for coming
in today.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Our pleasure, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Let's start with the business. Talk to us a little
bit about what makes Canine Resorts special. You'll find it
out by Woodland Mall. That's the best way to put it.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yep, absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Canine Resorts was actually inspired by places like the Ritz,
Carlton and Disney Nice just a little over twenty years ago.
So when you look at an experience factor in the
number of locations that have been open up, there's a
huge level of learning and improvement that's happened over the
last twenty years. We are coast to coast. Started out
in New Jersey, but now even just right across the
(01:10):
street from lax So have spanned the country and made
improvements along the way. So when it comes to a
five star experience, we look at, Hey, you and I
Steve have got places that we can go to and
absolutely be floored away.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Why can't dogs?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Right?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
And so when you look at just the build out
and what has happened, the Parker brothers who founded it
back when they were seventeen and nineteen, said, how can
we bring in ideas from Disney and Riz Carlton to
serve the dogs?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So it is really really neat. So you guys, what's
your background?
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Obviously married couples started this business, but you have to
have a dog background, right If you're dealing with dogs
or your staff is dealing with dogs all day, imagine
there's got to be some background of how you got
to this point.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Megan is the dog lover, absolutely adores them. I get
jealous sometimes. Yes it can be frustrating, but.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Yes, so always had dogs from a young age, grew up.
I was writing my parents notes, leaving him under my
parents' pillows for about two years. Wanting a dog, how
I would take care of the dog? Fast forward, Mark
and I have pretty much always had two dogs. We
began fostering dogs in twenty twenty and have welcomed dogs
(02:25):
into our house throughout that time. But being dog owners
and moving to Grand Rapids in twenty seventeen, found it
extremely difficult traveling with our boys on the school calendar
to find availability for boarding and or with daycare. And
so we got introduced to Canine very stay art, forward
(02:45):
thinking experience as far as being best of.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
The best for dogs.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
We are talking in studio on Talk of the Town
with Megan and Mark Ivasca. They owned canine resorts right
here in Grand Rapids Canine Resorts dot Com. I think
that makes it huge difference, doesn't it. I mean there's
a lot of trust. We talk about businesses that come
into your home. We're trusting you with our little loved ones,
right and I like to know that you're a dog
(03:11):
freak like me. Talk to us about the difference that
makes Some of us have had some negative experiences, right yep.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
So as far as our team and our staff, so
My background is I have a doctorate in physical therapy.
Mark's got a background in business and hiring and leading
a team. He's very passionate about that. Our staff is
highly trained. We've got that texts, that assistance with backgrounds.
We have graduates of degrees with animal science that are
(03:41):
moving on to that school long term. But on our
team highly trained. Keenine Resorts prioritizes that every team member
receives high level of training in pet behavior and communication
as well as safety and CPR. So everyone that is
on our team goes through that training.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, we're so blessed and fortunate just by the team
members that we have. When you have people that have
the experienced factors working in a professional environment and be
it an emergency animal hospital, be it behavioral training with dogs. Now,
while we're not a vet and while we are not
a trainer, they do an incredible job just connecting with
the dogs in a great way that just makes their
(04:20):
tails wag and it's fun fun to see.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I mean, Rudy and Maze, they would love it.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I mean, you guys have got dogs right well, and
you guys have been opened just a few weeks. But Mark,
you made a comment to me when you're coming to
the studio, which is what it's all about. And to
Steve's point, you don't want your dog fearing to go somewhere.
And then the anxiety when you pick them up right
and they're like, okay, that whole experience. I know, Rudy
shakes as he gets into the car until we realize, oh,
we're going to the park. We're not going to the
(04:46):
pet resort or whatever the case might be. What makes
your place different because you said to me the dogs.
You actually see them when they get out in the
parking lot, pulling their owners towards your door.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Instead of running the other way. Yep. So we I
only do things that dogs love.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
And so dogs are great at remembering the smells of places,
and so when you look at just as soon as
they walk in the door, as soon as they get
out of the car door, even in the parking lot,
they're recognizing the smell of the resort, and then they're
thinking of those memories that they had of Hey, I
was back there playing with my buddies. I got to
meet Boozy, I got to meet Remy, I got to
(05:22):
meet Kiva, I got Sally. I hope Sally's back there today.
I hope I can play with Sally. And so that
socialization is huge. Dogs are highly social creatures. That's why
they do such a great job loving at.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Way, have you met Rudy yet? I hear Rudy's pretty big,
big personality. Yeah, big personality.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Wait to find out more about how it works out
when you guys go Canine Resorts dot com. So you
do overnight accommodations, like if we're getting ready to go
for spring break, but daycare too.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Correct, yep, So we do two main focuses. So we've
got our overnight accommodations, We've got our luxury suites. It's
eight by eight private accommodation. You will sleep better in
that then many hotels that I have ever stayed in.
