Testimonials
Claudia’s Happy Paws Inn & Resort is unsurpassed! We’ve boarded elsewhere in the past, both in-home and kennel-like, and while adequate, they could not begin to match our experience at Happy Paws. Claudia’s home is on a quiet street in Port Townsend. A generous yard has sturdy fencing. Dogs are really her guests. The home is filled with toys and dog beds, but dogs have free access to beds and other furniture. They get several walks a day, and (if you like) photo updates come throughout the stay.
When we picked up our high energy 13-month-old Northwest Farm Terrier, Marley, she was relaxed and clearly at home. It’s revealing that after our initial visit to get to know one-another, Marley would whimper and pull at her leash TOWARD Happy Paws when we passed on our walks. She loves it! Claudia has made a point of studying dogs. She believes only in positive reinforcement, and makes it clear that this is a resort for dogs, not a training kennel. A look at her website reveals so much about her approach and philosophy toward companion animals.
We will certainly return, secure in the knowledge that Marley will be happy and well cared for. My only reservation in writing this review is that she will become too popular. We’d like to keep Happy Paws for ourselves!
Claudia & Happy Paws is the best! Our pup Dove is a nervous rescue, and she immediately felt comfortable and at home with Claudia. Claudia is kind, gentle, knowledgeable, and so helpful. Her home is the perfect dog getaway; everything a pup would need to feel safe, and the way she treated Dove like her own made us feel extremely comfortable and at ease going on our trip. Claudia is communicative, prepared, and it is so obvious she wants to provide the utmost care. What a wonderful gift to have her!
I can’t say enough about how wonderful Claudia of Happy Paws… is with my dogs. She is loving, gentle, and understands dogs. My two medium/large dogs just finished a 2 week stay with Claudia. When I picked them up, they were happy, well-fed, well-exercised, and clearly loved. When I picked them up, they excitedly rushed to me with their joyous doggy greeting and then ran back and forth between me and Claudia for petting. A clear sign that they felt safe and loved with Claudia. Claudia provides daily (or as often as clients prefer) updates about the dog’s activities with photos. After the stay, Claudia provided me with a summary of how the dogs got on and behaviors she noticed over their stay. Claudia is a gem and I highly recommend her. I will be using her services again.
Claudia is remarkable in that her attentiveness to the dogs is strengthened by a unique intuition that comprehends the needs of each individual animal, and the dogs seem to feel that and have trust in her care. Our dog is fully bonded to my wife, and is wholly anxious when they’re apart. Yet she was able to relax with Claudia, offering up her belly for rubs in just a few short hours. Of course Cassie missed Bonnie and was beyond excited when we came to fetch her, but there wasn’t the desperation to escape that we sensed in previous boarding situations. We never had one moment of worry knowing she was in the very best hands. We can’t recommend Claudia highly enough!