Dog Sitting Southborough

About: Welcome to Happy Pals located in convenient Marlboro, MA. We have been caring for dogs for over 27 years. Brady is the resident pet. He is an adorable 15 year old Cocker Spaniel – yes – named after Tom. We have had Brady since he was a puppy. Brady is a sweet and friendly dog so as long as guest(s) can hang out with him. Our home has a large, beautiful, private backyard that is perfect for your pups to play in. Each day stay for your pal includes two walks around our neighborhood as well as unlimited indoor/outdoor playtime. The inside area of our home has a large, open concept with plenty of room to walk around and play. During the dog days of summer, our home is cool as we have central air conditioning. If your fur-baby boards over the weekend, we will also include a trip to the local park! We are able to supervise your pups 24x7. We are able to provide transportation to a vet for any emergency situations. We have a great relationship with Brady’s veterinary clinic. Our home also is not far from emergency services at Tufts University in Grafton. Elaine has been certified in CPR and pet first aid in the past and plans to retake this course and become recertified. We will provide you with as many updates/pictures of your friend’s stay as you would like to receive. We can't wait to meet you and your fur-babies! Benefits of staying with Happy Pals: •We always strive to pamper your friend. Safety is top priority. •Elaine and her husband Ken work closely together as a team during all visits. An advantage of staying with Happy Pals is that there are two adults always caring for your pet. If one has something unexpected come up, the other is always right there. If an unexpected emergency came up with both of us, we have a backup plan if the guest doesn't have an emergency contact. We have two different family members (both dog lovers and owners) who are nearby and have volunteered to help out if there were any unexpected emergencies with the caregivers. Both are home full time enjoying retirement and taking care of family. •If you would like your fur-baby to go on field trips, we can discuss the possibility of going to local dog friendly parks such as Callahan State Park, Great Brook, or Gates Pond. Safety is always top priority so we can see if this would work well during a particular visit. •Traditional boarding facilities charge extra fees for play time. Non-stop play times as well as walks are always included. •Bottled water and Milk Bone treats are always available. •We are very mindful of food allergies and food sensitivities. If your pet requires a special diet, we are happy to cook any special meals. •If help is needed transporting the guest to our home for a stay, we can help with pick ups and drop-offs. •Location is convenient to major routes (Rts. 495, 20, 30). •We have a lot of room. If you feel as though your pal may need some private or alone time, we have a lot of room for he/she to stay completely separate if there may be another guest at the same time. •Guests can sleep where they are most comfortable (living room, bedroom, etc.). •We try to keep the number of guests at a time low to give each guest the most attention possible. We carefully consider the mix of guests if there will be some overlap. We always feel bad if we cannot accommodate a guest on a particular date due to numbers but we feel that it is important to keep numbers low for all guests to be happy and safe. If you know particular dates ahead of time, please let us know even if a formal reservation request isn't sent right away so that we can keep the dates in mind while scheduling. Summertime (Memorial Day through Labor Day) and major holidays are the busiest. •If your pet has a scheduled grooming or vet appointment during their stay in a nearby town, we can make sure that they get there. •Updates and pictures are sent to you of your friend throughout the visit. Also, please feel free to call or e-mail anytime to check on them. •Flexibility in drop-off and pickup times. You are able to drop-off and pickup your pet at times when traditional boarding places are closed. Please note: if our calendar says "booked" for particular dates that you are interested in, please still contact us with a general inquiry e-mail. It is possible that a day that says "booked" could also be a day that another guest is leaving. We have enough room to accept several dogs; however, it is always our goal to have no more than 1-2 guests at a time to ensure that every guest receives a lot of individual attention. More dogs are listed in the profile to have flexibility with the calendar since some guests leave and come on the same day. Confirmation at booking: Up-to-Date vaccinations; Flea/tick preventive treatment; Negative fecal exam. Please note: now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted, there has been a larger volume of requests than usual for summer stays. I apologize ahead of time if there is a small delay in returning your message. We are usually able to return a message within an hour or two but over the summer it will definitely be within 24 hours at the most. If you need to reach out regarding a date coming up quickly, please feel free to call me directly using the Rover # showing in the profile. The calendar may look open regarding dates near 4th of July right now because we are in the process of finalizing holiday reservations but the days right around the holiday are now busy with furry guests. If we aren't able to help out on specific dates this summer due to higher volume of requests, we would love to meet you in the future and help out with a future date. Thanks. Elaine, Ken, and Brady (woof) I am home the majority of the time. We are able to follow your pet's schedule exactly the way it is at home. We like to review the schedule at a Meet and Greet - feedings, exercise, sleeping. We have safety gates near main doorways. We do not crate guests unless asked to by the guest. We take leashed walks. We are home the majority of the time.

