< Previousthrough the ornate corridor, with their owners in tow. Beaming doggy smiles, they all seemed to be having a grand time. Measured solely by the exuberance most of the canine guests display, the hotel’s undertaking has been massive- ly successful, Schultz said. “And each year we’ve seemed to add more and more to the experi- ence,” Schultz said, noting the hotel added dog-walking this year. “It’s not a highly used service because people, I think, want to maintain their dogs when they get here, but we do have that service.” Two years ago, the hotel built a dog park complete with a fake fire hydrant. “The guests feel very comfortable now that they can go down and let their dogs off the leash and get a run,” Schultz said. “We really spoil the dog.” As if parks, treats, toys and walks weren’t enough, The San Luis is cook- ing up another special offering for its canine guests. The chef developed a menu with options such as Eggy Pup Cups — whole eggs, chicken, aspar- agus and bell peppers in a demi-gla- ce — and a Shaved Steak Tower of New York strip, corn and bell peppers served au jus. The hotel plans to roll out the menu this year. LEVELING THE PAMPERING FIELD The San Luis’ ultimate goal is to offer as much pampering to pups as it does to people and Schultz draws inspira- tion from European hotels, he said. “Massages,” he said with an incredu- lous smile. “They do puppy massages. We don’t do that here — yet.” The San Luis’ price for a dog stay is $150 a visit, making it cheaper than many kennels. The pet fee helps pay for precautionary flea treatments for each room, as well as a monthly, non-toxic flea treatment in the dog park, Schultz said. The San Luis gives canine visitors bandanas — which identifies them as guests and gives the pups some fash- ion flair to remember their vacations — as well as a gourmet treat, doggie bed and toy. “People really want to experience the destination they go to,” Schultz said. “So, to allow them to bring their dog really rounds off the family.” HOTEL FOR HOUNDS Traveling with a dog can be trou- blesome. But leaving one behind in the care of others can be worrisome and a logistical headache. That’s why League City’s Mount Pleasant Avenue opened. Touting the 50 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2023 FEATURE (From top) The staff at The San Luis Resort is available to provide dog-walking services if guests need some assistance in exercising their dogs or are unable to take them for a walk; the island hotel offers dog-friendly accommodations, including a bed, food and water bowls, a welcome treat, a small toy and a bandana. PHOTOS: CO u RTESY COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2023 51 501 Gulf Freeway S. establishment as the “premiere canine villas and spa” is bold, but might actually undersell what hound sitters Judd and Thuy Gottlieb have to offer. Judd’s background is in hospital- ity; his wife, Thuy, is an attorney. The couple opened Mount Pleasant Avenue about six years ago, Judd said. Although the building’s façade might lead one to think cookie-cutter, strip- mall shop, the interior is lavish. A hallway charmingly lit by 19th-century-style street lamps con- nects 13 “villas” for Mount Pleasant’s guests. There are no cages or kennels at the doggy hotel, and “kids” have a wide range of accommodations all in- cluded in affordable packages — one night is $85, two is $135 and three is only $185. “We call the dogs kids because they are our kids,” Judd Gottlieb said. “We just call them what they are,” he said. “Any dog who comes through the door will be treated as if they are our own.” Spoiling may be an understatement. Each of the 13 villas comes with a child-sized bed and mattress cov- ered with clean, colorful linens and a pillow. There are even ladders to help little dogs to reach their deluxe beds. Ceramic tile on walls and floors creates a spa-like feel. Each villa has a flat-screen TV with Netflix and other streaming services. And it wouldn’t be a luxury hotel without turndown service and a treat each night. “It’s completely luxurious,” Gottlieb said. “We spent about a year before we opened going through beds. Our pit bull, Jackson, at the time proba- bly went through 30 beds before he picked one. Judd and Thuy Gottlieb opened Mount Pleasant Avenue in League City after struggling to find a pet-care facility that met their high expectations. Touted as the “premiere canine villas and spa,” Mount Pleasant Avenue offers luxe accommodations, web cameras and 24/7 on-site supervision for canine guests. ST u ART VILLAN u EVA “Any dog who comes through the door will be treated as if they are our own.” JUDD GOTTLIEB52 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2023 FEATURE Sporting jammies, Mount Pleasant Avenue employee Olivia Dossey and guests play during a “pawjama” party at the League City facility. “We put a lot of research into it. The tiles are textured. They’re almost soft for some of the older kids who have trouble walking. We have ambi- ent lighting, ceiling fans and we keep all of the rooms at 69 degrees.” Parents’ favorite accommodation might be the 24/7 webcam in each room, Gottlieb said. Gottlieb realized once parents hand their dogs over to an ordinary boarding facility, they have no idea what the