QUEENS — Fido will be flying high.
A state-of-the-art, $32 million animal handling facility, complete with grooming services, kenneling and a veterinary hospital for dogs, cats and host of other pets, is coming to JFK Airport, officials said.
Private developer ARK Development LLC signed a 20-year agreement to take over the vacant Building 78 and more than 14 additional acres of land to build the facility, according to the Port Authority.
The facility — for flyers who want their pets to get spruced up before a flight or hold onto them during a long trip — is expected to handle about 70,000 animals a year and replace an older veterinary services area whose lease is up at the end of the year, a Port Authority spokesman said
"It was a good fit, because the vet port lease was coming to an end," said Port Authority spokesman Ron Marsico. "This provides a wider range of services."
The facilities will also include an aviary, grooming services and lawn space for the animals to run around, in addition to a "more efficient way of transporting animals," Marsico said.
The Port Authority expects the project to create 190 jobs, $12.3 million in wages and $50.5 million in economic activity, in addition to more than $108 million in rent over the 20-year term.
The agency says the facility will set "new national airport standards for comprehensive veterinary, kenneling and quarantine services."
“While most of our airport passengers walk on two legs, this new center will serve the important travel needs of our four-legged and winged friends, while helping to create regional jobs and significant revenue for the Port Authority," Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye said in a statement.
