The ARK at John F. Kennedy Airport

The ARK at JFK

The ARK at JFK will convert an empty cargo building and 14.4 open acres at Kennedy into a 178,000-square-foot facility strictly for animals.

Construction of the $48 million project will begin in the spring and be completed by 2016, according to a spokeswoman with ARK Development. The facility will include a grooming center, indoor exercise space and quarantine area.

This rendering shows plans for the ARK at JFK, an animal handling facility slated to open next year. "It's a hotel for animals," said Joseph Santarelli, of Mersant International, a Queens customs broker that makes travel arrangements for animals at Kennedy and other airports.

A rendering of what the ARK at Kennedy Airport may look like when completed. An empty cargo building and 14.4 open acres at Kennedy will be transformed into new animal handling facility by 2016.

Vetport Animal Hospital

The entrance to Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport. Vetport served as a temporary home in 2014 to some 2,800 animals that arrived in the United States via Kennedy Airport.

Icelandic ponies

One of three Icelandic ponies from Georgia, is kept in a stall at the Vetport Animal Hospital near Kennedy Airport in Jamaica, Queens on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. The ponies waited there for a few hours before being loaded onto a plane bound for Belgium.

Honeyeater birds heading to Nashville Zoo

A pair of honeyeater birds from the Czech Republic wait in a cage in the quarantine area at the Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport in Jamaica, Queens, on Feb 10, 2015. The birds are on their way to a new home at the Nashville Zoo.

Pony awaits a flight to Belgium

An Icelandic pony that arrived from Georgia is kept in a stall at the Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport in Jamaica, Queens, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015.

Baby bulls

One of 10 baby bulls that arrived by truck from Wisconsin, is kept in a stall at the Vetport Animal Hospital near Kennedy Airport in Jamaica, Queens on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. The bulls were en route to Doha, Qatar.

Horses in trailers on way to their flights

Horses in a tractor trailer that was led out of Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport.

Kennel room

The large kennel room at Vetport Animal Hospital, where animals lay over before being put on flights to their final destination, is shown in this photo from Tuesday, Feb 10, 2015.

An examining room for vaccinations

The examining room where the animals get vaccines and medical care at the Vetport Animal Hospital in Jamaica, Queens, is shown on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2015.

Cleaning out post-delivery

Having just delivered baby bulls from Wisconsin, a driver, Travis, cleans out his trailer outside the Vetport Animal Hospital in Jamaica, Queens on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. The young bulls stayed at the Vetport for a few hours before they were put on a plane bound for the Middle East.

Large kennel room

The large kennel room at Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport in Jamaica, Queens, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, where animals stay for a few hours before being put on flights to their destinations.

Inside Vetport Animal Hospital

A room at Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport in Jamaica, Queens, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, where animals stay for a few hours before being put on flights to their destinations.

Horse harnesses hung on the wall

Harnesses hang from the wall at Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport.

Inside Vetport Animal Hospital

A medical cabinet at the Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport.

Vetport Animal Hospital

Inside the Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport.

Barn at Vetport Animal Hospital

The barn at the Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport in Jamaica, Queens, on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2015, is where large animals are kept for a few hours before being put on flights to their destinations.

Animals arrive at Vetport

A livestock trailer is parked outside the Vetport Animal Hospital at JFK Airport in Jamaica, Queens, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015.