THE BEST KEPT SECRET DAYCARE AND BOARDING FOR SMALL DOGS!!! I have to admit, I've been selfishly gatekeeping this place because it is hands down, THE BEST daycare and boarding on the island and I didn't want my baby's spot to be taken up...sorry Aunty Carly! I know a lot of my fellow VIPaws pet parents are also keeping this place on the hush for the same reason. However, since I'm moving soon, I had to do right by its wonderful owner, Carly, and give her the recognition she deserves. I've tried almost every daycare and boarding here, as my fur baby is our child and we want the very best for him. It was good to see what each place had to offer but let me tell you, you will not find another place that comes close to VIPaws. This is "the Punahou" of daycares. They specialize in only taking small dogs 25 lbs and under, which is perfect since our baby is fearful of larger dogs. The sign up process is organized and thorough, taking everything into account. We could tell she was on it and well prepared to care for him whenever we were away. This really put my mind at ease. All her policies/pricing are laid out and upfront so there's no surprises. If you don't read, that's on you. Their reservation based setup makes it easy to drop off/pick up. I've been to places without this and had to wait a while to pick up my dog since there was no reserved time. At VIPaws, I book a set time to drop off/pick up my pup so I can be on my way. I appreciate that! Carly does a tour of the setup on the first day and we were impressed by how clean and secure her home was. Multiple enclosures to ensure your dog's safety, lots of room to run and play, and comfy and clean with no smells at all. The energy there felt so calm and positive. All the pups looked so cute and happy! We love that they're very selective with the dogs they agree to take in, not letting any of the riff raff in. It's like an exclusive private school! She's strict but very loving and we appreciated that vs many other places where they let dogs run wild, pee everywhere, bark their heads off, etc. Not only can your dog pick up bad habits but it also really stressed my baby out. This was a welcomed change of environment. We could tell from the tour that this was going to be an amazing experience for our pup. VIPaws took excellent care of my baby every time he joined them for daycare/sleepovers. He can be a little nervous being away from us but it didn't take long for his nervous shakes to turn into tail wags. He would do excited tippy taps whenever we made the turn to her home, ecstatic about where he was about to go. He never did this for any of the other places we've tried! We ended up enrolling him in regular daycares because he would pout and get depressed when he didn't get to go. From a dog that had separation anxiety to this, there was no denying how much he loved it there. At VIPaws, we really felt that he was more than just a number. She took the time to really get to know him and knew things about his personality, likes/dislikes and quirks that even my own Mom didn't know about him. We could tell he truly felt comfortable, willing to show her his true self and thriving in the environment they create. The level of care and commitment they take for each dog is outstanding. In a short period of time, we could tell from his consistent daycare that he was not only loving his time there, but becoming a better behaved pup. Our baby learned manners and started coming home more balanced and well-behaved. Before VIPaws, he would get leash reactive on our neighborhood walks but since joining VIPaws, he got rid of that behavior right before our eyes...we were amazed! And she doesn't even charge for training, which in my opinion is a steal!! With everything you get, her prices are incredibly fair! We loved her insights shared via daily text message/pics. He always looked so happy! She is extremely knowledgeable and her advice helped us to be the best parents. I loved her honesty, letting us know the good with the bad. It was helpful to know areas we could improve on and got us excited when those improvements started coming to life. We would much rather have that than the generic "he did great" responses we got from several other places we've tried. With VIPaws, I could trust they'd tell me the truth on how my dog really was doing. VIPaws not only helped us care for our dog when we were away but also helped transform him into a confident, social, well balanced canine citizen. He has so many friends and we love seeing him live his best life! We've recommended them to our friends and they've raved about having the same experiences with their dogs. We are so grateful for all the time and attention she invested in him. This place is truly magical and such a gem. Trust me, VIPAWS IS THE BEST!!! Thank you Aunty Carly and Uncle Billy for all you did for us! We won't forget you! read more

