PETS at PLAY sincerely deserves five stars more than any business I've ever hired. I have two cats and when I go on short trips out of town, I schedule in-home visits for the days I'm gone. I've been using them for over a year now, and PETS at PLAY goes ABOVE and BEYOND anything I could've expected. (Note- they only provide in-home visits for the Church Hill neighborhood). They're always there for me when I need them. They just really have incredible customer service. They've been able to do same day visits for me when I've been worried about my cats but am unable to leave work, and email or call me to let me know everything is okay. On a couple of occasions the key I left in the lockbox was faulty (have since gotten rid of this key lol) and one time I even FORGOT to leave the key but was hours away. But on these occasions they didn't just say, "Oh well, not our fault" and leave - they went to my landlord to ask to be let in so my fur babies didn't have to go without food, a litter box change, and TLC. They send an email and pictures from the visit every time they come. They let me know how the babies are doing while I'm away. And the best part is my kitties don't have to be kenneled and put in a cramped up crate in a new, scary place while I'm gone. They get to stay in the comfort of their home and get visited by familiar, loving faces. I really do feel like PETS at PLAY truly enjoys seeing my cats. From the pictures it looks like my cats enjoy them, too. I really just couldn't be happier with this business. They've saved me and been there for me so many times and are such a huge convenience and frankly necessity in my life... that if I ever considered moving, I would specifically be sure to not move out of their service area. I don't know what I'd do without them. read more

I have to comment on mouthy - and dogs who do not like to play with other dogs- the reason a open daycare has to use the same protocol for different breeds behaviors is to avoid a dog fight- also if your dog "catches " a cold- etc while at any facility- it is exactly like children at a school- lice, colds,flu- etc your dog - your responsibility- if you feel like it is not - you should keep your dog at home. read more

We had been faithful Pets at Play customers for over 3 1/2 years, having taken our 4 year old since she was a puppy, and our 6 month old for a solid year at least two days a week for each. Over that time, we've provided them thousands of dollars in revenue, I'd estimate somewhere around $8k-$9k between daycare, baths and occasional boarding. In March of 2019, we sent our older dog in for her regular daycare appointment and requested she get a bath and her nails trimmed. When we got her home, we noticed she was licking her paw quite a bit and saw one of her nails was badly damaged, split, and beginning to ooze pus. No one at Pets at Play called or told us her nail was damaged, even though they said her nails were cut. We emailed the owner with our concerns and received a call back from an employee - to this date, the owner has never contacted us about this incident. The employee specifically told me she was calling as to not cause any confusion, but they could not get their story straight. Personally, it sounds like they didn't want a paper trail of any potential responsibility. One person said the nails were cut, then the groomer said they did not need to be cut. If the nails got cut, why did no one tell us they damaged her nail? If they did not need to get cut, that obviously means you checked them all, right? And if you saw one was damaged, why were we never told? Whatever the case, our dog went to daycare just fine, but left with a badly damaged nail which required sedation and surgery the next day to the tune of $275 in vet bills. Whether or not our dog's nails were cut, Pets at Play was negligent at best, and deceptive at worst in trying to conceal or claim ignorance of her injury sustained while in their care. Finally, to add insult to injury, I went into their online system that weekend to cancel the next two daycare reservations (because our dog needed to be at home to recover from surgery), and they had deleted all of her reservations for the next year without telling us. I never said anything to them, so why would they delete our standing reservations? It doesn't seem like a good business practice to alienate loyal customers as we have been for years. The way Pets at Play treated our dog, my wife and me is no way to treat loyal customers. We always enjoyed taking our dogs to Pets at Play for daycare and boarding, but I no longer have any faith in how they treat us or our dogs. We have not returned, will not be returning, nor can we recommend their services. read more

See all

I've been taking my dog to Pets at Play for years. My dog loves the staff and they love him. He plays all day and comes home exhausted. I used to live very close to the center. I've since moved and tried other places. Needless to say, I now travel to get my dog to pets at play. I trust them and my dog is excited to go and happy when leaving. read more

Pets At Play - DogServices Church Hill - My very finicky dog Dilly. - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My dog has a blast when he goes there for daycare. The boarding situation is a different story, but the size of the facility is too small for long term boarding. read more

My pup always comes home super lazy after running around all day. The staff email me daily and seem to enjoy my dog. I hear the love in their voice! read more