staff is going to do with them, he said. “You don’t know if they’re getting the extra play, if they’re using your blankets; you just don’t know,” he said. Mount Pleasant is meant to provide complete transparency, he said. “We just had some traumatic expe- riences at boarding facilities, and we got to the point where we couldn’t travel any more because one of our dogs got hurt,” Gottlieb said. The pup came home from a boarding facility with a laceration on his leg. There was no explanation from the staff about what happened, he said. Some of Gottlieb’s patrons have also had such harrowing experienc- es, he said. “We see men break out into tears,” Gottlieb said. “They, all of a sudden, have a safe place for their dog. All of a sudden, they can travel. It’s super emotional when people finally find a place they can trust.” PHOTOS: ST u ART VILLAN u EVAYour exceptional leadership has made Galveston a better place to live, work & visit. Thank You, KellyISLECYCLESTUDIO-GROUPCLASSES MASSAGE-WELLNESSTHERAPIES THEGATHERINGSTUDIORENTALSPACE BentonHealthyLivingWellnessCenterisawellnessandf GalvestonIsland.BentonHealthyLivingwillanchorthewellnesr witheducationalandtherapeutic-basedresources.Thewellne offerFullBodyVibrationTherapy,SaltBoothTherapy,Infrare Massage,andIVTherapy.BentonHealthyLivingWellnessCen educationalclassesonnutrition,essentialoils,wellness Locatedat291053rdStreet-Galveston,TX Giveusacallat(409)220-3901 BENTonHealthyLiving.com Bent on Healthy Living Wellness Center is a wellness and fitness space on Galveston Island. Bent on Healthy Living will anchor the wellness arm of the center with educational and therapeutic-based resources. The wellness center will also offer Full Body Vibration Therapy, Salt Booth Therapy, Infrared Sauna Therapy, Massage, and IV Therapy. Bent on Healthy Living Wellness Center will also offer educational classes on nutrition, essential oils, wellness, and fitness.Sponsored by TWO GREAT EVENTS HURRY! Limited Tickets & Hotel Packages Available!56 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2023 Ryan Dandridge walks with his wife, Trelle, a dog trainer and co-founder of Mutts With Manners, as they take Sam, a shepherd mix from the Galveston Island Humane Society, on an outing to the beach. COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2023 57 FEATURE PAWS TO THINK Take measures to keep pets safe on hot summer days story by SARAH GRUNAU photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS I t’s summertime and the living’s easy. On Galveston beaches, lounge chairs and colorful umbrellas line the sands as far as the eye can see. Dogs of varying breeds relax by their owners, while some enjoy running in the waves. But a day of leisure can turn dangerous if pet parents underestimate the swelter- ing Texas heat and the dangers it poses to animals. “It is ridiculously hot outside,” said Josh Henderson, executive director of Galveston Island Humane Society. “First of all, the sand is hot. The seawall is hot. The temperatures on the pavement are hot.” Those Texas summer temperatures can’t be avoided. But there are ways to beat the heat this summer and keep furry compan- ions safe. When going to the beach, take a water bowl and make sure dogs have some sort of shaded spot to sit, Henderson said. Protec- tion from the sun on the hot sand is crucial for them, he said. For dogs who spend most of their time outside on summer days, having immediate access to fresh water and shade in their own backyards is necessary. Some dogs who spend a lot of time on hot pavement also could benefit from boo- ties to protect their paws, Henderson said. “Taking your dog on a nice long jog down the seawall can result in horrible destruction of the paws,” he said. On extremely hot days, it’s important to limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and take extra caution for dogs with 58 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2023 white-colored ears, who are more suscep- tible to skin cancer, and short-nosed dogs, who typically have difficulty breathing, ac- cording to the Humane Society of the United States. Those white-furred dogs especially can benefit from skin-safe sunscreen, said Trelle Dandridge, pet owner and co-own- er of Mutts with Manners, an island-based pet-training company. Morning time is the best time to take her three dogs for a stroll on the beach for exer- cise, Dandridge said. “It’s always best in the morning while the sand is still cool and the sun is not too hot,” she said. “Keeping your dogs on extra long leashes also gives them a little extra exercise.” But the most important lesson of the sum- mer, experts agree, is to avoid leaving your pets in the car. “You come to Galveston and forget some- thing, you stop at Walmart and leave your dog in the car for a minute while you run in and out,” Henderson said. “But then there’s a line at the checkout, and that minute turns into 10 minutes.” That well-intentioned stop can quickly turn fatal. “You just can’t do it,” he said. Galveston animal control has the ability to remove dogs from hot cars, so it’s important for people to report it when they see it, he said. FEATURE Trelle Dandridge rubs Sam’s belly during an outing to the beach. 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