The ongoing pandemic made contacting trainers/organizations and coordinating the initial meeting…read moretricky especially with the pet adoption boom. I admittedly got my hopes up when I saw Active Paws business given her numerous qualifications even in agility work and immediate availability to schedule a session immediately over the summer. Her rates started at $120/hour which seemed standard after also conferring with other personal dog trainer contacts. As you can tell by the low rating the stars did not align as a mutual fit. The website was easy to navigate and Cara the owner was very responsive. You can easily schedule an appointment on there for personalized training. Perhaps we didn't pick a neutral enough location now knowing what we know now (after finding on site in person group puppy classes) to set our pup up for success over the summer at 3.5 months old and 20 lbs. Unfortunately Cara came up to our back deck which may have been interpreted as an interloper encroaching on her territory so as a puppy with bad manners she barked incessantly. She threw some small pieces of mozzarella cheese that didn't interest the pup (we are realizing now she's not super food motivated). That "reactive" behavior was enough to confirm to Cara after a serious bite earlier in the week to "pass" on training our dog. We still got the folder with pamphlets, and branded pen and clicker as she quickly retreated. Maybe in retrospect we should have met up at a park instead of our property. Granted this was the reaction that our puppy has when uncertain in greeting most new people but once she sniffs them she calms down quickly once she sees that we are friendly with them. The damage was done. Cara immediately followed up through email with an apology and a couple links to other (more expensive) trainers, one of whose website wasn't even working. I flutily attempted to reach out but also received no response so those were dead ends too. As for the socialization aspect she recommended a place all the way down in Franklin, and the MSPCA Angell which was not operational or equipped to respond during the pandemic (over the summer). Of course this experience left me completely demoralized and slightly jaded. I sometimes see their branded vehicles parked at the Dog Ranch area and walkers taking dogs around there to go walking. Thankfully we were able to enroll her in puppy daycare and now start some group training classes I alluded to earlier at the beginning of this year for adolescent pups. Funny enough she's now one of the least reactive dogs in her classes.

I was going insane trying to figure out how to train my puppy. After a week of no sleep and…read moreconstant stress and some tears, the *MOST WONDERFUL* dog trainer came by and showed me some skills and helped me figure stuff out. I feel like I'm working with my puppy now instead of fighting against him. Absolutely the best thing I've done since getting my wonderful puppy is contacting Active Paws. Cara, you saved my sanity. He's ALREADY doing so much better it's WILD honestly. Puppy photo included just because LOOKIT HIM. To be more specific: Cara made the core concepts behind training my dog very easy to understand, provided me with references for when I get stressed and forget, and left me feeling empowered to have a fantastic relationship with my dog.

Linda is awesome! My girl Nellie just loves her since the moment they met. Opening your home and…read moretrusting someone to take care of your pet is a big decision and Linda made it very easy. Nellie had a hard time transitioning to her new home from our old apartment and Linda made it so easy. She leaves awesome notes and you can really tell she cares about your pet. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone who's looking for an amazing dog walker (and she's more than a walker... she's a pet lover). Thanks Linda!

Linda came over to take care of my cat while my husband and I were away for a week. She was…read moreabsolutely wonderful! She came over twice to meet us and go over everything before we left for no charge. She sent me text messages and pictures every day to let me know how things were going and my cat was still friendly and loveable when I get home. I am very excited that I have a trustworthy cat sitter that I will use for years now! Definitely recommend her.

Wags 4 walks has been so great for our puppy! She enjoys her walks which really wear her out…read more She has severe dietary restrictions and must stay on a leash at all times and Wags4walks has always been very accommodating and mindful of this. She gets to go on group walks which is so good for her socialization and we're just so happy with their flexibility and quality of service!

After having the same dog walker for over 20 years I was worried I'd struggle to find someone that…read moreI could trust as much. Then I found Kim and her Wags4Walks! Kim clearly has a heart for dogs but she's also built a solid and professional business with an outstanding team at her side. My Willie LOVES going out with both Josh and Michael and the playgroup. I couldn't be happier or feel more confident about who is taking Willie out. Thank you Kim and team - especially Josh and Michael!