Hi Carly & Billy, I wanted to thank you both for what you provide for all our fur babies. Cherish & Sasha are much better at home. I've been out sick from work for the last 2 days but still able to take them on morning walks. They seem more calm and are not aggressive whenever we pass or are approaching other dogs. In fact they don't react at all when other dogs start barking or lunging towards our direction. When we are home there is no tension like we used to have. I have to remind myself to get up and correct them when they're overly barking at the mailman or people walking past the house. The entire household, humans and animals seem to be more at peace and relaxed , it's very nice. Thank you again. read more

VIPaws has been our choice of daycare and boarding services for our fur baby for over a year and we have no desire to ever use another boarding service ever. We live in Makakilo and make the drive 2x/week for daycare because our Gabby was able to come out of her shell, make friends and take walks with the other VIPaws to form a proper pack mentality. For little dogs that get exposed to this, wonderful things happen. Gabby, 5lbs., learned how to play, socialize and walk together with dogs 3x bigger than her. Carly can see their specific personalities and get them to harmonize with each other in the climate controlled social area. Having little dogs away from home brings anxiety to fur parents and we found we can trust Carly to take care of them as if her own. She spends time with them, giving cuddles for free and providing pictures of your fur baby taking their famous pack walk to give an emotional sigh of relief knowing they're having a great time. We used vet boarding services before with our other small dog but they were so traumatized by being in a cage for a week, not really having their normal comforts of home. VIPaws treats them with bucket beds, toys and blankets like they're at home. They have a grassy area for potty and the area is very clean as expected. We never took vacations for a long time without having friends stay over to watch the dogs. Gabby did so much better being with VIPaws's pack for a week, she had her own vacation with friends 24/7. She's such a well-rounded dog now with the exposure to VIPaws. read more

My Teddie Bear has been seeing his "Auntie Carly" for over a year, I think? She treats her dogs as if they were her own...gives them tender loving care, but teaches them to have good manners around other 4 (and 2 legged) creatures...She cared for Ted when he has a recent leg strain--and her two weeks+ of concentrated care, made his recovery quicker than if I had tried to do it on my own. Her small pack size definitely makes it worth while--as your fur babies will get extra special attention! read more

VIPaws - Dog Walkers Near Me

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My Rocco is a Lhasa Apso mix and he isn't an easy dog to care for. Since he was a puppy, he had separation anxiety. He would cry and howl when I would leave him alone in the house, or when I would take him to the vet, or to the groomers. Rocco doesn't like car rides either. I'm very picky about who I would leave Rocco with because of his high anxiety. I'm glad I found Carly at VIPaws. She sends me daily updates and pictures when he is there for daycare or boarding. The best part is to hear, via text, all the positive things that happen when I am not around. Rocco seems to be very responsive to Carly and she is able to correct him and teach him how to be calm around her and the other dogs. I saw how he is able to act like a good boy in front of her. Carly is truly gifted. Rocco acts differently around me and I don't know how to control him like she does but I am definitely working on it. VIPaws is very clean and organized, and this business is operated by an angel. If you're seeking daycare or boarding for your fur baby who is 20 lbs or less, this is the right place to try! Also, I love that I don't need to worry about big dogs attacking my little Rocco. All the dog clients at VIPaws are cute, calm, and obedient. VIPaws is Rocco's forever daycare/boarding place. read more

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I was very hesitant about boarding my dogs any where because one has medical issues and the other is skittish in unfamiliar surroundings. I sent them for there evaluation and they had a wonderful time. Carly started sending me pictures immediately after I dropped them off to show me how well my babies were socializing with the pack and sent even more pictures during their walk. When I picked them up, they were so happy and took a nap during the car ride home. A few weeks later, we took a trip and left them with VIPaws for 4 days. My babies had a wonderful time! I received updates and pictures every day, multiple times a day. My babies looked so happy and made many new friends. Carly administered medication, brushed their teeth and fed them according to my instructions. I thoroughly enjoyed my vacation since I didn't have to worry about the welfare of my babies. I will definitely use VIPaws again and highly recommend them. You will not be disappointed! read more