Pets At Play - DogServices Church Hill - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Never got the chance to visit this facility. It's less than 5 minutes from my home so I thought it would have been a perfect fit for me and more importantly my dog. I registered him for over night board over a week ago for this Friday. The CONFIRMATION EMAIL they sent me said to call prior to his stay and make sure we had all my questions answered. Makes sense right. So I call and a less than enthusiastic associate answers and let's me know that I need to bring my dog in for an "interview" okay sure my reservation is literally the next day so I offer to bring him in the same day I called and I got a harsh "no" "they only do interviews in the morning" (it was noon on Thursday) so I unfortunately needed to cancel my appointment and she replied back with "oh we don't have an appointment for you because you never did an interview but we will keep your information for the future" ?????? I told her don't worry about as I'll never be coming back her. Attached is the CONFIRMATION for my dogs over night stay that mentions nothing over than to call before had and have any questions I have answered. read more

Pets At Play - DogServices Church Hill - Confirmation email for a three day overnight stay. - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Gus loves this place!! He can't get enough of it. As soon as we get up to the front door, he bolts right in. He comes home happy and worn out! Plus I love the photos they send me midday! read more

Pets At Play - DogServices Church Hill - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

I can't recommend this place enough for grooming. We take our Pomeranians there because it's a short walk from our house, but they happen to do a great job. The staff is so friendly and responsive. The groomer listens and they always come out looking perfect. read more

Pets At Play - DogServices Church Hill - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

The groomer has no idea what she is doing, and should not be allowed to groom any sort of animal after my 2nd horrible experience with her "services" at Pets at Play. She has an excuse for everything and extremely rude. Point is, she has no business being a groomer. I would never ever take my dogs back to Pets at Play. I let the owner know if she wants to stay in business, she should find another groomer who is kind, gives good, quality customer service and who has experience. She acted like she had no time when we had an appointment scheduled and was on to the next dog. If you want a botched haircut for your precious pup, and a handful of excuses, this is the place Stay away. Clearly she cares more about money than your dog(s) ***in response to Pets at Play*** PETS at PLAY check your records. One did get a haircut the first time way to be defensive. Shows what kind of company you guys are running. And you didn't turn us away, you asked me to bring him back and then said your nasty, rude groomer had "another dog to do" aka on to the next one. That's when I decided to turn you all away for good because your employee was the one with negative behavior, not my dog so friendly and apologetic over the phone and understanding, but the second you get a bad review (and this is a trend) you are up in arms and have an excuse. Just own up to the fact you guys suck at grooming. All of your negative reviews are in regards to poor grooming. Stick to what you're good at and known for, which is Play, not grooming. You're welcome read more

My husband and I have lived all over the country, and have always had at least one dog. One of the most difficult things in relocating was finding trustworthy, reliable and loving help for our pups. We're back in Richmond now, and relieved and happy to have Marialyn and Pets at Play back in our lives. I am absolutely neurotic about my dogs happiness- and I can say unreservedly that I never worry about working late or vacations. There are few businesses as well run, and fewer still, people I'd rely on to keep my pup while I'm at work or away. Pets at Play is the best. read more

Pets At Play - DogServices Church Hill - Another dog day at Pets at Play. Good friends. - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I love this place and better yet, so does my dog. When we walk in the door he can't wait to get in to play. The staff is always welcoming and so good to my dog. It takes about 5 seconds to check in and about 5 seconds to check out. If you want your dog in a happy place, go to Pets At Play. read more

Pets At Play - DogServices Church Hill - Frankie - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This place did anything and everything to accommodate me and my pup on very short notice, in a bit of an emergency situation. Awesome customer service and an overall awesome place to take your pet! Highly recommend read more

I live in the Church Hill area. I've had Pets At Play provide in-home visits for my cats many times when I had to be away, and I've never had any complaints. My cats are shy and don't come out for strangers, but one of PAP's caregivers, Beth, is one of my cat's favorite people! When she's not available, there is always coverage. Prices are reasonable. I am very comfortable leaving my cats in their care! read more

Wouldn't recommend this place based on my first experience. Took my very friendly and socialized dog for an "interview" with the other dogs and he did not pass because he was being "defensive" when other dogs were biting his neck and back. I guess if your dog doesn't mind being attacked by a mob of dogs in a very small enclosed room then this place is for you! read more

I made an appointment 3 weeks out but unfortunately something was lost in communication and they didn't have any record when I finally came in with my dog. They were very apologetic once I showed them the call log I had with them, and they were still able to fit my dog in for a haircut that day. Overall, it took about 3 hours for the cut and he had no razor burns or scratches when I picked him up. He smelled great and all the edges were neat. We will definitely be back! read more

Pets At Play - DogServices Church Hill - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

They mess up my dog hair cut and they didn't fix it and said he couldn't return to use their services

