The Ark At Jfk Llc

What The Ark At Jfk Llc does

The Ark At JFK LLC operates the world's first privately owned 24/7 animal reception center, USDA-approved equine quarantine facility, and full-service air transportation hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport from a 178,000 sq ft purpose-built complex on 14.4 acres in Cargo Area D. The facility, developed by Racebrook Capital and designed by Gensler with equine design from Lachlan Oldaker and bio-security oversight from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, provides end-to-end services for the import and export of companion animals, horses, birds, exotic species, and livestock across four divisions: ARK Pet Oasis (24/7 companion animal care serving JFK, LGA, and EWR), Noah's Pet Transport (full-service door-to-door pet shipping), Equine Import & Export (63 climate-controlled import stalls and 23 export stalls), and Specialty Shipments (aviary and exotics). The company also operates the only CDC-registered Animal Care Facility at JFK for dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries and offers pet health certificate, USDA endorsement, and IATA-compliant crate sales as ancillary lines.

The business monetizes through quote-based managed services and professional service fees across its seven revenue streams — kennel reservations, equine quarantine stays, CDC ACF reservations, pet transport packages, export handling, health certificates, and crate sales — billed on a pay-as-you-go basis. Its go-to-market combines direct sales (website reservation forms, inside-sales quoting, 24/7 customer interface administrators), enterprise field sales to airlines, ground handlers, cargo agents, and federal agencies, and channel partnerships through the IPATA pet shipper network. The customer base spans pet-owning consumers ("thousands of clients"), airlines and ground handling agents, professional IPATA pet shippers, the equine/racing industry (including the Yonkers International Trot), and federal regulators.

The ARK's competitive position rests on a rare multi-agency regulatory stack — IATA CEIV for Live Animals, USDA Registered Intermediate Handler Class H, CDC Animal Air Care Facility, TSA Certified Cargo Screening Facility and Indirect Air Carrier, and U.S. CBP Bonded Warehouse — combined with Port Authority of NY/NJ approval as the exclusive animal care facility at JFK. This regulatory and physical infrastructure is paired with a leadership team recruited from aviation ground handling (DNATA US), veterinary practice, equine operations (Belmont Racetrack), and private equity (Racebrook Capital, Bear Stearns, Starwood). The company was founded in 2017, is privately held under Racebrook Capital, and operates through the ARK Import Export Center, LLC entity.

Name

The Ark At Jfk Llc

Legal name

ARK Import Export Center, LLC

Website

https://arkjfk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ark At JFK LLC operates the world's only privately owned 24/7 animal reception, USDA equine quarantine, and full-service air transport hub at JFK International Airport, serving airlines, pet owners, professional shippers, the racing industry, and federal agencies across a 178,000 sq ft purpose-built facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Animal Handling and Transportation Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Air Courier Services (4513)

akta.pro primary industry

Pet International Relocation & Quarantine Handling (HSAKACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interstate/Regulated Pet Transport (Health Certs/Compliance) (HSANAIAG), Isolation/Quarantine & Infectious-Risk Boarding (HSANADAK), Climate-Controlled/Indoor Boarding Facility (HSANADAL), Regulatory, Health Certificates & Export/Import Compliance (Large Animal/Equine) (HLAMABAL), Animal Boarding (Kennels, Catteries) (AFAEALAA)