So it is eight by eight, like I said, is
actually built with soundproofing material. So we actually borrowed some
material that is are originally engineered for NASA applications to
(06:12):
help dampen the sound in the room. In addition to that,
in terms of the health standpoint and talking about since
two dogs have to be in the exact same room
to be sharing air with one another, so if a
dog is staying in our luxury suite.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
It's really really.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Hard for them to even smell other dogs. All that
lowers their stress and anxiety. We've got TVs in those
rooms tuned to dog TV, which lowers Oh yeah, Zuzu
is absolutely gonna love the dogs. Zuzu's staying in our
luxury suite and being able to watch dog TV. We
know from sound research that even the background sound of
(06:47):
TV lowers the stress and anxiety of dogs. Some dogs
are even TV watchers, and so it just makes them
feel right at home as well. Then our most common
accommodation is our executive suite. It's a five seven area.
It's a panel system, so no chain link, so you
go to a lot of places in that chain link.
Like when I grew up, the dogs stayed outside. It
(07:08):
got to come in the garage twenty degrees you know,
below zero, it got to come upgraded to the garage. Well,
today dogs are so much more a part of our family,
and so our run system. It's a panel system so
that dogs can't see each other, which can create anxiety.
If they can't play with one another, then from a
health mitigation standpoint, they're also not breathing on each other.
And so when you think of things like canine cough
(07:30):
or kennel cough in our resort, that helps get mitigated
even by our UV airpece system. So think of a
bleach wipe going in the air. It's killing bacteria, mold,
mildrew viruses.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
It's also helping take odors out of the air.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
So hospital grade HVAC system super important to lower in
the stress and anxiety of the dogs of those constant
fresh air exchanges. Our final level of accommodations traditional compartments
for dogs that like that cozier environment or who still
are might be great trained. But you're exactly we do
do dog daycare too, so going back to dogs are
(08:03):
highly social and energetic. They just love it being interact
with other dogs, seeing their buddies. Great for people that
have remote work or coming in the office all day,
just being able to get that dog full of life.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
So Steve mentioned you guys are by Woodland Mall, but
to be more specific, it's the old TGIF restaurant right
that you guys have taken.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Over exactly, So the TGIF sat abandoned, are emptied for
almost five years, and we really have transformed the entire
facility from top to bottom, nook and cranny, everything has
been built out. So we have about twelve thousand square
feet dedicated to the dogs. Nine thousand square feet is
under the roof, and we have three thousand square feet
(08:44):
outside for play areas. We are all inclusive, tying back
to our boarding, so dogs aren't required to be dog friendly.
We include the same price for either the group play
or the private play. Every dog is going to get
an evaluation to determine the best fit for them.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Let's talk about that a little bit real quick for
people who are listening and interested, So pricing kind of
shared just the basics for that. And then also can
people go on a physical tour or online tour to
see the facility.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Oh, tours are incredibly important. I mean you got to
think if you're dropping off your kids at preschool or
daycare before.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
You signed up, you do want to see the place.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, and to make sure that where you're taking the
dogs the right place, you absolutely should tour it. I'll
let Megan jump into the pricing some and kind of
how that works, but yeah, that tour is huge.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Love to have you.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Guys in sometime. You are absolutely welcome. Love to see
Zuzu and Rudy and.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
All both there. That would be awesome.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
We're in so as far as daycare, what's really popular.
People buy a package, so they might buy ten visits
or twenty visits essentially like a punch pass that brings
the cost down to as low as around thirty dollars,
and they're just bring their dog on their way to
work or they're going to be working from home and
let their dog get some stimulation in our group environment.
(10:00):
And then for our boarding, we have a various fees,
but it's all inclusive, so it does include either that
private or group play. It includes our betting because we
are very strict about what we allow into our facility,
so we're fully cleaning our betting that is an orthopedic
premium style betting. And then we also have a prescription
based house food as dogs when their away from home
(10:22):
can't experience some digestive changes, so we're very proactive about
ensuring a most comfortable stay, and all that pricing is
included in the price of the overnight.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Make a visit or check out the website kninresorts dot com.
You'll find the Grand Rapids location. Local owners Megan and
Mark Ivaska a pleasure. Thank you for coming in today.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Great thank you both really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
This is Talk of the Town on news radio WOULD
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.
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