I'm new to the area and was hoping to find a good place to go for my pup whenever we have vacations. After my dogs boarding from Friday afternoon to mid Monday morning, I was informed that during his Monday morning bath, the groomer noticed a "hot spot" on his back leg. Upon further examination, it appeared to be an actual wound, not a hot spot. From god knows what. Then as I kept looking him over, I realized he had a giant black spot on his front leg. I thought it was a scab but once I started messing with it, it seemed like gum or some sort of tar. Once that was removed, I noticed his paw. That's when I saw that 3 of his paw pads were stuck together with the same type of tar / gum substance. I had to use a ton of goo gone and patience to get it off him. He does not like his paws being messed with but once he realized I was giving him some relief, the process went smoother. Regardless, I shouldn't have had to do any of that. Disappointed with the level of "care" my pup got and how he was given back to me. read more

We have been taking our dogs there for over 5 years. Never an issue. As for the lady complaining about not taking dog if shots weren't up to date or expiring during their time away. That's a stupid remark. Didn't want to over-vaccinate your dog? Please. There are state guidelines that they must follow. Sounds to me that alot of the complaints are not even legit or petty. And then you have the complaint of someone being charged for dropping off a little early. Well everything is digital nowadays so when you check them in it registers the time. Why didn't you just wait a few more minutes to drop dog off? Again, petty. read more

In terms of my dogs loving playgroup here, I'd give 4 Paws 5 stars. For boarding? Meh. Evidently the owner has instituted a policy where they will not hold a boarding reservation if your dog's vaccination expires before the reservation takes place. So, let's say you have a big trip planned for the end of the year and you want to make sure your dog has a boarding reservation. You will have to get your dog vaccinated months early to maje and hold a reservation. I commented that if the spot filled up then I would be screwed and the employee said "yes, pretty much. It's the owner's option." I asked if she would pass my concerns along and she said that there wasn't anything she could do. I pointed out that I am not looking to over-vaccinate my dogs just to get boarding reservations. She said there was nothing she could do, it's the owners prerogative. I used to board my dogs at Holiday Barn but started using 4paws because my dogs love the play groups. Holiday Barn calls you to remind you of the vaccine due date but will still book your reservation. I'm not going to vaccinate my dogs months earlier than needed... I'll just take my boarding business elsewhere. 4 Paws doesn't seem to want my business or understand that people plan trips in advance. Disappointing. read more

I love Four Paws. They have taken such great care of my dogs for years. My older dog needs medicine and I have always felt comfortable with her here. Tyler is the best and does a great job cutting nails. I can't say enough great things about Four Paws read more

My two dogs have been going here for Doggie day care for years. They love it. They always come back tired, so I know they are getting some exercise and not just laying around. They do have a high turnover for employees but they have always been very nice. I can not speak for the boarding. I just know when we pull up they are so excited to be there. read more

Unfortunately, I can no longer let my review stand at 5 stars. Its poor business practice to charge someone 24 extra dollars for 5 minutes of time that my dogs never had. I arrived (apparently) at 11:55 instead of noon (as my car clock read 12:00) to drop my dogs off for an overnight. Boarding drop off starts at 12. Early drop off bills an addition 12 dollars per dog but 5 minutes which were taken up by creating their "collar identifications" is not the same IMO. My dogs didn't see the play yard before noon. Also, I wasn't notified of the additional fee being billed either. Let me walk them outside for 5 minutes to avoid the fee. They don't allow pit mixes either BUT the staff bring in their pit mixes all the time. Hypocritical. I am sad. For a very long time, 4 paws was the epitome of great daycare at a good price point. But now...I will pay extra somewhere else to not be gouged nor not notified of additional fees. It shows a lack of care for long time clients and a lack of respect in general. It frightens me that this might be passed on to the dogs in the yard. There goes almost 7 years of patronage. Also, sent a message to the company via Facebook and heard NOTHING. I guess they truly do not care. read more