HORRIBLE groom for our doodle pup! We will not take him back ever again. His cut is so uneven & it took over 5 hours for them to do it! The groomer cut his sanitary area so so close that he is already scooting and is likely going to get a rash :( I brought up these concerns to the front desk attendant and she said the groomer was unable to come talk to us. For $100 I definitely expect more responsiveness. Luckily, hair grows back. read more

I'm not sure who loves this place more. My dog or me. He's amped every time he goes there. The staff knows him and loves him. This place is clean. The staff is incredibly nice. And I trust them with my best friend week after week. read more

We treat our dog like a true family member, so where he goes for a day of play, boarding and grooming is important to us. We've tried other boarding places in RVA but Pets at Play has everyone beat! Ollie (our whoodle) loves going, and we love that he is tuckered out after a long day of play with the other pups! They always greet us with big, happy smiles when we arrive. I highly recommend Pets at Play! read more

Pets at Play is my boarder AND groomer of choice in Richmond. Ellie comes home happy and tired. The staff is warm, caring and knows us by names. Can't say enough great things about my experiences! read more

This has been such a safe and happy place for our dog. We know we can always trust the staff here to go above and beyond to be friendly with our dog and make sure all of her needs are met. We can also rest easy when we travel knowing she's having fun and is safe. read more

Pets at Play is a very professional organization and does not breed discriminate. A while back when I was looking for day care for my Pitbull/Dalmatian, I interviewed 2 or 3 places and they refused to take my dog because it was a pit bull mix. Pets at Play had no reservations about taking her. She loved daycare and had the best time there. It would take her 2 days to recover after a day at daycare where she played herself out. I am so glad they didn't turn her away just because of her breed like several other daycares did. read more

We were new to the area and needed a dog daycare/boarding facility for our 3yo large-breed dog. Our dog had been boarded many times in our previous city and never had a problem. We chose Pets at Play because it is in a convenient location. We boarded him there about 5 times with no problems, except that he never seemed tired when he came home. The last time that we boarded him there, we were told that our dog had been aggressive and was not allowed to return. We have never heard of him exhibiting aggressive behaviors and were, of course, shocked. The only explanation that they could offer was that our dog had been "jumping" on other dogs. No growling, no biting, no showing teeth. Just jumping. Not only were we never allowed to speak to the person who witnessed this so-called aggression, we were also never told why this was seen as aggressive. Originally the owner said we could come in to see how our dog acted with other dogs, but then she rescinded that offer. We have been left completely confused over this. I also agree with the other review about grooming as well. Although our dog was cleaned for the most part, his ears were still quite dirty and just didn't seem very thorough. This place obviously has no comprehension of dog behavior, plus they are more expensive and smaller than other facilities in the area. Maybe this place works for small, timid dogs, but everyone else should look elsewhere. read more

We recently used Pets at Play for in home care when we went on vacation and I couldn't be MORE pleased. We have two bunnies and a cat so I was a bit concerned about cost when we 1st were looking for help. Well, they had a totally reasonable daily rate and only charged an additional $10 to come over on the holiday. We received daily updates on our pets, including photos from Maria Lynn. Our famously skittish kitty was no longer hiding after day two, which completely surprised me. On arriving home there was a daily log of the times our pets were visited and an very very lovely note. We have used other in home pet care but I have never felt less guilty about leaving them. I loved the updates and they went a long way to helping me feel at ease. I can tell you, we'll use them again. read more

Can't say enough about Pets at Play. My dogs goes there once a week for daycare and a bath twice a month. I have both a small and large dog and they both go barreling into the place each time. Staff is always nice and are definitely dog lovers. Here is a perfect example of why I love this place. I went to Asia for about 15 days and left my large dog there for boarding. I received pictures everyday (also get them for daycare) to let me know he was doing good. I picked him up after returning to the US and the very next day walked him past Pets at Play and he jumped on the door to get in. What more can I say. He loves it there! read more

Warning: If you have a vocal or energetic dog this is NOT the place for you. I agree with other reviews that there is little understanding about different dog breeds. During my puppies second visit, he was put in "time out" for play barking. I was later called and told that my dog behaved aggressively by "barking in other dogs faces" and being mouthy. I explained that this behavior was my 6 month old puppy expressing he wanted to play. Despite my explanation the next time I tried to board my dog, my name and information was no longer in the system. I was never informed that my puppy couldn't no longer visit Pets at Play until the day I requested boarding. I felt that this was very unprofessional, and left me scrambling to find care before my vacation. read more

My furry baby loves this place as do I for being available, friendly and trustworthy! Thank you for keeping him safe, making him tired and giving him love while I'm away! Love the photo emails too. read more