Keywords

• Animal air transportation
• Pet shipping services
• Equine quarantine facility
• CDC animal import
• Aviation cargo handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Jamaica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Animal Care Facility Services: 24/7 animal care services for pets transiting through JFK including short-term respite care, pick-up and delivery from cargo or passenger terminals, veterinary exams and certification for domestic pets. Charges for kennel reservations, overnight stays, and specialized care.
2. Equine Import Quarantine: USDA-required quarantine services for horses entering the US. Includes 63 climate-controlled stalls, daily feedings, grooming, hand walking, bio-security oversight. Minimum 3-day quarantine stay.
3. Equine Export Services: Export preparation and handling services with 23 individual stalls, pre-departure medical checks, direct loading into jet stalls, and 24/7 supervision by experienced equine staff.
4. Noah's Pet Transport Services: Full-service pet shipping including airline coordination, health certificates, USDA-APHIS endorsements, door-to-door transportation, airline compliant travel crates, and pre/post-flight lounge at ARK Pet Oasis.
5. CDC Animal Care Facility Reservations: Specialized services for dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries including veterinary examinations, rabies booster vaccinations, and 28-day quarantine if required. Reservation-based service with advance booking required.
6. Airline Pet Crates and Supplies: Sale of IATA-compliant travel crates (sizes #100-#700) with extender kits. Crate sizing, compliance checks, and related supplies for pet travel.
7. Pet Health Certificates: On-site health certificate services for pets traveling domestically or internationally. Includes USDA endorsement services and veterinary appointments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The ARK at JFK operates a 178,000 sq ft purpose-built, 24/7 animal reception, quarantine, and full-service transportation facility at JFK International Airport. It provides pet shipping, equine import/export quarantine, exotic animal handling, and CDC-registered quarantine services for dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries, serving pet owners, airlines, ground handlers, and government agencies.