VIPaws - Dog Walkers Near Me

Beware of potentially illegal business practice. If you cancel services inside of their required 48 hours window, you will be charged 100% of the unprovided service IN ADDITION TO a cancellation fee. This is in their written agreement. However, having this in the agreement does not make it ethically correct or legal. You will be charged the full amount for the services not provided and then charged a fee for the same canceled services. I am 100% fine with paying a portion of revenue lost (income that would have been made from another client in the event of no-shows/cancellation) OR paying a cancellation fee that helps protect the business, BUT NOT BOTH. So if you wake up ill and cannot make it, the morning of, or your job situation changes in less than 48 hours and pet sitter services are not needed, you will pay for the services NOT PROVIDED and pay a fee on top of that. Taking matter up with the BBB and the State, and researching state codes potentially being violated. I raised a concern about this practice and the business owner terminated our business relationship citing the policy will remain in place and be enforced. read more

VIPaws - Illegal Practices - Dog Walkers Near Me

When boarding your dog, Carly makes your dog sleep outside in the patio at nights and claims she can "hear" if anything goes wrong since her bedroom is next to her patio. I don't it's the safest thing to do! read more

I am not keen on leaving negative remarks but may I say that when a business shows no courtesy or genuine respect should never be patronized. First, their website states, "All dogs must be 20 lbs. or under.  We only accept small dogs. All dogs must be spayed/neutered." - she offered an exemption to take our 5lb chihuahua even though he is not neutered since we were inquiring for 6 nights sleepover. - sounds like $$$ for this company, perhaps. Second, in their website and the email confirmation sent to us, clearly states,  "We require cash payment upon drop off.  All reservations are finalized 24 hours to drop off and there are no refunds." - We set up our reservation over a month in advance.  Things happened and our plan have changed, and asked to cancel a month in advance.  We were simply offered NO refund! That basically did not convey to the email confirmation when we asked to cancel. I repeat, we asked to cancel a month in advance. If this company followed their own rule and can change it when they want to, how come they agree to take my unneutered puppy however, not willing to give us a refund as our plan changes?  they didn't even give us an option, but simply a straight answer NO REFUND! This for me is greed! All they care is your business and do not care about their clients, should anything happened and plan change that you need to cancel. Remember it takes 20 people to hear about how good a business is and 100++ people when companies are not so courteous. Losing our business for sure is not a big deal for them (her, Ms. CARLY)! She (Ms.Carly) did not want to offer refund as she does not want to be unfair to her other client. Although she can break her own rule on taking in unspayed/unneutered dog if she wants specially if it will earn her $$$.  Does her regular clients knows this? More than likely NO! That's all. read more

I've known Carly for four years now and she is extremely dedicated to the animals. Her compassion for her clients's dogs and her consistency in serving her clients' needs goes beyond normal standards. She loves what she does and that is what sets her apart from anyone else. The dogs are not just profits for her. This is her livelihood and her purpose in life. I trust only her with my fur baby and, after two failed sitters in the past, I know we are in good hands because she has never let me down. Thank you Carly! read more

We've used to VIPaws for two daycare visits and for a 5 night sleepover for our dog Izzy. We've been very pleased and would definitely recommend using their services for your dog. Carly shows you around and explains how the daycare/sleepovers work. The last time I took my dog to a boarding facility she was miserable. I would check in on the webcam and she was just standing around looking scared. This is NOT the case with Carly. She takes wonderful care of Izzy. Izzy is excited to get to Carly when we arrive! That never happens. We've been very happy with Carly and her services. She takes the dogs on a pack walk and sends pictures and updates on how your pet is doing. We were able to enjoy our trip knowing Izzy was in good hands. We've already booked Carly for Izzy's next sleepover. Thank you Carly for making Izzy's stay a pleasant and enjoyable one. Mahalo Atonya Nutter read more

If you love your dog like we do, and need daycare or doggie sleepover while on a trip, we highly recommend VIPaws and Carly. This was the first time we've used a dog sitter. We could not be happier! We were able to enjoy our trip without worrying. Carly really takes the time to get to know your dog and makes sure that they are comfortable. The daily photos and videos Carly sent us while on our trip were such a delight to receive! I don't think our dog, Saru, knew we were gone because she was having so much fun! We highly recommend VIPaws for your doggie daycare and dog sitting needs. read more

