Looking for the perfect way to pamper your best friend - the one with the furry coat and floppy tail? Book an afternoon at The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa, and your special pal will be in the lap of luxury.

Located in Orange Village, the new facility is billed as the first resort of its kind, providing just about anything a pet - and doting owner -  could possibly want.

Howard Perlmuter, The Barkley's president and CEO, came up with the idea for the resort five years ago, when he was in the entertainment business in Los Angeles. Perlmuter grew up in the Cleveland area and is a life-long pet lover. So much so, he decided to share that affection with fellow pet fanciers.

"At the time people said, 'Howard, you're crazy, you're nuts,' but now they say I'm a genius," he says with a laugh.

Like most people who cherish their pets, Perlmuter wants only the best for guests because, "Let's face it. They're really family members who deserve it," he explains.

And The Barkley provides it all. Pets can be picked up and delivered for day accommodations, as well as for overnight stays in luxury suites featuring flat-screen televisions (Animal Planet is a favorite channel) and custom bedding. There are also opportunities for them to take rides in black stretch limos or dips in an indoor swimming pool, and partake of such amenities as acupuncture and chiropractic treatments, stomach rubs and hydrotherapy treadmills.

"The day spa is taking off very quickly," says Perlmuter, who's looking at property in Columbus as a site for a second facility. "[Our patrons] get their hair done, get groomed, get clipped, get their nails done, get a paw rub and a facial." And thanks to a Web cam, owners can keep track of their pet's schedule via the Internet.

It's enough to make humans doggone jealous. "We had a lady call up and try to book a pedicure for herself," says Perlmuter. "Unfortunately, we couldn't do it."

For more information, call 440/248-BARK or visit www.thebarkleypethotel.com.