Bianca Caras grew up as an only child.
“My three dogs were my siblings,” she often says.
But with no relatives living nearby, whenever she and her family went on vacation, the dogs went to a kennel.
Think concrete barriers, chain link fences, maybe some old blankets.
Upon picking her pups up, Bianca would immediately notice changes. Sometimes it would take weeks for them to feel like themselves again.
This was especially true with Delilah, her beloved pit bull who was already naturally skittish.
“They came back exhausted, stressed, with cuts on their noses. I used to think — why doesn’t something better exist?” she recalled.
That question planted the seed for what would become The Barkgata — a luxury dog hotel built to feel like home.
How it happened
Bianca and her dad, Peter, who works in construction, often talked about the idea while she was in high school.
After graduating from Hauppauge in 2015, Caras studied health science and biology at Stony Brook University, with plans to become a physician assistant.
“I was supposed to start PA school in fall of 2020,” she said. “Then COVID hit. The world changed.”
And so did she.
During the pandemic, she deferred admission, worked at a clothing store, and leaned into the small business idea she’d always daydreamed about: opening a luxury boarding facility for dogs.
She signed a lease in November 2020 for a Nesconset location, and after a long road of permitting and construction — handled alongside her dad — The Barkgata officially opened April 31, 2022.
Word spread quickly among dog owners.
“We soon hit full capacity,” Caras said. “That’s when I knew this was real.”
So she expanded, opening a second location in East Farmingdale on March 1, 2025.
How it works
The Barkgata is 100 percent cage-free and designed to feel more like a beautifully appointed North Shore home than a traditional kennel, with warm colors, soft textures and no rough edges.
“It’s all about making the dogs feel like they’re still at home,” Caras explained.
Clients register their pets online through a guest portal, where they upload vaccination records and schedule a two-hour evaluation to assess temperament and fit. Once approved, bookings can be made for daycare or overnight boarding — all right through the site.
“It’s like booking yourself a hotel,” Caras said. “Only this one’s for your dog.”
At both locations, the day starts with play, potty breaks, and breakfast. Boarding dogs get nap time midday, then more play, dinner, and downtime in private suites. Each playgroup is staffed with trained attendants — often two or more — and the facilities are monitored around the clock.
“We’re all about mental stimulation,” Caras said. “They go home tired, in a good way.”
Labor of love
Caras is certified in dog hotel management, pet CPR and first aid. She hand-picks her all-female staff and constantly updates the spaces to keep things fresh.
“I’m OCD about this place,” she said, laughing. “We’re always repainting, replacing things, adding features — I just built a dog ramp in the back. If you’re charging for luxury, you better deliver luxury.”
She says some customers treat their dogs as their “favorite child” — and she gets it.
“I always tell people: I’m taking care of your favorite kid. It’s a huge responsibility,” she said. “But it’s so rewarding. You build relationships that are so real.”
Now with the second Barkgata location fully established in East Farmingdale, Caras says she’s just getting started.
“There was such a need for this on Long Island,” she said. “And I’m proud we were one of the first to bring it here.”
Looking back
When The Barkgata first opened its doors in Nesconset in the spring of 2022, it wasn’t just the dogs wagging their tails — the humans were just as impressed.
More than 50 guests, many with their pups in tow, gathered to celebrate the launch of Long Island’s luxury dog hotel. They toured the suites, enjoyed food and music and got a firsthand look at what owner Bianca Caras called “the closest thing to home” for dogs.
Each suite featured cozy beds, dog-themed wall art, and flat-screen TVs — all designed to ease separation anxiety and mimic a home environment.
“This has been a long time in the works, and I would not be able to do this without my mom and dad,” Caras said, tearing up after cutting the ribbon. “They’ve been my biggest support and my rock, and they’ve got me through everything.”
Tour the newest Barkgata