We have only left our puppy with Carly once, but we can already tell this will be her second home. We had first left her with another day care facility that I will not name, because there was nothing wrong with them. They are just a city facility that doesn't take the dogs out for walks and lets them go potty on potty pads. Our puppy has never used potty pads and had no idea what they were. This set her back with her potty training. Both VIPaws and the other facility posted pictures of our precious little one. At the first place, our puppy was walking around aimlessly with her tail tucked between her legs. She did not look happy at all. With Carly, she was smiling and rolling in the grass. It was like night and day. And with our loved ones, when our puppy is happy, we are happy. VIPaws keeps the group small and as close to your normal routine as possible, which is so crucial when you are leaving your dog during travel. You're already leaving them with someone else. Why would you change anything else? Carly is a little more on the expensive side, but we think it's worth it for peace of mind. Keep in mind she also only takes cash. read more

I'm not usually a yelp reviewer (mostly just a consumer of reviews), but i'm delighted to give my review of Carly/VIPaws. I was looking for another daycare/boarder to keep my pup's socialization skills fresh while also giving him a fun time. Even though i'm perfectly happy with another daycare he goes to for socialization, VIPaws offers a more personal home touch can't be had with other larger daycares. Carly is fantasticly awesome with all her pack members. She makes sure all the pups go on walks throughout the day along with lots of playtime and one on one time with her. My pup loves all of it and has already made lots of friends. Carly also keeps all her guests parents with pictures and instagram/facebook posts. As for boarding, Carly is now my go-to for boarding after a three night stay. I love the fact that she doesn't put the pups in a kennel and there's always a daily/nightly agenda. Their playtime is supervised to be sure all of her guests are behaving properly. Initially when I visited her place, I had some reservations about leaving my pup at someone's house, but my reservation were quickly put to rest after talking to Carly. She is very professional, knowledgeable about dogs, and possess a fantastic enthusiasm and passion for dogs. After his first stay, any reservations I had were gone. VIPaws and Carly are awesome! Highly recommend! read more

I don't know what we would have done if it weren't for Carly. Recently we had to go to the mainland for an extended stay and I was really stressed out about our dog being anxious while we were away. Carly's daily photos were a godsend. I cannot express how seeing the face of your dog looking happy on a walk with other dogs puts your mind at ease when you're thousands of miles away. Thanks again Carly. So grateful!! read more

We were planning a trip and started looking a year in advance for dog boarding services. We looked at several places before turning to YELP. We found great reviews for VIPaws LLC and gave it a try. We were very pleased that VIPaws LLC specialized in small dogs and Carly was extremely helpful in creating a smooth transition from daycare to boarding for our dog being that this was the first time that we used daycare or boarding services from any business. We had concerns about the facilities being outside since our dog is primarily an inside dog however the facilities was very clean and secure and someone is with the dogs 24/7. Carly provided daily updates and pictures throughout our trip and we couldn't have been more pleased with the services from VIPaws, LLC. We would definitely recommend VIPaws, LLC to anyone looking for doggie daycare or boarding services. Thank you so much Carly for taking care of our "baby girl"! read more

Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. Absolutely the best!! Carly watched over Hoku as though she was her own. Carly is so thoughtful and made our trip so pleasant, by knowing that Hoku was being cared for. Hoku loves Carly and we would recommend ViPaws without any hesitation. read more

