Pocono Pet Boarding · Family-Run Since 1982 · Poconos Barking Lot

About Boarding Grooming Contact FAQ 📞 (570) 992-4404

Pocono Pet Boarding · Since 1982

Vacation in the Poconos.
Bring your dog anyway.

Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge, and most Airbnbs don't allow pets. We're minutes from all of them — family-run since 1982, third-generation care, dogs and cats welcome.

Book Boarding → 📞 (570) 992-4404

Last-minute booking? Almost always yes — just call.

40+ Years of care

Happy dogs playing in the sprinkler at Poconos Barking Lot's outdoor play yard

EST. 1982 Family-run

40+Years caring for Pocono pets

1982The year a family started this place

3rdGeneration of Pocono pet parents

7 daysDrop-offs and pick-ups available

The Problem We Solve

Your resort says no pets. We say bring 'em over.

Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge, Camelback — most of the big Pocono resorts don't allow dogs in guest rooms. Most Airbnbs in the area don't either. We're minutes from all of them, so your whole family (four legs included) gets a real vacation.

Drop off on the way in. Pick up on the way out. That's it.

Kalahari ResortMinutes away

Great Wolf LodgeMinutes away

Camelback LodgeShort drive

Mount Airy CasinoShort drive

Split Rock ResortShort drive

Local AirbnbsThroughout area

What's Included

Pet care that feels like home

Forty years of experience built into every stay. Dogs and cats welcome.

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Overnight Boarding

Clean, climate-controlled kennels with constant supervision. Dogs and cats welcome — we've been doing this since 1982.

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Supervised Play & Exercise

Outdoor play in smaller groups, monitored by our staff. Plenty of room to stretch, sniff, and burn off energy.

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Grooming Add-Ons

Send your pet off looking like they had a vacation too. Add a bath, brush-out, or full groom to any boarding stay.

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Right Off Your Route

209 Stofflet Rd in Sciota — minutes from Kalahari, Great Wolf, and the rest of the Poconos. No detour required.

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Last-Minute Welcome

Just discovered your resort doesn't allow pets? Call us. We're built for fast turnarounds and same-day arrivals.

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We Know Their Name

We remember every pet by name and treat them like our own. That's what 40+ years in one community teaches you.

Our Story

Caring for Pocono pets since 1982

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.

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, anxious during thunderstorms, picky about food — we listen and adjust.

1982

The year we opened our doors

40+

Years in this community

Family still running it

Poconos Barking Lot staff member sharing a quiet moment with a senior dog

Same family, same loving care, four decades later. — The Poconos Barking Lot way

Meet the Team

The people your dog will be excited to see

You're not handing your pet to a stranger. You're handing them to the same friendly faces every visit — a team who knows the kennel dogs by name and treats every one of them like their own.

"She remembers our dog from a year ago. That's the kind of place this is."

— What our boarding families say

Real Days, Real Dogs

What their stay actually looks like

These are our guests — not stock photos. Room to run, water on hot days, and someone watching them the whole time.

Black Labrador leaping in the outdoor play yard at Poconos Barking Lot

Bulldog and other dogs cooling off in the sprinkler on a warm day

Staff member giving a senior boarding guest some quiet one-on-one time

Common Questions

Things travelers ask us

Quick answers for your peace of mind.

How close are you to Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge?

We're located at 209 Stofflet Rd in Sciota, PA — minutes from both resorts and easy to fit into your drive in or out. Call us at (570) 992-4404 and we can give you exact drive times based on where you're staying.

Can I book last-minute or same-day?

Almost always yes. Last-minute discoveries — Kalahari said no, the Airbnb has a pet policy you didn't see — are a big part of what we do. Just call and we'll let you know right away if we have space.

What do I need to bring?

Up-to-date vaccination records (required — Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella for dogs), your pet's food in pre-portioned servings, any medications with instructions, and any comfort items — favorite blanket, toy, treats. We provide the rest.

Do you board cats too?

Yes — we welcome both dogs and cats. Our feline guests get a separate, quieter area so they can relax away from the canine excitement.

What if my pet has special needs?

Tell us. Medications on schedule, special diets, anxiety, senior care — we accommodate all of it. We've been doing this since 1982 and have seen just about everything. Give us the details when you book.

What are your hours? When can I drop off or pick up?

Monday through Saturday: 8am to 5pm. Sundays are reserved for scheduled boarding drop-offs and pick-ups between 9am and 10am — perfect timing if you're heading out to Kalahari, Great Wolf, or anywhere else in the Poconos. If your resort check-in or check-out doesn't line up neatly with that window, give us a call and we'll do our best to accommodate. Closed major holidays.

Vacation in the Poconos. Don't leave your dog at home.

Book online in minutes, or give us a call to check availability. Last-minute bookings welcome.