Sure, you could take your furry friend for a jog around the neighborhood, or let him run loose at the dog park. But what if you’re craving an indoor activity, yet dying to get out of the house? Enter: the dog-friendly movie theater.
Spend the night at a dog-friendly cinema in Texas. Image by K9 Cinemas
Launched as a passion project by founder Eric Lankford (with an assist from Bear, his mini Australian Eskimo pup), K9 Cinemas in Plano, Texas, is the first of its kind, and between the comfy couches and the welcoming atmosphere, the locals are lapping it up.
Of course, the free drinks certainly don’t hurt. Not only does the $15 ticket price get you and your dog in to see the second-run film of your choice, it also buys you bottomless wine (or four whiskeys, or unlimited soft drinks if you’re underage).
Between the barkers and the booze, the whole thing has the potential to become a bit of a free-for-all, but the theater has instituted some firm guidelines to make the experience a clean, safe, and fun one for pets and humans alike. For their first visit, owners are required to provide medical records and proof of vaccinations for each pup in attendance – and at max, only two dogs are permitted per person. They must be kept on a leash at all times, except in designated areas, and any messes are the responsibility of the owner, not the management.
Take your movie night to K9 Cinema. Image by K9 Cinemas
So far, it’s been a recipe for success. Thanks to an intermission that allows for a mid-movie outdoor break and lower volume levels to accommodate sensitive ears, the cinema’s canine clientele has been on its best behavior – aside from the odd bark or two at dogs on the screen, that is. They’ve been such good pups, in fact, that the theater has plans to screen new releases in the near future.
A former contractor with the U.S. Department of Defense, Lankford was searching for something fulfilling for the next phase of his career, and with this Texas theater, he seems to have found it. “K9Cinemas was born because I love my dog, and I love movies,” he says. “It’s truly accomplished the initial goal I set out to make myself and others happy.”
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