Very convenient option for grooming, socialized daycare, and boarding. Yes, it is expensive, but…read morethese days you get what you pay for. I have been using this location for 1 medium and 1 large dog for about a year and a half now. It's easy to write a good review when everything goes as expected, but it's even more impressive when I feel the need to do so after things don't. But I'll get to that... Location has 3 dog rooms for open play based on sizes. This allows your pup to feel more comfortable around the other dogs. They do require a temperament test before allowing your pup to open enroll in daycare/boarding. When your dog is here you can view them on the cameras either on their website, or even better on your phone using their app. At night they are crated. When boarding you can drop off your own food, or they can provide food for an extra fee. Make sure to check out the calendar of events. Periodically they will have themed picture days and your dog's picture will be taken during daycare. Our favorite so far has been the Hawaiian vacation pictures. The grooming option here is too convenient. I can drop my dog off for daycare all day on a workday, and just schedule a grooming for anytime during the day and at the end of the day I pick up a tired, clean dog. I also love to schedule grooming for the last day when I board my dogs. That way when they get picked up they smell/feel clean, not like other dogs. Our dogs don't require a cuts/trims, so I can't speak to that aspect of grooming. Now for the real testament of their service... over a weeklong holiday boarding, our large dog was bitten by another dog during daycare. We were on the other side of the country, so we had to rely on them handling everything while we were remote. Dogtopia called me as often as necessary to keep me informed; they emailed me pictures of the injury; they took him to the vet; they kept him separated in his own room until his wound improved and gave him TLC & medical treatment ... even allowing our other dog to visit; and they indulged my many questions about the incident and corrective actions. Obviously you can never be 100% sure another dog won't bite, until they do, but I was impressed by the investigation of the incident and felt very reassured that it would not happen again based on the actions Dogtopia chose to take. They obviously took this incident seriously and care very much for the welfare of the dogs entrusted to them. I would highly recommend Dogtopia if you can afford it. I'm continuing to use them with confidence.

Our dog Perly loves going to Dogtopia in Springfield to play in the romper room once a week…read more Everyone that works there is very nice, cares about the dogs and we know Perly is in great hands there.

We've turned twice to PupperScruff for dog-sitting services, and both times have been great. Dee…read morewas the sitter both times, and she took excellent care of our dogs and of our house. She sent us periodic updates, including photos of the dogs enjoying themselves. She also cared for our hamster and gerbil. It was enormously reassuring to know that someone was staying in and minding the house while we were away for 12 days. PupperScruff is our go-to pet-sitting service. They are easy to work with, friendly, and reliable. I can't recommend them more highly.

Oh my what a company! If they treat your pet half as well as they treat the humans you will be very…read morehappy. I reached out to Annie and within a few minutes she got back to me and sent me an email explaining the rates and a great description on what the business is all about. Super great response and the service could not have been any better. Keep up the great work!

I was looking for someone to check in on my two cats while I was away on vacation. Usually, I would…read morejust take my chances, leave them alone and hope for the best. But since this vacation was longer than normal, I really wanted peace of mind. I just needed someone to make sure they had fresh wet food and water, cleared litter, and that they weren't tangled or trapped in something while I was gone. Although it had no previous reviews, I decided to take a chance and contact Happy Houlas. I emailed Kristy and she responded within the day, and we later arranged for a meet and greet. A first meeting is super important to me, especially since you're trusting a complete stranger to enter your home while you're gone. I found Kristy very friendly, warm, and responsive throughout, and was flexible in working with the schedule I laid out. Working with her directly and through her web portal made the arrangements very easy. In the portal, there are some standard permission-type forms that need to be completed before the first day of service. There are also areas where you can give specific instructions and list any special needs or considerations you have for your home or your pet(s) (it's a good idea to use a lockbox). And you get the final quote quickly without obligation. She visited the house each day that I had instructed her to, logging in each visit to the house by emailing photos of replaced cat food, cleared litter box, and a short synopsis of each visit. My cats run and hide from strangers (I told her to expect this), but she assured me that she had seen them at least. Although I did not ask her to, she even gathered the litter into a bag and set it in my garbage bin outside so that the odor wouldn't fester inside the house. And as a nice personal touch, she put in a furnace filter deodorizer so I could return to a fresh smelling house (Heck, I don't even do that). This was my first time paying for a pet sitting service, but I was very happy in choosing Happy Houlas, and feel more confident that I can take longer trips in the future. I believe Kristy's specialty is dogs but she did a great job caring for my cats. I would have no problem acquiring her services in the future.

