Dog Boarding Ballard

“I think my dog absolutely loved it there! Communication was good and I felt very confident leaving my pet with her. She seems great with animals!”

Amanda N.

“I love this girl! I was stressed out due to my regular sitter was ill and unable to care for my boys. I had a funeral to go to out of town and I was online frantically trying to find a sitter all morning. I heard back from Brette within a few minutes. Her home was just a couple of miles from the highway I was using and that was a big time saver. When I entered her home Baxter "christened" her house and Kiwi and one of her dogs did not hit it off. I told Brette I would leave quietly, but she took it in stride and said "dogs will be dogs". She had the mess cleaned up quickly and said she would keep her dog in a separate room. Brette sent me pictures during their stay to ease my mind that all was ok, and I was able to focus on the grieving family of a woman we all loved dearly. When I picked up my boys they were happy and healthy. I highly recommend Brette - she is a lover of all things furry and cuddly.”

Patti L.

About: I’ve taken care of cats & kittens and dogs with their puppies for family, friends and workmates. They’ve snuggled on my lap and slept in my bed and their comfort and routine are my priority. I’m currently working from home so I would be with your pet continuously. Boarding could be any day of the week including weekends….and holidays too. I have a fenced yard and large porch where your pet will be comfortable…although your pet would never be outside alone. I start my day when they do and I’m near a state park where walks are wonderful.

“Veronica's is like a vacation home for our dog. She and her family, both 2-legged and 4-legged, are always great with our pup, and we appreciate them all. We can't slow our high-energy, dog-loving, aussie shepherd & mountain cur mix down when we're at home with him, but he always comes home from Veronica's happy and tired, which is great for us as we recover from our trip!”

Andrew T.

About: I am a stay at home Mom and would love to help other pet owners be at ease knowing their pets are being taken care of while you’re at work or out of town. Being at home allows me to be very flexible with the care you need. My family has both a dog and cat at home, so I’m familiar with the care needed for both. I’ve also cared for an elder dog before needing insulin administered. I am a stay at home mom, so my schedule is very flexible to work with your needs! I’m happy to work with you! I have a large un-fenced yard surrounded by woods; supervised time outside only and on a leash unless you and I both are confident in obedience to come when called. I have a small dog at home who prefers a cuddle buddy over a play mate, but she is friendly with most dogs and loves cats! In the event I leave home I prefer crating until I get to know your pup.

“Courtney & Kameron took great care of Barkley while I was away. He went on lots of walks and enjoyed all the extra attention. Courtney sent lots of pic throughout the weekend. Will definitely use them again!!!”

Lisa R.

About: I’ve grown up with dogs my entire life and have nearly 7 years of dog sitting experience starting in middle school. I’ve cared for dogs of all sizes, breeds, and personalities and I pride myself on being extremely attentive, reliable, and detail oriented with every pet. I have experience handling multiple dogs at once including caring for up to five dogs for 7+ days, so I’m very comfortable with both longer stays in higher-energy households. I treat every dog like my own and always make sure they feel safe, happy, and well cared for. I also provide consistent updates so you can feel confident and not ease while you’re away. I’m a student at Virginia Tech with a flexible schedule, typically having at most two classes a day. Outside of class, I spent most of my time at home, which allows me to give pets plenty of attention, supervision, and care throughout the day. My routine makes it easy for me to incorporate walks, feeding, playtime, and check-in consistently. I’m able to adapt to each pets needs and schedule, whether that means early mornings, midday visits, or evening care. Your pet’s safety and comfort are my top priorities. I live in a pet friendly apartment with a fence dog area, so dogs have a safe place to get outside and play. I’m very attentive and make sure pets are always supervised and cared for based on their specific needs and routines. I also keep owners updated regularly so you always know how your pet is doing.

“Kennedy was extremely kind. Our dog Remi can be nervous and she quickly came around to Kennedy. Kennedy provided daily updates and was quick to respond. She was very flexible of our travel times and understanding. We look forward to having Kennedy watch Remi again”

Lauren Y.

