Darby H.
Darby H.
Contact for Boarding
from $70 per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
Tailored, professional pet care!
I have over 20 years of experience in ER/ICU vet med, diverse knowledge in caring for various animals, including dogs, cats, livestock, reptiles, and pocket pets. I also run a dog rescue and have experience with different personalities, can recognize trauma responses, and have working knowledge of various training techniques to ensure your pet is supported and comfortable. I can manage medications, provide nursing services as needed, and ensure your pets current treatment plan is upheld while you are away. For vacation care in my home, I offer a safe, secure and spacious environment of 5 fully fenced and cross fenced acres, a gated property, security cameras, and commitment to never leaving your pet unattended while outside. For safety, each dog will be fitted with a martingale collar with my contact information on it as well as being kept on a long line/drag line for adventures around the property until I get to know them better. Your pet will be treated as one of my own and will get nothing but the top notch treatment they deserve!
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
First time boarding with Darby. She was incredibly prompt with communication and sent me beautiful photos. My pup was clearly well cared for at her home. I will definitely choose to board again with Darby!
I booked Darby because I was hoping for a higher-quality Rover experience, and I liked that she has veterinary knowledge. Unfortunately, I don’t think this was the right fit for my puppy. During the stay, I received two updates at the beginning, but after that I didn’t receive any additional updates. In those initial photos, my puppy was being introduced to other dogs while she was on leash and the other dogs were off leash. From my understanding, this isn’t a recommended way to introduce dogs because it can contribute to leash reactivity, so that made me uneasy. I also noticed in one of the photos that my puppy was wearing a different setup than what I dropped her off with. I had left her in a harness, but the leash appeared to be attached to a chain training collar instead. I wasn’t informed about the change, and I would have appreciated communication before using different equipment. At pickup, I was told everything had gone perfectly. Once we got home, however, my puppy seemed uncomfortable walking, as though one of her paws was bothering her. She also immediately drank two full bowls of water, which is very unusual for her and made me concerned that she hadn’t had enough access to water. She smelled quite dirty, and when I scratched her, my fingers came away black, so I gave her a bath right away. Since returning home, she’s also been barking in the backyard much more than usual, and I’ll be spending some time working on rebuilding her confidence and reinforcing her training. Of course, I can’t say for certain that every change in her behavior was caused by the stay, but the combination of these observations left me concerned. Overall, while the property itself looks like a nice place for dogs to explore, this experience didn’t leave me feeling confident enough to book again.
Poppy and Baloo love staying with Darby! We are so grateful to have her!
Darby is great! Our dog loves going to her house. And we always get great photos of our dog from her!!!
This is the third or maybe fourth time we’ve trusted Darby with our girls and once again, she’s been fantastic. Darby is super responsive and accessible. The girls love seeing the animals and we always feel comfortable knowing Darby is looking after them.
We highly recommend Darby to anyone and everyone - she is the absolute best to our dog, Spencer! We never worry about his well being or safety when he is with her, and that is a gift ❤️
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
Pets' are my life! Each day is filled with caring for pets from morning to night based on their individual needs. I am home all day, every day so anything they need will be attended to promptly. My schedule is flexible and I am able to modify any day to met your pets needs.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
I base all of my interactions on honesty, trust and respect. When I am in your home, I will ensure all rules are followed, and requests met. Safety of your pet and home are my priority so making sure collars and leashes are secure, doors and gates are closes and locked as needed, and being aware of my surroundings when on a walk are key. For care in my home, I will try to mirror what your pet is used to and maintain their routine. If your dog likes other dogs, they can join my similar sized dogs. If not, or you prefer no contact, that works too! I have rooms where your dog/s could stay crated or not while my dogs are out and vice versa. I have crates/ex-pens if needed and am happy to provide bedding or can use yours if preferred. Food and water bowls are washed daily, and run through the dishwasher twice weekly. Bedding is changed and crates cleaned weekly at minimum, or as needed. For added peace of mind, each dog will be fitted with a martingale collar with my contact information on it as well as being kept on a long line/drag line for adventures around the property until I get to know them better and can evaluate reliable recall is present. For the safety and privacy of my family and all animals in my care, meet and greets are scheduled away from my home and home tours are not permitted. Prior to accepting a booking, exact drop off and pick up times must be scheduled and agreed upon.
Pets
A typical day
I modify my day based on your pets' needs. We can keep it low key at home with lots of cuddles, explore the property, play fetch, romp with my dogs (if allowed), take a dip in the doggie pool (weather permitting), or go for a walk. I also have dog puzzles and brain games if your dog likes those and needs mental stimulation as well as physical.