“Leah was absolutely wonderful. Took great care of my cat while I was away. Played with her and sent me pictures as well. Highly recommend. The whole process couldn’t have gone any smoother!”

Gina M.

“Julia did a fantastic job taking care of my two cats. She was incredibly thoughtful, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure the cats (and our home!) were comfortable and clean. She took initiative to adjust the A/C and fans to keep the space comfortable, cleaned up not just the food dishes and litter boxes, but also a surprise hairball, and even swept the floor. Her updates were thorough and reassuring, with sweet touches like hiding toys and checking in on how much each cat ate—she clearly paid close attention to their individual personalities and needs. Julia was communicative, responsible, and kind—and her love for cats really shows. I'm so grateful this was our first experience with her and would absolutely recommend her to others!”

Renee H.

About: Hi! I’m Monica — a lifelong animal lover and someone who has a dog of my own! With years of experience caring for dogs, cats, and everything in between, I’m here to give your pet the same love and attention I’d give my own. I’ve worked with a range of pet personalities: the shy ones, the high-energy pups, and senior pets with medication needs. Whether it’s a daily walk, overnight sitting, or just some companionship while you’re away, I’ll make sure your pet feels safe, happy, and loved. I engage with pets through cuddles, play, walks, runs, potty breaks, etc to maintain consistency! I adapt to each pet’s individual schedule to ensure they feel safe and at home always! I’d love if sometimes I could bring my golden retriever mookie if possible!!! My home is pet- friendly and provides a welcoming atmosphere! I will treat your loved one as if it were my own! I maintain the pet’s routine in their familiar space to help reduce stress or any anxiety.

About: would love the opportunity to care for your furry family members! I have a deep, lifelong love for animals and truly enjoy spending quality time making sure every pet feels safe, happy, and loved while their owners are away. Whether it’s going for long walks, playing with favorite toys, or just providing some extra snuggles on the couch, I treat every animal with the same patience and kindness I would give my own. Your pet's comfort is my top priority. I have watched many dogs/ cats There is nothing I love more than the company of animals! As a teacher, I bring patience and a structured routine to my pet-sitting, ensuring your babies feel secure while you're gone. I’m a morning person who truly enjoys those quiet, early walks, and I’m always ready for more activity or snuggles once the school day ends. Whether it’s a quick overnight or a two-week stay, I treat every animal as if they were my own. I I have watched cats and dogs. Dogs I take them out when they need to walks if need!and for both i give a lot of attention if need. I also talk to the animal to help them h Feel notice.

“Jackie was excellent caring for my elderly cat with required medications. She provided great photos and kept me updated each time she visited. Thank you!”

Jenn P.

About: I have owned dog my whole life and trained dogs for about 5 years. I will always treat your pet as if they were my own. I get out of work between 10 am-12 pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I am off Thursdays and Fridays. I am very flexible, reliable, and am willing to work with you to figure things out. I have an open door policy for all pets as long as they can get along with other animals. But I do have the space and room to keep your pet separated if needed.

“Franciane took great care of my cat, Bunny! She was respectful, responsive, and great about giving updates and pictures. I will definitely be booking her again in the future!”

Elio H.

“My cat is high maintenance and a bit of a pain. Cam was incredibly patient and clever in terms of getting my cat his medicine. After a few days the cat finally trusted him to deliver the meds orally. Cam was great throughout the process. 5/5 Would recommend!”

Tyler C.

“Kelsey did a phenomenal job taking care of our two cats! She was prompt with all communication and visits, gave them both a lot of attention, and sent sweet pictures with detailed updates. Would definitely rebook!”

Eric H.

“I am very grateful to Kevin for watching our four dogs while we were out of town. He was very attentive and patient with all our questions. You could tell that the dogs felt very comfortable with him because of his kind, gentle nature. Thank you Kevin!”

Beth K.

About: I don’t know life without furry friends! I was born into a family with two cats and a dog. Growing up, I took care of my own hamsters, fish, and hermit crabs. Since I was 12, I have taken care of my community members’ dogs of all sizes, cats of all temperaments, and small critters. The last 11 years, I’ve been primarily busy with grad school and taking care of my own 3 cats but recently my eldest crossed the rainbow bridge and I now work fully remotely, so have extra love and time to pour into your animals! I have experience with all ages and sizes of dogs. I can also administer medication. I work fully remotely, so have more flexibility to check in on your pets and walk your dogs! My weekends are generally free and I plan to be available over Thanksgiving and New Years. If I were to stay in your home to care for your dog, I would treat your home with the utmost respect and be able to keep the dog to his/her usual routine. I am comfortable with having your pup in my car if they like rides, need to go to the vet, or driven to a park. The same applies for kitty cats!

