Pet Boarding in Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but it has one of the highest personalities-per-square-mile ratios in America. Newport's Gilded Age mansions along Bellevue Avenue — the summer palaces of the Vanderbilts and Astors — tell one part of the story. Providence's RISD-fueled arts scene, Federal Hill Italian neighborhood, and surprisingly excellent restaurant culture tell another. And then there's the coast: Narragansett Bay, Block Island, and the long stretches of beaches that make Rhode Island a summer escape for the entire New England region.

Providence is the state's urban center and home to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, which give it a creative, educated energy that shapes its businesses. The pet boarding market here is compact by necessity — Rhode Island is only 37 miles wide and 48 miles tall — but quality is high. Warwick and Cranston in the southern Providence metro have a more suburban character with several solid facilities. Newport, with its tourism economy and affluent year-round population, has boarding options that match its upscale character.

Because Rhode Island is so small, most residents are never more than about 20-25 minutes from a quality facility regardless of where they live. Summer demand along the coast is intense — Narragansett, South County, and Westerly see significant tourism, and facilities in those areas book up quickly from July through August. Block Island has no mainland boarding; ferry arrangements need advance planning. Rhode Island's coffee milk (the official state drink) is delightful; your dog, sadly, cannot have any.