My boyfriend and I made plans to go out of town and decided to try something new with my dog. We wanted to board him. I decided to take him to daycare for the day to see how he did. My boyfriend called ahead a day prior and spoke to them about it, they put the info in the computer and told him oh yes it will be alright. I show up with my dog to drop him off for day care, shot records in one hand, dog leash and dog on the other. Immediately the lady at the front desk says oh no, we don't accept pits or pit mixes here. And shoo'd me away just like that! I didn't even have a chance to say anything. So, I say this to you, either up date your website for what you will or will not accept breed wise, or educate your self on breeds and stop bullying mine. It's not the breed that is the problem, it is how they are raised. Even if my dog wasn't a pit mix, my business would not be with Four Paws after that. #dontbullymybreed read more

Wish I had not taken my dog here. I had heard mediocre reviews a long time ago, but I decided to give them a chance and I wish I never had. Completely scared my dog who did not have any issues with anxiety before. read more

in all honesty if I could give this place 0 stars I would, I was an employee there recently and they let me go because of availability because I had missed one day of work that I had asked for 3 days prior too have off so I could attend a funeral for someone in my family. they told me I could have that day off. then when they let me go they refused to send me my check like every other employee, when I called multiples days in a week all I was getting told is we are working on it or we will call you back. never did I get calls back. today marks exactly a week since I was supposed to be getting my check and I've yet to receive it when I was told I'd be getting a check just like everyone else . when I finally got to talk to the manager myself he basically told me that he was gonna hold my check and not let me get it. I then looked up if he could do that and turns out he cannot. he proceeded to tell me that their payroll office has already put it in the mail and sent it out as of this past Monday. well it is now the next wedsday and it has officially been a week since I was supposed to receive my paycheck. if I recived my paycheck then why hasn't it come in the mail and why isn't it in my hands? the managers name is John, and I would just like to let everyone know to never take your animals or bussiness here EVER!! read more

I have purposely waited a long time to post a review. I wanted to be sure. Now we are sure. We love this place! Our dog loves this place. He is always happy and well maintained when we pick him up. He has learned to adjust well around other dogs and people. Such a great experience for him. Thanks to everyone for making the process of leaving our pet so pain free! read more

Boarded our large 12 year old twice. Perhaps not the best choice for an older dog. Returned once with an exacerbated injury from playing with younger dogs. Returned the second time with an injury (infection in paw) that required a trip to the vet. We were called for the first time but weren't called for the second. read more

They're a kennel for dogs, so one would think they'd be knowledgeable about dogs... they refused my dog because he's a pit mix. They never did a behavior assessment or even met the dog. I understand when people who aren't familiar with dogs discriminate based on breed, but seriously, they're a business for dogs! My pit mix is no more dangerous than any other dog. It's ignorant discrimination and they don't deserve to work with animals. read more

If I could give lower I would. Called multiple times before dropping off dogs for the first time to inquire about any restrictions or any behavior assessments. They said "no just stop by any day". I advised I had a sheppard collie mix and a terrier mix. They said nothing about breed restrictions. I drop the boys off, I get a tour of the facility and leave. SEVEN hours later I am called to be told that my terrier mix looks too much like a "Pitbull" and he is not allowed to return. They tell me I lied on the paperwork because the vet has that he's a lab mix. I told them that I had stated terrier mix on the phone before they ever even faxed that because I thought it was more accurate, also how am I supposed to control my vet. Regardless, it took them SEVEN hours to determine this. On top of which I already stated he was a terrier mix because that's clearly what he is, I don't care what he looks like and agree there is likely staffordshire in him along with Boston terrier and other mixes. But they discriminated based on looks alone. When I probe they THEN try to cover themselves and say "well, say he pulled on another dog's hair". He's a 7 mo old puppy... he's learning and not once at the dog parks, or with his bother, have I ever seen him pull hair with aggression. They tell me they have separated him from the rest of the dogs, so now he's spending the rest of the day alone based on his looks. Will make sure to spread the word that this place is run by children who need to grow up and recognize that Richmond has a lot of terrier mixes and a dog's looks do NOT determine their aggression. Furthermore there is no way to contact their management, and even I asked for the management to contact me and they still have not reached out... 2 weeks later. It's horrible customer service on top of discrimination. Gross. read more