Unfortunately, my prior dog walker dropped me like a sack of potatoes when the pandemic started…read more Due to my pup being a rescue it takes him time to warm up to a new walker and I was frustrated with other walkers that had the lack of confidence or training to walk my dog. My dog is like my son and he means everything to me, so I'm sure anyone would agree finding a walker who is a fit isn't easy. Thankfully, Kristy came to the rescue! She is so sweet and gentle with my dog! My dog tail wags and he jumps for excitement whenever she comes by for his walks. I get daily updates from this walks and Kristy even goes so far as to close my all windows and turns my ac on during the hot summer days. Due to the abusive history my dog had before I recused him, he would run hide from walkers, but not Kristy! He absolutely loves her!

Bow Wow Meow (BWM) has been my go to for over 8 years. Ellen, the owner, is wonderful and has…read morebecome part of our family. In fact when my 18 year old cat, Franklin, was diagnosed with cancer, Ellen was my first call. She checked on us both throughout his final months and sent me a wonderful photo book of Franklin - pictures she had taken of Franklin over the years - after our final goodbye. The kindness didn't end there... she would check on me months after and is now supporting me as a prepare to welcome a puppy into the family. Im looking forward to Auntie Ellen meeting the new addition and know when I'm traveling she will care for my boys with the same love and attention I give them. Look no further, BWM is exactly what you're looking for!

I needed a cat sitter for my high-energy, outgoing, and human attention-craving Sphynx kitty. She…read moreis only 9 months old and had never spent a night alone, let alone an entire week. I was so worried about her, but Ellen sent me a picture and e-mail every day while I was overseas to alleviate my fears and allow me to enjoy my vacation. She is the owner of the business, with several helpers - but took care of our cat personally. She came over twice a day (for an hour total) to feed, cuddle, and play with our cat, as well as take care of the litter every day and take in the mail/newspapers. Ellen also operates her business out of her home, which is only 2 blocks from mine. In looking for a sitter, I knew I wanted someone local who could easily stop by, who owned cats, and who had a business that was big enough to be trusted (she's insured and bonded). But I also wanted a business small enough so that it could provide old-fashioned customer service and special attention to my pet. And that's exactly what I got - from the consultation that ended up lasting almost an hour (because we just kept chatting while getting to know each other), to dropping copies of our keys at her house "just whenever," to her visiting us a week after we returned to visit our cat and pick up the check. All while responding to every email very promptly. It's no surprise that she won Alexandria Times' reader's choice for best pet sitter/walker. In the end, Ellen fell in love with our cat, and said she took lots of pictures and even told our cat that she secretly liked her better than her own cat, lol =). She is a very trustworthy, sweet lady, and I am so glad to have found her. She gives me the peace of mind to be able to take vacations with a needy animal at home. Plus, it was only $20 for a half-hour visit ($30 for a weekend visit), but she took $5 off on weekends because it was twice a day. According to the reviews of the other (too big) company I chose as a backup in Del Ray, the cost could have likely come to $1000 a week instead of about $300. We will be requesting her services again for a week in June. The best part? Ellen's eyes brightened up when we told her. She misses our cat. Aww. =)

Karen is amazing with our 5 year old rescue bulldog, who is reactive to people and other dogs. She…read moreis so compassionate toward us and sympathetic to the issues, taking care to reinforce what we are trying to work on with the guidance of a trainer. She is super communicative, always keeps us aware of her arrival time, and sends pictures and updates, which are so appreciated. More importantly, she clearly LOVES dogs. This is not just a business for Karen, it's a calling. I am the most paranoid dog Mom in the world, so I am thrilled to death to have found this angel on the other end of Josie's leash! Peace of mind doesn't come along easily but we've found it in Karen. Everyone says they will treat your fur babies as their own. Karen really does.

