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August 21, 2020

Dogs, cats and pet parents welcome Paw Haven to Elm City

PHOTOS | New Haven BIZ
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

As dogs of all sizes ran around, and the cats took naps, the city’s new pet daycare and boarding facility celebrated its grand opening Thursday.

Paw Haven had a soft opening about seven weeks ago at 1175 State St., Suite 241, though it fully opened for business last week.

Three city residents own the business, including John McFadyen and his wife, Jacqueline McFadyen, and their neighbor Kevin Rocco.

“We are so excited to be here,” said Jacqueline McFadyen. “We love New Haven and are homeowners here. Why not keep all of our pets here? We are excited to be a fixture here in New Haven for years to come.”

While Paw Haven secured the required approvals from land use officials last summer, the location needed renovations. The coronavirus pandemic hitting in the spring further delayed the official opening, as only one contractor could be inside working on renovations at a time. 

The business is in a former trolley barn, in space which had been vacant for years, in an industrial area near the train tracks. A different portion of the site houses a U-Haul Moving & Storage business. 

Paw Haven provides pet boarding services, both during the day and for overnight stays, when owners are working or on vacation. The business features indoor and outdoor play areas, including separate areas for older dogs, small dogs and large dogs. Of course, the cats have their own separate area too.

So far, the owners have hired 15 staff members, and their clientele already has grown to about 17 dogs and four cats on any given day. The space is roughly 15,000 square feet, and they have room to accommodate many more animals.

“We hope to continue to grow,” said Jacqueline McFadyen.

The business provides pets with entertainment and an opportunity to socialize.

“When the dogs arrive in the morning, they are playing and wrestling,” she said.

By the end of the day, the canines are worn out from socializing and playing. The staff allows the dogs time to play indoors and outside, and staff members will play games with them like fetch and Frisbee, all while providing cuddles. 

Paw Haven has a collegiate style of branding, a nod to New Haven’s status as a college town. The business even has an “admissions” room.

Jacqueline McFadyen said they enlisted input from veterinarians when designing the business, including choosing calm colors and antimicrobial epoxy flooring and an imitation grass area. There are gates everywhere to ensure the animals’ safety, and an air purification system to help the building smell good too.

“The pets are at the forefront of our design,” she said. “Even the canine dog grass is meant to be easy on the paws. We want to make sure owners feel comfortable to drop off their fur babies here.”

Michael Piscitelli, the city’s interim economic development administrator, said the owners identified a need in the market and did a “beautiful” job converting space in an old building. 

“We know how difficult it has been to make anything happen in 2020,” Piscitelli said. 

Mayor Justin Elicker called it the most celebratory event he had been to in a while.

“For anyone to accomplish what you have during an economic crisis, we are so grateful,” Elicker said. 

Officials noted that the number of pet-friendly apartments has grown in recent years, and there is a need for a facility to help raise and take care of all the new pets. 

Paw Haven’s hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Visit its website at www.pawhavenct.com for more information.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com

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