Bianca Caras grew up as an only child.
“My three dogs were my siblings,” she often says.
But with no relatives living in the area, 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 from the kennels, Bianca would immediately notice changes in them. Sometimes it would take weeks to start being themselves again.
This was especially true with Delilah, her beloved pit bill 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?” That’s when the idea for a luxurious doggie hotel — a place that would feel like a home to dogs — began to germinate.
The then-high schooler and her dad, Peter, who’s in construction, would speak of it often.
It would take a few years and a circuitous route to make it happen.
But that’s exactly what the Caras family did when they opened The Barkgata, a luxury dog hotel, in Nesconset in 2022. Now, pups closer to the South Shore just got a serious upgrade as well. A second Barkgata location, which mirrors the first in look, feel and function, is now fully open and operational at 1661 Broadhollow Road in East Farmingdale.
Scroll down for a photo tour!
How it happened
Caras graduated from Hauppauge High School in 2015, then 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, took a job at a clothing store, and leaned into the small business idea she had 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 — all handled with her dad — The Barkgata officially opened April 31, 2022.
Word spread quickly among dog owners.
“We soon hit full capacity,” she said. “That’s when I knew this was real.”
How it works
The Barkgata is 100 percent cage-free and designed to feel more like an impeccably designed North Shore of Long Island 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. Every 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 also 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 Barkgata’s second location up and running, 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
Bianca Caras and her parents, Peter and Jacqueline, at The Barkgata’s 2022 grand opening in Nesconset. (GLI file photos)
When The Barkgata first opened its doors in Nesconset in spring 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.
“It’s just gorgeous in there, it’s ridiculous,” said Linda Stone, who brought her 6-month-old mini Aussie shepherd, Sunshine, to the Barkgata that day. “Humans can live in it, it’s so nice.”
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 new Barkgata
And meet some very pampered, happy clients! Photos by Nick Esposito.