I would recommend Carly and VIPaws to anyone, and will definitely be using their boarding and daycare services again! Carly was amazing and I feel very comfortable leaving our Shih-poo, Axis, in her care. Carly was very informative on the services she provided and what a "typical day" included for the dogs who stay with her, and I was very impressed with her requirements for vaccinations and the need for a 'trial day' before we could board our dog. I felt very happy leaving Axis with Carly knowing that he was in a safe environment with other dogs who were a similar size and temperament to him! The personal touches that Carly adds to the care of your dog are beyond compare! She will feed your dog the food you provide her, at the same time you would normally feed them at home, including treats or anything else you would like her to give them. This really helped Axis transition to his stay at VIPaws, and also when he came home again. I was worried that Axis might not drink as much as he should, and she paid extra attention to make sure that he had plenty of opportunities to drink and stay hydrated! I especially enjoyed the text updates from Carly with pictures of Axis on his daily walks or playing with the other dogs, and letting us know how what he was up to and how he was doing each day - this really gave us so much peace of mind while we were away from him! It was also a great opportunity for Axis to socialize with other dogs, as he hadn't had much opportunity to do so in the past. He was always a bit timid around other dogs, and Carly made sure to take the right steps in introducing him to the pack and making sure he was comfortable. In the week he spent with Carly and the other dogs there, he made huge advances in socialization and he now takes much more interest in other dogs and actively approaches them on walks - it was a really positive experience for him! You can tell that Carly is really passionate about her business and the dogs in her care - she really takes the time to get to know your dog and their little quirks and personalities. She really exceeded all of my expectations and I am so glad we found her!! read more

I just boarded my fur-baby with Carly for the 4th of July weekend and I couldn't be happier with finally finding someone that cares for my dog as much as I do! My tibetan spaniel Abby is 10 years old and I was looking for someplace with less animals and where she would get more tender loving care. Even after the first meeting with Carly, I could tell that I had found the right place. I love the daily updates and photos that she sends. It really puts my mind at ease when I see that Abby looks happy and healthy. She thoroughly enjoyed the daily walks with the pack and actually looked like she was making new friends! I definately would recommend Carly of VIPaws! I already booked Abby for her next stay there in a few weeks. I am so relieved that I can now enjoy my vacations and I know that Abby will be enjoying her vacation also! read more

This review is LONG overdue! We used VIPaws numerous times for doggie daycare and long sleepovers while living on the island. Our Jax absolutely loved every time he got to go see Carly and his puppy friends. I could tell he was always well taken care of - and she treated him like part of the family. Carly was great with preparation, communication and is so efficient. Her facility was clean and very pup-friendly. I loved that she provided us with updates and photos throughout his stay. We've since moved off the island and I know Jax misses his play dates. It will be tough to find someone we trust as much with our fur baby! read more

Carly was amazing with our 10 month old Yorkie! We boarded Mia (our furbaby) with Carly overnight during our wedding and Mia had an amazing time! She has a bit of separation anxiety, but she was perfectly fine during the time away from us. Carly took her to the park and let her play with the other dogs; we even got pictures of their walks and play time during the day! :) It really comforted us during our first time away from our Mia. I totally recommend Carly! AWESOME! Mia loved her! read more

Used Carly again before a relocation back to the mainland and cannot say enough nice things about her. She is extremely loving to all the animals and sends feedback throughout the day. There is no other pet service on Oahu that offers this level of care and concern for your pet. Thank you Carly and good luck. read more

I just booked a sleepover for my dog Mai Tai and realized I never reviewed VIPaws LLC from our last two stays. I have had such great experiences with Carly and VIPaws LLC that I wanted to share. As most pet owners, I was stressing out about finding a place to board my child during our long holiday vacation. It was to the point where I wanted to cancel my vacation all together. Upon meeting Carly, I could sense her love and compassion for animals and I knew this was the place for Mai Tai. Needless to say, her stay went great! Carly sent me pictures and videos everyday, which is great for crazy dog ladies like me :) The best part was that Mai Tai was stress free and happy when I picked her up. I have boarded her at places in the past and it seemed like she needed a week to recover. I highly recommend Carly and VIPaws LLC. We are looking forward to our next doggy vacation! read more