“Very flexible and reliable!!!! Alexandra provided amazing care to our rat pack of 7 and we will be booking in the future ❤️”

Chelsea C.

“Auntie Trish has been a life saver for our family! She is accommodating, responsive and always happy to spend time with our pups. One of our dogs is reactive and can be super slow to take to new people and she was his best friend by the end of our first meeting. Highly recommend Tricia!!”

Kelsey C.

About: My family began taking care of different dogs at the beginning of 2024. Our licensed home kennel is a single large house with a backyard that is partially fenced where the dogs can play. I work mostly from home, and my mom is a housewife, so we’re both able to spend plenty of time caring for the dogs. We’ll also share photos and videos with you to make sure you feel confident that they’re having a great stay with us! We would like to schedule a meet-and-greet (a one-night trial is preferred) before the actual stay to ensure everyone feels comfortable. To follow state regulations, we require that your pets have an up-to-date rabies vaccination and that you provide the records for us to keep on file. We also need your pets to wear a collar with their current license attached. My parents and I love dogs and cats very much. We know they are part of your family, and we will treat them as part of ours as well. Thank you for trusting us! Since I work mostly from home and my mom is a housewife, we’re both home throughout the day. This gives us plenty of time to care for the pets, supervise them, and play with them as part of our daily and weekly routine. I have a clean, dedicated bedroom that can be used as a private space for pets if they need their own room. I also have a backyard that is partially fenced where pets can safely play. Whenever they are outside, I stay with them to provide supervision and ensure they are safe and comfortable.

About: I grew up with dogs, cats and horses. Neighbors, friends and family have relied on me to check in with, feed and play with their pets. I work full time during the week. I am available for those who enjoy going out on Friday nights or on the weekends! I’m available after 2pm on Friday's and all day Saturday & Sunday. I am very active and enjoy going for long walks and runs. I have a fenced in yard and one friendly small dog that loves to play and run around. I have an indoor porch where my animals and yours can stay separate if need be. I am able to comfortably crate your dog if needed.

“Ana was awesome - on short notice and without the benefit of a “get to know you” visit beforehand, she came and made sure Mojo had everything he needed while we were attending a wedding. We couldn’t have left our boy in better hands. Thanks Ana!”

Jonathan Z.

About: Hi! We’re Jaycee and James, a dog-loving couple who are excited to welcome your pup into our home! 🐾 We have two dogs of our own — Bentley, our playful and energetic 2-year-old Golden Retriever, and Bailey, our sweet and cuddly 4-year-old mini Bernedoodle. They both love having a furry friend around, so we’re only able to care for dogs who are friendly and comfortable around other dogs. We’re an active household and love spending time outdoors. Our apartment community has two private dog parks, and we have plenty of walking and hiking trails nearby. Whether your dog loves a long walk and playtime or would rather relax and cuddle at home, we’re happy to match their routine and energy level. James works from home, so there is almost always someone home with the dogs throughout the day. We also only care for one guest dog at a time, which allows us to give your pup plenty of individual attention and make them feel like part of the family. We know how important it is to feel comfortable leaving your dog with someone else, and we’ll treat your pup like one of our own! ❤️ James works from home, so there is almost always someone home with the dogs throughout the day. We have a flexible schedule and can provide regular walks, playtime, attention, and companionship. We’re happy to follow your dog’s normal routine as closely as possible. We provide a safe, comfortable, home-based environment where your dog can be part of our family. We only care for one guest dog at a time and require dogs to be friendly and comfortable around other dogs, since we have Bentley and Bailey. We follow your instructions carefully and prioritize your dog’s comfort, safety, and individual needs.

“This was my first use of Rover and it was wonderful! My cat was well cared-for and a lot of communication. Will definitely use again. Thank you!”

Iris K.

About: Hi! I just really love dogs. I sadly can’t have my own right now, so being able to care for yours is the next best thing. I am a homebody, love nature walks and being outside, and I live on a quiet street with a large backyard with lots of room for a dog to play and run. I have experience with all sizes, ages, and temperaments of dogs. I work from home and have a flexible schedule, so plenty of time for walks, parks, play, and cuddles. I love having a pet to care for because it gets me out of the house and active :) Your pet will be treated like a king/queen and spoiled with so much attention and love. Depending on your requests and your pet’s activity levels, etc. we’ll do multiple walks a day, and other adventures (if you are comfortable) like parks and hikes.