Horrid business owners, they should be ashamed. I just moved to Richmond and was looking for new boarding and daycare for our dogs, and was rudely informed that the owner does not accept pit mixes at their facilities. Unbelievable! Closed minded and hateful business. We travel frequently and will be delighted to spend our money on a business that deserves it. read more

I had called them over the weekend to inquire about my dog going there for daycare. After my friend telling me that she had heard terrible things and that they are breed biased I decided to look for myself and was shocked. I have a pitbull who is a very good dog and he needs to get some energy out since he's a puppy so I was looking at daycares and decided to see what four paws was all about. At first glance it looked great so I called and left a message. Since they don't say ANYWHERE on their site that they refuse to take pitbulls I didn't see why it would be a problem. I didn't find out until I looked at the reviews for the place, not only are they breed biased but they don't even have the decency to call you back to tell you that they won't accept them. This place is a joke. read more

This place has friendly staff and really gets to know your dog and you. My 25 month old lab comes back tired and is happy to go inside when we arrive. read more

We have two German Shepherd dogs that we have boarded at Four Paws in Ashland, several times, and have never had any problems. We love that our dogs do not spend their days crated up, and instead, participate in the doggie daycare. This is not a service that we have to pay extra, and for that we're grateful. The staff has never been less than polite, and professional. I just wish they offered a service so I can pay to see my pups on a webcam, but I suppose there is a certain level of liability - not sure that is entirely a bad thing though. It's unfortunate that Four Paws has been rated so poorly by folks that cannot speak from a boarding experience, other than their breed was not accepted. Perhaps that is something the boarder should reconsider, but I think the overall rating is unfair as this is a fine place for boarding pets. read more

As a disclaimer, we did not actually board our dog with Four Paws. We refused to. In preparation for a boarding opportunity, we decided to stop in and tour the facility. Our dog is a rescue and we try to limit harsh conditions. Upon entering the facility, the first thing that hits you is the smell. It's a mixture of wet dog and chemicals. Generally, that is not the nicest combination. The front office is very run down as is a majority of the facility. The non-cage stalls are great if you have a smaller dog, but our 90 pound golden retriever would not have had space to turn around. The 3'x3' PVC frame bed takes up the entire stall. Luckily, the dogs are only there to sleep. Instead, they spend their entire day either outside in the all dirt field with a open air canopy for shade or, if it is raining, inside a slick concrete floor warehouse. They do have two people with the dogs at all times when they are out, but the interaction seemed minimal at best when we walked through. As I said, we did not board there as neither of us got a warm fuzzy from the place at all. I do implore you to research other options in the area. Four Paws is comparably priced with little else to gain. read more

I was looking into different pet resorts/day cares to board my one year old puppy when my fiancé and I had to go out of the country. I personally visited about 6 places around the Richmond area before I made my decision as I was very nervous to leave him for the first time for such an extended period of time. Four Paws was the second place I visited and as soon as I walked in the door I felt extremely nauseous! The disgusting stench in that place was horrendous!!! I am shocked that anyone that cares about their dog would ever consider Four Paws. I couldn't believe it. Besides the horrible smell, the inside was old and gross looking. There was a small dog area that was maybe the size of an average living room where all the small and medium sized dogs were just barking at each other without any toys as well as going to the bathroom in that same spot. The clean up bucket was right inside that enclosed area. Nobody else seemed to be there besides the receptionist (who I am shocked could even work there because of the horrendous smell). The website looked pretty nice and from reading some of the great reviews it was one of my top choices. How misleading! I tried to hurry out of there as fast as I could. Just thinking about my sweet dog spending even an hour there made me sick to my stomach. I did read some news article that a dog died there in 2011 before I went just to keep my mind open but now I'm definitely not surprised! Do not waste your time on even looking at the place! read more

I have had a great experience with Four Paws. My cockapoo is 2 years old and has been going since he was 5 months old. I Checked other places and they leave them in crates for 12 hours at a time! He's always excited to go. read more