Product overview

The ARK at JFK operates as an integrated animal care and transport ecosystem comprising four interconnected service lines: the core ARK at JFK facility (the world's only privately owned 24/7 animal reception center and USDA-approved quarantine facility), ARK Pet Oasis (24/7 companion animal boarding and care), Noah's Pet Transport (full-service pet shipping brand handling airline coordination, documentation, and door-to-door transport), and Equine Import & Export Services (USDA-approved horse quarantine and export). Specialty Shipments handles aviary and exotic animal transport, while CDC Animal Care Facility Services provides required quarantine and examination for dogs from high-risk rabies countries. Pet Health Certificate Services and Airport Employee Pet Services serve as supplementary modules supporting the primary transport and care functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The ARK at JFK Animal Terminal Facility 178,000 sq ft animal handling and air cargo facility providing 24/7 reception, USDA-approved quarantine, and full-service transportation for horses, pets, birds, exotic animals, and livestock at JFK International Airport.
• ARK Pet Oasis Companion Animal Care 24/7 animal care facility providing short-term respite care, pick-up and delivery from cargo or passenger terminals, veterinary exams, and certification for domestic pets traveling by air.
• Noah's Pet Transport Full-service door-to-door pet shipping including airline coordination, health certificate preparation, USDA-APHIS endorsement, airline-compliant travel crates, and pre/post-flight lounge services for companion animals.
• Equine Import Quarantine Services USDA-approved equine import quarantine featuring 63 climate-controlled 12x12 stalls with non-slip flooring, epoxy walls, natural lighting, 100% air exchange, negative pressure transfer, and Cornell University bio-security oversight. Minimum 3-day stay for horses entering the U.S.
• Equine Export Services Export preparation and handling with 23 individual 12x12 stalls, indoor USDA pre-departure medical checks, direct loading into jet stalls, and 24/7 supervision by experienced equine staff.
• Specialty Shipments (Aviary and Exotic Animals) Specialized care and handling for commercial and individual shipments of birds, non-domesticated mammals, and exotic animals, with temperature-controlled and quiet holding areas and government agency inspection coordination.
• CDC Animal Care Facility Services CDC-registered Animal Care Facility (ACF) providing veterinary examination, rabies booster vaccination, and optional 28-day quarantine for dogs entering the U.S. from high-risk rabies countries.
• IATA-Compliant Airline Pet Crates Sale of IATA-compliant travel crates (sizes #100-#700) with extender kits, along with crate sizing, compliance checks, and related supplies for pet air travel.
• Pet Health Certificate Services On-site health certificate preparation and USDA endorsement services for pets traveling domestically or internationally, ensuring compliance with airline and destination country requirements.
• JFK Airport Employees Pet Services Discounted pet boarding and care services exclusively for JFK airport employees, offering SIDA-trained driver transport and airside-accessible facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72 race horses imported in under 30 minutes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cornell University College of Veterinary MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides bio-security oversight and guidance for The ARK's equine export stable and 48-stall equine quarantine. Academic partner for veterinary best practices. Also partnered on Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialty Hospital adjacent to Belmont Race Track.
• International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member and 2024 Industry Partner Award recipient. The ARK supports IPATA pet shippers with specialized CDC Animal Care Facility services. Elizabeth Schuette is an active contributor to the organization.
• Animal Transportation Association (ATA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElizabeth Schuette is an active contributor to ATA, the trade organization for animal transportation alongside IPATA.
• Port Authority of New York and New JerseycoreOthersApproved The ARK as the only animal care facility at JFK Airport. Oversees JFK Airport operations. ARK employees must meet Port Authority requirements including background checks and fingerprinting. ARK vehicles authorized for ramp transport.
• Cornell Ruffian Equine SpecialistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-of-the-art equine hospital located less than 7 miles from The ARK, dedicated to treatment and surgery of horses. Part of John Cuticelli's portfolio of equine welfare facilities.
• GenslerminorOthersMaster architect for The ARK facility design. Leading global architecture firm that designed the 178,000 sq ft animal handling and cargo facility.
• Lachlan Oldaker Equine DesignminorOthersSpecialty architect for equine facility design including the 12x12 stall layouts, non-slip flooring specifications, and equine-specific environmental requirements.
• Holt ConstructionminorOthersConstruction manager for The ARK facility project. Managed building of the comprehensive multi-purpose animal handling and cargo facility.
• Airlines and Ground Handling CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorServes airlines and ground handling agents including DNATA US (previously managed 7 business lines at 17 US airports). Provides animal reception, handling, and transport services to airline customers. Operates as Indirect Air Carrier with TSA approval.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Air Animal Pet Movers: Long-established pet transport and relocation company offering door-to-door domestic and international pet shipping services, similar in core offering to ARK's Noah's Pet Transport division. Both coordinate airline bookings, health certificates, USDA endorsements, and customs clearance for traveling pets.
• Starwood Animal Transport: International pet transportation service offering airline coordination, customs documentation, and door-to-door pet shipping — closely aligned with the Noah's Pet Transport value proposition and IPATA member network.
• Mersant International: Specialized international air transport provider for horses and livestock, with USDA-approved quarantine and export services. Directly comparable to ARK's Equine Import & Export division in service scope, regulatory profile, and equine customer base.
• K9 Express Transport: Pet transport company providing ground and air transport coordination services for dogs and cats, including airline booking and door-to-door delivery. Comparable to Noah's Pet Transport in target customers and core service delivery model.
• Royal Paws Pet Relocation: Boutique pet relocation service focused on international pet transport with personalized logistics, similar in customer segment (high-touch pet owners, celebrities, relocating families) and service structure to ARK's Noah's Pet Transport.
• Blue Collar Pet Transport: Pet shipping service offering air and ground transport for companion animals with health certificate and documentation support. Operates in the same IPATA-connected pet transport ecosystem as ARK.
• Happy Tails Travel: IPATA-affiliated pet transportation company specializing in domestic and international pet relocation with door-to-door service, paralleling Noah's Pet Transport. Both firms operate in the regulated pet shipping category serving pet owners and IPATA-member shippers.
• Global Horse Transport: International equine air transport specialist providing USDA quarantine coordination, flight bookings, and ground transport for horses. Directly comparable to ARK's Equine Import & Export services in addressing racing and high-end horse owners.

Others

• Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (Stewart Airport Animal Quarantine): Government landlord and regulatory authority overseeing JFK operations and approvals. While not a commercial peer, the Port Authority's policies on animal handling and JFK lease terms materially shape ARK's operating environment.

Broad incumbents

• dnata: Global air services provider offering ground handling, cargo, and travel services across 17+ US airports including JFK. ARK's COO Michael Falacara was previously COO of dnata US. Overlaps with ARK in airline ground handling and cargo, but dnata does not specialize in animal-only facilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ark-at-jfk

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ark At Jfk Llc