We took our dog to VIPaws for the 4th of July weekend and my mind couldn't be put more at ease over the weekend while we were away! VIPaws was recommended through Jana from Akamai Pets. When they stopped doing pet boarding, i was devastated because i didn't know where else i could trust someone to take care of my dog while we were away. I've taken her somewhere else prior to VIPaws and unfortunately she came back sick and heavier than normal due to lack of exercise. We took our dog over to VIPaws for her evaluation day a week prior to her stay and Carly was so great sending pictures and videos throughout the day! it's great to know that all the other dogs there are very sociable and friendly. She takes them on pack walks to the park and for those who need the extra walk like mine, she does that as well! I texted Carly the morning after her first night there to check up on her and she responded back to me. It's nice to know that I can always get an update from her. I was also relieved to hear that there is always someone supervising the dogs and not left alone like some other pet sitters do. VIPaws is on the pricier side, but it is close to where we live and her constant updates she gives puts my mind at ease. I could tell my dog enjoyed it there because when we went to drop her off she was so excited to greet Carly. It's nice to know they get a lot of attention and love from both dog friends and humans! Overall, i would take Lucy back here again when we need a pet sitter again :) read more

VIPAWS is located at Carly's house in Aiea, it's very clean and cozy. They allow owners to drop off dogs early as 7am, and pick up around 5pm, which is perfect for us. We have a one year old Pomeranian that we always keep at home but we wanted her to socialize with other pups so we decided to take her to VIPAWS. If you're a new client, one thing you'll notice is that Carly is very strict regarding your pet's behavior and the safety of the pack; which is extremely important when it comes down to making sure your doggie is well taken care of. Like most doggie day care centers, an evaluation must take place in order for your dog to be accepted into the pack. Unless, it's raining, Carly always takes the dogs out for walks and also to the park to run around. So, not only does Carly take care of your dog, but she makes sure they get exercise as well as have some fun! Another thing we love is how Carly sends us pictures throughout the day so we know she's being taken care of. Highly recommended! A++ read more

Carly is so awesome with what she does! When my family and I went on a short vacation, we left our 9 month old pup Max with her for several days. She took him out on walks and playtime at the park everyday. I got picture texts of Max playing with other dogs and having a good time everyday we were away. I can tell that Carly really loves dogs and understands them well. Max was well cared for and I really appreciate all she's done. She puts a lot of effort in to making Max and myself feel comfortable. I will definitely ask Carly again when we need Max to be watched. read more

Carly is a wonderful pet sitter! She always makes sure our baby, Toby, feels safe, comfortable, and happy. Toby has vacationed with Carly twice now. Carly sent us pictures of Toby and gave us updates on his activities every day. It put our minds at ease and showed us how much fun he was having with his buddies. When we went to pick him up it almost seemed like he didn't want to leave! We also take Toby for daycare once a week. Carly takes him on great pack walks and it's a good way for Toby to socialize. I would highly recommend VIPaws for when you're going on a trip or you think your little one needs some play dates! read more

I found VIPaws on Yelp! I just moved my dog, Hunney Girl, and I from Kona on the Big Island and was looking for a place for her to socialize and board her during my fiance and I travels off island. Contacting Carly was with ease via email, phone and text. Hunney Girl loved Carly from first day and I noticed such a calming effect she has on her. Hunney Girl was happy to see her, which is very important to me. Pick up and drop off are easy and Carly keeps me up to date on Hunney Girl's day with the pack via texts and pictures. I have used VIPaws for day care and boarding and have been happy with both. I like the structured routine (e.g. walks, play-time, one-on-one, etc..) where dogs can be dogs! She gives Hunney Girl one-on-one attention as well as play time with the pack. We will continue to use her services as we enjoy her and the pack very much! As long as Hunney Girl is happy, we're happy!!! Thanks Carly! read more

Daisy has been my baby since April 5, 2017. A friend referred me to Carly and Daisy's first day was on April 26. Since then Daisy and I are so happy with Carly and Daisy is booked for the rest of this year with day care and overnights. Carly is so refreshing and I know Daisy and the pups are being loved and cared for without question. Loved seeing the photos of Daisy looking so happy. She has met and made a lot of friends. read more

We were worried about boarding our rescue dog for a whole week. He has had separation anxiety in the past. I am happy to report he did great with Carly for a full week away from us. From the photos Carly texted us, it looked like he was having a great doggy vacation with his pals. We really looked forward to receiving the photos each day on our trip. He looked so happy in the photos, I was worried he wouldn't be happy to see us when we picked him up. He was happy to see us and is now resting after his big vacation with his pals. I would definitely highly recommend VIPaws. read more