We have used Four Paws many times for boarding, day care and grooming. We are pleased with every aspect. They did increase their prices last year, but it's not too bad. And a great model for dog boarding. They get to play all day, and come home tired! What a great treat when returning home tired ourselves from a long trip. Good times all around. read more

About 10 Years ago when Four Paws was new in our area my husband had boarded a previous pet - golden retriever/female at the Four Paws in Ashland, VA. He was very impressed with the facility and how happy and healthy she was when he picked her up. Recently, my husband and I had to board our dog and my husband's parents dog for 2 nights. Both dogs were also boarded at the Four Paws in Ashland, VA. Our dog is a chocolate lab - male/large size, and his parents dog is a rescue which is a boxer/whippet mix - female/medium size. Prior to our out of town trip this year we proceeded to look at multiple boarding facilities and were not impressed so we chose Four Paws based upon my husband's experience years ago. We chose not to visit Four Paws since my husband's previous boarding circumstances went so well. BIG mistake!!! Obviously, things have changed. Initially, the communication between the office assistant was prompt, informative, and comforting. However, that seems to be a show they put on!! Both of our dogs are inseparable so boarding them together in one room was a must. Both dogs had never been boarded before so we were insistent upon making sure that everyone taking care of our dogs knew that. When my husband's parents dropped them off they called us immediately and informed us of the intense odor that consumed the front portion of the facility and did not get a good feeling about leaving the dogs there. My husband had to assure them of the reputation of Four Paws that he remembers. Upon picking up the dogs they noticed that both dogs seemed lethargic and not themselves. Our lab would not drink or eat hardly anything for 2 days and his poop had blood in it. They immediately took him to the vet. After blood work was done it was diagnosed that it was most likely anxiety. The doctor prescribed antibiotic food to prevent any bacteria that may be growing as a precaution and since he had been boarded recently. Their dog began coughing and just started to dwindle in the past few days. It seems as if both dogs have what we consider a "common cold". Both dogs are up to date on their shots so there should be no thought of kennel cough. Other cold symptoms have been thick mucus in both eyes and frequent sneezing. The most noticeable issue, and the main reason that I am typing this review, is because of the marks around our dogs left eye. His eye has small marks as if scratches were trying to heal and looks like he's lost a few hairs around his eye. We were not informed of any dog attacking our dog or being scratched by another dog, so we are stumped as to why these markings exist. We have not contacted Four Paws because a review would be more justice on behalf of our dogs and a preventative measure for other dogs. Our dog is not aggressive and would have been submissive if such fights had occurred. Hopefully these marks are nothing from an employee mistreating him? We hope that they at least got to be together while they were there? So many questions we will never know the answers to! PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR DOGS HERE....when you are a fur parent and go on vacation, or in our case a honeymoon, the last thing you want to worry about are your sweet four-legged babies!! read more

They claim to be a "premier play and lodging facility for dogs of all sizes and ages" but don't allow certain breeds. I have dogs they both would and would not accept, but I would never take them to a place that is obviously ignorant of the canine species and community. read more

This is the perfect place for your pet. We just love that place and the staff in the Ashland location. They are taken excellent care of our German shepherd, and he is always excited to go for the day or for a week. I would not have any problem taking any of our dogs to them read more

I never write reviews, but this incidence calls for one. I have used 4-Paws in Ashland for a while now to board my dog, and just adopted a pit bull puppy that is great with my dog as well as other dogs. When I called to make reservations at the Ashland location as well as the Fredericksburg location I was told they do not take Pit Bulls, with no exceptions. We have been good customers of this facility for a while now, and I find it unacceptable that they will not even consider our dog. I will say that I was not treated rudely on the phone, and the gentleman in Fredericksburg suggested that I call Ashland to find out if we could take her there since we are established with them. This dog, along with countless others that I have had the pleasure to be around, IS NOT AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS OTHER DOGS. This policy shows close mindedness towards breeds. I have been around Labrador Retrievers that are more aggressive towards dogs than my 4 month old puppy. We will not be using any of these facilities again due to this policy. read more