Shadyside Inn lets sleeping dogs lie down with owners
On a recent sunny day, three dogs frolicked happily in a small dog park in a highly unusual location — the backyard of an urban hotel.
Quincy, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, has been traveling from Houston to the Shadyside Inn All Suites (www.shadysideinn.com) since he was a puppy.
“He loves it in the dog park,” said owner Annie Ong. “I cannot walk Quincy past it without him pulling toward it.”
Ms. Ong visits Pittsburgh frequently because her son lives here. She loves that her dog is as comfortable in her hotel suite as he is in the park.
One of Quincy’s playmates was a golden doodle named Zach, who belongs to Jonathan Plesset, the hotel’s president and CEO. Six buildings contain 108 suites, all in close proximity to the restaurants, shops and businesses on Walnut Street in Shadyside.
Although three of the hotel buildings front busy Fifth Avenue, “in the other direction is a residential neighborhood, which is perfect for walkingdogs,” Mr. Plesset said.
Three dogs are close to capacity for the hotel’s dog park. It’s small and simple, just a couple of pine trees with a thick layer of mulch covering the ground and a white picket fence to keep in the dogs.
Zach, who often comes to work with Mr. Plesset, was a wild 7month-old puppy when he was adopted from a Pittsburgh animal shelter. “He changed my life,” Mr. Plesset said.
Mr. Plesset is a pilot and cofounder of Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team, which has transported more than 7,500 pets from disaster areas and high-kill animal shelters to the safety of shelters and rescues that can find homes for them. He is also a thirdgeneration hotel owner and operator.
“Because we are independent, we can say yes to the requests of our guests,” he said. That includes bringing dogs of all sizes — and the occasional cat — to the Shadyside Inn.
Some hotels and motels that allow pets require them to be in crates and prohibit them from being alone in the room when no owner is present. Not this hotel. And if a dog wants to lounge on the upholstered furniture or in the beds, that’s no problem.
“We have equipment that will clean up after them,” Mr. Plesset said, noting that he has allergies and asthma.
Potty accidents aren’t a problem either. There are no carpets in the hotel, and the lovely golden floors that look like oak are actually vinyl plank, which is much easier to clean than hardwood.
There is no nightly fee for pets, but there is a $100 deep cleaning fee for pet owners. The suites are generally $139-$199 a night.
At check-in, people get freshly baked cookies and dogs get canine cookies and goodie bags that include Rachael Ray Nutrish products.
Now the Shadyside Inn has gone a step further. Guests who stay at least five nights receive a $250 credit toward a pet adoption from their local shelter. Information:www.shadysideinn.com or 412-441-4444.
“There is really no reason for a hotel to say people cannot bring their pets,” said Mr. Plesset. “We love rescuing animals, and we love rescuing customers from chain hotels.”