D & B Reports

   Boarding pets with families
    Vacation-bound pet owners dissatisfied with kennels or pet sitters should welcome Pets Are Inn. A Minneapolis franchise service that places pets with families. It's a 12-year old business run by Jim and Ann Platt,  franchisees that took it over in 1992. It books anything from iguanas to rabbits, but dogs predominate.
    Boarding families are interviewed in depth before being taken on. Customers, too, are interviewed for up to 30 minutes to give the franchisee an idea of what the pet is like, in order to effect an ideal match. Then, before going away, pet owners write the boarding family a  detailed letter about their pet's character and idiosyncrasies. They also supply their pet's food. The boarding fee runs about 50 percent higher than a kennel or pet sitter, but it includes transportation from and to the    owner's home.
    The basic franchise fee is $15,000. However, the initial investment, which includes a four-day training period, can be up to $25,000. For details: 1-800-248-PETS