I take my larger-sized min pin (15 lb.) here who's 8yr. old and the staff has always been incredibly friendly, they even remember his information each time I bring him in (even after a month or two). I love how they send me pics of him during each stay. My dog gets excited when he pull up outside, which is a great sign to me. As far as boarding - they do suggest you bring your food as well blankets or a bed for your pet to sleep with and any toys. My dog peed on his bed one time and the staff was nice enough to wash everything for me! I have seen some comments about there not being a large outdoor space, which is true. Pets at play can also be on the pricier side when comparing it to some other pet places, what was important for me is to have a place where my dog feels comfortable. Some of the other places with larger spaces let the larger dogs run around with the smaller ones and that has personally resulted in my pet being knocked over, ending in an ER vet trip and weeks of medication. read more

The facility is overcrowded and smells like mold. Our dog exhibited what they call "door guarding behavior." Our dog plays rough but isn't typically aggressive. The staff did not give us suggestions or resources to help modify her behavior. After a weekend of boarding and being separated from other dogs, she is having accidents at home. read more

Pets at Play does a great job with small or large dogs. They have a quick, thorough, and efficient scheduling system that makes it really easy for the dog owners. Very satisfied customer. read more

Day care and grooming are very affordable and the staff is so friendly, helpful and kind--they clearly love the pups! I love the email with pics of my doggo that I get midday that show me he in good hands and having fun! But, with the idea in mind that a tired dog is a well-behaved dog, the best part is having him thoroughly worked out and exhausted for a quiet evening at home. read more

We love Pets at Play-- our dog is always well cared for and loved, and the daily photo updates make time away from her easier to bear.

While I understand it's hard to accommodate a large amount of dogs outside in the city, I was incredibly disappointed at Pets at Play's inability to understand different dog breeds and their needs. read more

Since moving to Church Hill in June 2015, I have used PaP twice, both for periods at least 5 days long. My pet is fairly independent and so does not need a ton of attention. Nevertheless, Beth has been *phenomenal*. I was beyond skeptical that she would ever get him to come out. And, lo, I received photographic evidence as proof by the second set of visits. PaP's lockbox entry system is very efficient and makes the process incredibly easy. I have had nothing but outstanding experiences with the company, and I strongly encourage those living in their service radius to use their services! read more

I have been bringing my dog here for daycare and grooming for the past 3 years and am always happy with my experience. The employees are so friendly and the space is nice and clean. My dog has some anxiety issues but he feels very comfortable here and I always am at ease when I leave him for the day. I would highly recommend this place! read more

I take my dog here at least once per week. When she comes home she is usually exhausted and very happy from spending the day playing and having fun here. I also like the way they send you pictures of your dog while there. read more

This is the first time ever I leave a review and unfortunately it's a negative one. The groomer, indeed, doesn't know what she's doing. My dog came back from his grooming appointment with the area around his eyes bleeding. Their response was: "Well, because he had a lot of mats and gunks when he came in so after the haircut the skin is finally able to breath. I (the manager Morgan) have seen that many times, and that's nothing to worry about." When you own a dog and when you try to give your dog some love but all you can smell from him is the smell of blood. This is infuriating. I really don't want to be compensated or anything, only want them to know that the groomer is incompetent with her job. But, all I got was excuses and "I'm so so sorry but there's nothing we can do". Unacceptable. They may have excellent boarding services according to many reviews on here but for grooming (also according to negative reviews on here) please stay away. Unacceptable. read more

after spending nearly 500.00 to board and bathe our dogs. they came home with yeast and staph infections in their ears. we had to shuck out another 300.00 dollars in related medical costs to treat this. when we called to discuss the matter with them, asking them to credit us some amount of the costs as the dogs were in their care.. we were told that " much like sending you kids to public school, kids get sick and it's not the schools fault.. it's more of a chance you take sending them there". well, ok... if my child came home with a staph and yeast infection... i would certainly be concerned about what was transpiring! and question the accountability of the persons in charge. i don't know about you, but anyone who takes that attitude about the wellbeing of any animal, isn't worth trusting and should not be in business. the owner of the business couldn't even call to tell me this themselves, they had an employee do it.... this makes me sick. as i am a resident of Church Hill, i have a vested interest in supporting local business and supporting a place where i can board my dogs safely when needed. as a member of the Church Hill Association, i am appalled at the position. we have to be accountable for our actions in the community, both positive and negative. this is no way to treat a client. EVER read more

Friendly staff .. they love our dogs and our dogs love them. They send photos of playtime each day.