Danna is hands down the best pet sitter to take care of my cats over the years. She is absolutely…read morereliable, detail-oriented, and knowledgeable. My cats require medication, sometimes different varieties (pills, ointments, shots), and twice a day, and there was never the slightest problem. They were in good spirits at my return, not stressed out or neglected, and so was my place upon my return. I trust her completely and recommend her service without any hesitation.

Outstanding. If you want peace of mind for your cat while going on vacation, you can't beat…read morePurrmore. Regular emailed updates, actual playtime for your cat, and someone with real attention to detail. I missed my cat while I was gone but was so happy he had superb care.

We all miss Sheri!…read more She has been our cat sitter for many many years. Now that I've moved to Florida, I appreciate her even more. She is incredibly reliable (before she arrived, I had horrible experiences with other reputable cat sitters) and the cats like her - not an easy feat for all three of my cats. I highly recommend her as a sitter - and wish she would move to Florida as well!

Sweet Bea was so well taken care of by Shari over the New Year holiday. It was my first time…read moreleaving Bea (just adopted her December 8) so I was really nervous. I got daily picture and video reports, and Shari kept me informed of Bea's eating (which was a concern for me). She even brought over a sample of dry food for my picky cat baby to try and she's eating it! Shari visited at the same time each day which kept Bea in her routine, which I really appreciate. Working with Shari included a meet and greet with Bea before I left, and she was very responsible and flexible with figuring out logistics with visits, keys, etc. 10/10 would recommend if you're looking for a cat sitter in the Fenway/Back Bay/South End area.

We boarded our 13 year old cat Bear for her first time as she was recently diagnosed with diabetes…read more I must say that Pat, Paul and Sheila at Chez Mieux were absolutely fantastic. They are very professional, caring and great at giving attention to our cat and all cats boarded there for that matter. Bear received her oral medication every day and after 5 days and we felt very much at ease knowing she was receiving the best care. Highly recommend Chez Mieux.

When we picked up our cat from Chez Mieux, after a week she was in a kennel in the basement without…read morewindows, fresh air and no other cats around and she was starving. As soon as we drove away, she started foaming at the mouth, had diarrhea and was vomiting on the way home. I will NEVER EVER entrust them with our cat and wouldn't recommend their service to anyone, if you really care for your pet. By the way they are pricier than the other cat hotels. I would give them 0 star if I could.

Highly recommend Terri at City Paws Cat Sitting!…read more We've been using Terri regularly for the past year whenever we travel, and she has been absolutely wonderful. She is reliable, prompt, organized, and truly loves cats. One of my favorite things is that she sends daily updates and photos, which gives us so much peace of mind while we're away. It's clear that she genuinely cares about the cats she looks after and treats them like her own. Knowing our cats are happy, safe, and well cared for makes traveling so much less stressful. If you're looking for a trustworthy and attentive cat sitter, I highly recommend Terri and City Paws Cat Sitting!

I cannot recommend Terri highly enough. From the very first meeting, it was clear that she has a…read moredeep compassion for animals, especially those with unique needs. My cat was extremely anxious around new people, but Terri approached her with such patience and understanding that, over time, they became genuine friends -- something I never thought possible. She has an incredible intuition when it comes to animals, knowing when to give space and when to offer gentle comfort. I always felt completely at ease leaving my cat in her care, knowing she was not only safe but truly cared for. What I never expected was the emotional support Terri would provide when my cat's health declined. She was there during the most difficult moments -- calm, loving, and present -- offering both my cat and me comfort and dignity as we said goodbye. I will always be grateful for her steady presence and empathy during that time. If you're looking for someone who doesn't just "watch" pets but truly connects with them and treats them like her own, Terri is that person. She's more than a sitter -- she's become part of our little family.

This place has been closed for a while and the premises emptied out. Not sure why the site hasn't…read morebeen updated.

I've been sending my dog Momo to Tammy and the team at Pondside for over a year now - he gets great…read moreattention, treatment and always has a fun time with his friends. Tammy has also provided grooming services that has been super helpful for a tantrum prone corgi. Great value and I know Momo is being well taken care of every time he goes