the Triple A Pet Resort

The first thing you notice as you pull up outside the Triple A Pet Resort isn't the barking and whining of dogs, but classical music booming out of the building. Apparently, tuning into Classic FM helps the animals relax and if that doesn't do the trick, they can always curl up in front of the television or splash about in the Jacuzzi.

Triple A is the ultimate in boarding kennels and much more besides. Situated just off the A19 at Boldon near Sunderland, it was set up by Ann Adlington 19 years ago and quickly began to attract people from across the region. Last year, she went into partnership with chocolate bar maker Mars to create PetCARECo, a company which is aiming to transform the face of pet care by setting up a chain of one-stop pet centres across Britain and further afield.

The centres, of which Triple A is the first, will provide all the services a pet owner could ever want under one roof. More than £1.5m has been invested in the Boldon site to upgrade its already impressive facilities, which now include a veterinary hospital, grooming parlour, pet creche, boarding facilities and owner education classes.

a 'guest' in one of the air conditioned units

At £15 a night for a basic boarding package for dogs and £38 for grooming, it isn't cheap, but the dozens of thank you cards covering the walls in the reception area show that there are plenty of owners who are willing to pay a high price for their pet's comfort and their own peace of mind. There are plenty of trophies and plaques as well; Triple A has been winning awards for years.

As I wait for marketing manager Ken Blackburn, a man carrying a clipboard and wearing what looks like a flying suit comes out to greet a Westie and its owner. The pair disappear into one of the private consultation rooms where the dog is checked into the kennels.

marketing manager Ken Blackburn

"When a pet comes in, we find out everything we can about them," says Ken, who is sporting the distinctive yellow sweatshirt worn by Triple A staff. "We weigh them and they are given an 18-point health check. We ask about their food, their habits, even what kind of surface they like to go to the toilet on.

"A lot of people are worried about putting their dogs and cats in kennels but because we pay this kind of attention to detail, they know they don't have anything to worry about."

Moving on from the cheery yellow consulting room, the next stop is the pet apartments, which are built round an enclosed exercise run. It's here where the dogs come for play or training and there's a punctured basketball lying on the ground, no doubt left over from an over-enthusiastic session.

Unlike most conventional kennels, there are no concrete surfaces and no bars. The apartments are all fully double-glazed and centrally-heated. They are split into two halves, one for eating and sleeping, the other for playing or exercising. Some have televisions and there's webcam so owners can see what their pets are up to even if they're sunning themselves on the other side of the globe.

"A lot of owners know their pets like to watch television so if they have a favourite programme, we'll make sure it's switched on for them. The other thing an owner might like to do is to record a message for their pet which we can play to them." explains Ken.

If your dog, like mine, wouldn't notice the TV set unless he ran into it, you may be thinking this is all a bit frivolous, but Ken assures me it's not.

"People get the idea that it's all about luxury, but it isn't; it's all about care. If a dog likes to watch television, then that's what they'll get. You can pay extra if your dog likes cuddles but it's all part of a wider service. Everything we do is underpinned by care."

one of the dog handlers

He shows me the cupboards outside each apartment, which contain a check sheet recording every aspect of the dog's stay, including their weight, food and water intake and medication. If you're the sort of owner who worries about their dog, then this alone should reassure you they're receiving all the attention they need - probably more than they get at home.

Triple A doesn't just cater for dogs. The cattery is in a separate building and there's also a small animal unit for guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits. Birds are housed in separate cages but in the same room so they always have plenty of company. There's even a television in the corner for added stimulation.

The boarders all have access to the other facilities on site "much as humans use the facilities on Club Med holiday resorts" but there are plenty of owners who bring their pets to be groomed or to use the ramps, tunnels and see-saws that make up the large agility area behind the reception.

There's a hydrotherapy pool for dogs recovering from injuries or suffering from ailing joints or arthritis. It can also be a fun alternative to walks and some pets swim on a regular basis. Members of staff get in with the dogs and there's a long rail of wetsuits standing next to the pool.

The Jacuzzi is perfect for relaxing and there are 24-hour vet services, training classes, an owner education programme, a day creche and a shop selling pet food, toys and accessories.

"Everything you could want for your pet is in one place," says Ken. "We are offering lifetime care. People can bring their puppies here for inoculation or training. You can bring them swimming for therapy or for fun and when they reach the end of their life, there's a garden of rest and bereavement counselling.

"We've visited America , which prides itself on what it does in the pet industry, but they're two or three years behind what we're doing over here. One of our aims is to raise standards in pet care both here and abroad so we train people who work for other companies as well as our own staff. Millions of people own pets and they all want the best for them. That's what we provide."

PetCARECo plans to open 31 centres in the UK within the next five years and 91 worldwide. The next one will be at Leeds in August and this will be followed by one at Manchester towards the end of the year. They will be known as mypetstop but the Triple A brand name will remain at Boldon because it has become so well known.

As I prepare to leave, a cameraman from the Richard and Judy programme arrives. He explains that Wellard and Terence, the EastEnders dogs, are coming to try out the facilities for themselves. And if it's good enough for them, surely it's good enough for even the most pampered of pets.

Triple A: 0191-537 1344