The Barking Lot
697 Allens Ave, Providence, RI 02905
Overview
The Barking Lot is an 8,000 square foot climate-controlled dog boarding and daycare facility in Providence, RI, established in 2009. They offer dog and cat boarding with various accommodation options, plus dog daycare with supervised group play separated by size and energy levels. The facility requires a temperament test, vaccinations (including canine influenza), and spay/neuter for dogs over 12 months.
Amenities & Policies
Required vaccinations: Distemper/Parvo Combo, Rabies, Bordetella, Canine Influenza virus, Feline Leukemia, FIV
Policies & Details
Hours & Billing
Cancellation & Deposits
Care & Play
Requirements
Safety & Emergency
Extras
What Reviews Say
356 reviews analyzedThe Barking Lot is overwhelmingly beloved by customers with 95% of reviews being 5-star ratings. The exceptional staff (particularly Cheryl and Melissa) receive consistent praise for their genuine love of dogs, personalized attention, and excellent communication via daily photos and updates. Dogs are clearly happy here - many reviews describe them excitedly jumping out of cars and coming home tired and content. A few isolated concerns exist: one serious illness incident during boarding, two reports of dogs returning dirty, and one witnessed choke chain use (which the owner addressed thoroughly). The facility is praised for cleanliness, proper separation of dogs by size/energy level, and rigorous temperament testing. With an 78% owner response rate and warm, personalized replies, the business demonstrates strong customer engagement. This is clearly a trusted, long-term care provider for most customers.
People love
Staff shoutouts
Worth noting
Serious illness/injury during boarding - puppy contracted pneumonia requiring $2,000+ ICU care
“Our current bill is over $2,000; the Critical Care Vet said that it was not infectious pneumonia, but that the puppy aspirated something at The Barking Lot which caused his pneumonia.”
Dog came back traumatized after boarding
“My animal had PTSD after staying here.”
Dog returned dirty with poor grooming quality
“My dog comes back smelling bad and dirty looking.”
Choke chain use witnessed by customer
“I witnessed such 'training' and only saw abuse and harm for the dog.”
Inconsistent grooming quality(2 mentions)
“The second visit however was night and day. After the second visit, it seemed as if our pup was barely taken care of. Her coat was not as clean as the previous visit, her nails were not as well trimmed.”
Indoor-only facility (no outdoor space)(2 mentions)
“Only point off is because it's all indoors”
Top Rated
4.8 stars from 370+ reviews
This facility has earned a Top Rated badge for maintaining a 4.8-star rating across 370 reviews.
At a Glance
Min puppy age
4 months
Pricing
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