Four decades. One family. Every dog.
Poconos Barking Lot has been a fixture in Sciota since 1982 — a small family business that grew into a Pocono institution without ever losing what made it special.
Caring for Pocono Pets Since 1982
Family-run in the Poconos for over forty years.
Karen Friemann founded The Barking Lot in 1982, fresh from training at the New York School of Dog Grooming in Manhattan. She lived on the premises and treated every pet client like her own child — and that's still how this place runs.
The Burns family carries that legacy forward today — with a team that pours the same heart into every stay.
We're not a corporate facility. You'll meet the same friendly faces every visit, on a team handpicked for their love of dogs. Generations of Pocono families have trusted us with their dogs and cats. We get to know their names, quirks, and favorite snacks. And when something matters — meds on a schedule, anxiety during thunderstorms, or picky eating habits — we listen and adjust.
Forty-plus years, one community
A short version of a long story.
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1982
The doors open
Karen Friemann opens The Barking Lot in Sciota, PA. Grooming and boarding under one roof — a small family business built on care, not scale.
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'90s
Word gets around
Local Poconos families become regulars. Vacationers heading to the resorts discover the little shop off Stofflet Road. Generations of dogs pass through our doors.
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2000s
Second generation, same standard
The shop grows. Techniques evolve. The Pocono resort scene explodes. Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge, and Camelback expand — and the "no pets allowed" policies mean vacationers need us more than ever.
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Now
The Burns family carries it forward
Third generation of Pocono pet parents. Same family-run care. Same knowing-your-dog-by-name approach. Forty-plus years in, we still treat every dog like our own.
The things we won't change
Four decades taught us what actually matters.
We know their name
Every dog. Every cat. Their quirks, their favorite snacks, whether they're afraid of thunderstorms.
Same faces every visit
You're not handing your pet to a stranger. You're handing them to people we've handpicked for their love of animals.
We take our time
No rushed grooms. No cage-drying. No corporate quotas. Every pet gets the attention they'd get at home.
We honor the trust
Generations of Pocono families have trusted us with their dogs. We take that responsibility seriously — every single time.
The people your dog will be excited to see
Every member of our team was chosen for their love of animals, their calm hands, and their patience — with anxious dogs, wiggly puppies, and everyone in between.
You'll see the same friendly faces every time you visit. That's not by accident — that's how a family-run business is supposed to work.
Come see for yourself.
Book a boarding stay, a grooming appointment, or just call — we'd love to meet you and your dog.