About: I have tons of experience because of living abroad on American compounds where people are always travelling, they always come to me to take care of the little guys! I’m a junior at Virginia Tech double majoring in Cybersecurity Management & Analytics and Management Consulting & Analytics. My schedule is pretty flexible throughout the week, giving me plenty of time to focus on pet care. I’m available for boarding, overnight stays, walks, playtime, and drop-in visits, and can easily work around your pet’s normal routine. I’m also available on game days, weekends, and during school breaks. I always prioritize each pet’s comfort and safety, whether I’m in my home or the client’s. I have experience handling large, untrained dogs and know how to stay calm and in control. I also use positive reinforcement techniques to encourage good behavior. For senior dogs or shy pets who need extra patience and care, I take things slow and make sure they feel safe and supported. I always follow any instructions you leave to make sure your pet feels at home, happy, and secure.

“Java had a great time with Andrea! She was very attentive to her needs and communicated well with us. We certainly will call on Andrea again.”

Debra S.

About: Previous volunteer at a humane society in Dublin, Virginia before moving to Roanoke, VA. Previous foster volunteer at the Roanoke, VA SPCA. This helps if I care for an animal that has health problems. Work Monday - Friday 8-5 away from home. Check on my dog at lunch and can let yours out to walk as well if they are crate trained and can stay in the crate while I am not home. Maeve is a spoiled dog. She is turned three in Oct. She loves being around other animals. Currently Maeve is an only pet but does well with other dogs.

About: I've grown up surrounded by animals my entire life, and that hands-on experience is what truly sets me apart. I was raised with three cats (2 indoor, 1 outdoor), caring for them from kittenhood all the way through end-of-life care, including demanding daily routines and administering medication. I also have two dogs of my own: a Mini Australian Shepherd I raised from a puppy and personally trained. He’s so smart he keeps me on my toes, which means I know exactly how to handle high-energy, high-drive breeds and the escape artists of the dog world. The other is a large pitty mix we adopted at age two who came to us with leash pulling, reactivity, excessive barking, and rough play habits, all of which I've worked through and successfully managed. I know how to confidently handle dogs of all sizes and temperaments. Beyond cats and dogs, I've owned two guinea pigs, a hamster, and fish, so I understand the specific and often overlooked needs of small pets too. I've also assisted my sister in fostering cats, many of whom were shy, post-surgical, or required medication and special feeding instructions, so I'm completely comfortable with pets that need a little extra patience and TLC. Most recently, I pet sat a kitten over spring break 2026, and I'm always happy to sit for other pet owners' animals as well. As a sophomore in Alpha Chi Omega, I bring the same reliability, respect, and communication to pet sitting that I bring to everything I do. I treat every pet as if they were my own, follow your routines to the letter, and love keeping owners in the loop with regular updates, photos, and videos, as often as you'd like. If you're looking for someone experienced, trustworthy, and genuinely passionate about animals, I'm your person! I currently only have one exam left, so my schedule is essentially wide open! I'm in Blacksburg and available May 9–12 and May 16–22, with virtually nothing on my plate during those windows. Whether you need someone for a full house sit, multiple check-ins throughout the day, early morning visits, or late night drop-ins, I can make it work. Flexibility is my strong suit right now, so don't hesitate to reach out no matter the timing or frequency! I'm happy to care for pets both in my home and in yours! For in-home sitting and visits at your place, I'm completely comfortable following whatever routine, rules, and setup you have in place, your home, your way. If you'd like your pet to stay with me, I welcome that too! Just note that I live in an apartment, so I don't have a fenced-in yard, but my complex has a dog park and is surrounded by beautiful neighborhood nature trails that are perfect for walks and exploring. I'd also ask that you send everything your pet needs along with them (crate, food/water bowls, bed, toys, leash, etc.) so they have the comfort of their own familiar belongings, which is honestly better for them anyway!

About: I would take care of little to big puppies of all ages. My favorite was a 7 year Great Dane I would house sit for. I have always grown up with animals and would also pet sit when my parents were out of town. My schedule is super flexible, since I am a college student! I can work with the owner and make sure the dog and cats get the attention they need:) I walk, feed, play and bath pets have worked with and have in my own house. I go for long walks and feed pets based on the owners preference.