Amazing dog walkers! Karen and her daughter have been taking care of my pups for a long time now…read more And let me tell you my dogs are a handful. Homer eats everything that is not nailed down and Lucy is blind. Kate. And Laura are timely and keep me posted about everything. I can't recommend them enough. They give the dogs full walks and make sure they are safe!

Myron and his team have walked and boarded all of my dogs many times over 20 years. PawSitive Pets…read morehas always been an excellent resource. I highly recommend them. They are caring and responsible.

Mr. Myron is such a sweetheart - he boards the dogs in his own home in Old Town. He is extremely…read morepatient (even with my gazillion questions and very neurotic self), very gentle with the dogs, and is quite flexible with the pick-up and the drop-off dates - he works with you to see which time would be best, and his rates are definitely comparable, if not competitive, with other dog sitters in the NoVA area. I honestly was comfortable and was not worried when I dropped my pup off for a few days, and Myron always responded to my emails to let me know how she was doing. I highly highly highly recommend him, as he is really good as it gets. They also offer dogwalking services, too. +ask for Mr. Myron +farm trip during the summer

Dear reader,…read more Kingsview Animal Hospital has been taking care of our dog for years, and at this point he considers an appointment less a medical obligation and more a social engagement. He quite literally drags us toward the front door, delighted to see his friends and, naturally, collect the treats he believes are his due. The entire team is consistently caring, friendly, and incredibly helpful. Whether it is a routine visit or one of those ridiculous situations dogs somehow manage to get themselves into, they always seem to know exactly what is going on and how to help. There is something wonderfully reassuring about having a veterinary team you genuinely trust. The prices have always felt fair, particularly for the quality of care. Pro tip from one pet parent to another: we have Nationwide Pet Insurance, and it has covered a good portion of many of our bills over the years. Certainly worth investigating if your dog also enjoys periodically creating expensive little adventures. Most importantly, everyone at Kingsview treats our dog with such genuine affection that he absolutely loves going there. When your dog enthusiastically drags you INTO the vet, I think that may be the strongest review one can possibly give.

We have been taking both our cats here for about a year now and have had nothing but outstanding…read moreexperiences! All staff we've seen have been exceptional. They were able to de-mat one of our Persians in less than 15 minutes using only treats, while our last vet said she needed a sedative. Our other cat has IBD and vets here are very knowledgeable and easy to work with. Rx's are called in quickly. Prices seem reasonable. Nothing but positive experiences all around.

We've lived in Alexandria a little over three years and had struggled finding a good…read morehousesitter/pet sitter. We have an anxious dog and are, at best, helicopter parents, so we wanted to find someone who we felt comfortable leaving our home and pets with. We initially found Rachele on a petsitting website, but she gave us her business card, where we could look up her site and Facebook page. The initial meet and greet was very positive - our dog and (non-shy) cat felt very comfortable around her, and she answered all our questions thoroughly. Though we didn't have time to do a full overnight trial run before our vacation, we did have her stop by for a few hours the day before we went out of town to give her a lay of the land and get the pets more comfortable and familiar with her. That went very smoothly, she sent updates and photos even though it was only a couple hours, and we felt encouraged that things would go well while we were away. She kept us updated every day with several excellent photos, and when there had been a couple miscommunications (from our end), they were resolved quickly. Our pets warmed up to her quickly, slept on the guest bed with her, and even the shy one let Rachele pet her. We have already tentatively scheduled our next vacation with her, and we are happy to recommend her as well!

I have been bringing King (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy) to Camden's Yard since June 2021…read more He loves it! He knows when we're parked outside of Camden's Yard. He almost jumps out of his car seat before I can release him out of it!  When I pick him up, he doesn't want to leave Camden's Yard. His actions lets me know that he is being taken care of and that he loves being there with Rachele, Camden and the other pets that are there each day. So, I don't have to worry about the care that he receives, which makes my workday worry-free.  Rachele is also so flexible with me and my work schedule, which helps ease my mind about if I need to hurry to pick him up. I would recommend Camden's Yard to anyone, and I'm a very picky person.