This review is long overdue. I had boarded my dog Mojo there last October/November. I heard about them through my family who has been using them for years. Since it was my first time boarding my dog anywhere I was a bit nervous. My nervousness quickly went away. They are very friendly and professional. I even called a few times while I was away and they gave me updates on how Mojo was doing. He was doing well and made friends. He really enjoyed his playgroups. When I got back and picked him up he was happy and healthy. I highly recommend Bridewell and will use them again. -Brynn & Mojo read more

My sister picked our dogs up after a four night stay, one has a wound on his nose, no explanation why ... and I'll find out what happened when I return the leads they loaned my sister. I forgot to leave their leashes at home while on vacation. Got a great Christmas discount, thanks Anne!!! My fur babies love it there. read more

Bridewell Hilltop Boarding Kennels & Cattery - Happy dog!! - Pet Groomers Near Me - Novato, California

We just picked up our dog Rosie after leaving her at Bridewell for two weeks while we were away. She looks so healthy and happy, so well taken care of. Rosie is not fond of other dogs but she received plenty of exercise and attention. We brought her favorite foods and treats, a special pillow and blanket. The staff made sure she ate well and she kissed Sandra when we left! Thank you for being Rosie's home away from home and for your excellent care. read more

When I went to pick up my dog she had a sore on her tail, probably from chewing out of stress. Totally raw, very painful. People who work here failed to ever notify anyone in our family that this was happening. She also dropped from 40+ to 35 lbs while here. My mom (who is by no means a veterinary nutritionist) provided improper feeding instructions, when I asked if they had started feeding her extra I was told something like "those are the instructions you gave us what did you want us to do?" Maybe let us know she was losing weight and use common sense to feed her more! Communicate. To put into perspective that's like someone dropping from 180 to 155 in a matter of weeks. Really terrible guys, do better. Would not recommend anyone keep their dogs here, Tails of Terra Linda provides much better service. So sad to think other dogs might receive the same treatment. read more

Bridewell Hilltop Boarding Kennels & Cattery - Sore on tail - Pet Groomers Near Me - Novato, California

I was impressed with the kennel. It was my first visit and I was amazed how large it was. Able to handle over 100 dogs at a time. The staff was helpful and kind. read more

I read about this place and thought it had good reviews. I brought my Guinea pigs there and left the people with veggies, food, hay and strict instructions for each day. When I picked them up I found them without hay (terrible for a grazing animal) and there water bottle had a different drink lid than the one I brought. Which means they switched with another guinea pigs. Fatal mistake as this could cause my guinea pigs to get ill and potentially die. I will NEVER ever leave any pets here again. From my point of view my pigs were not fed correctly and could have been killed due to contamination of water bottle lids. STAY AWAY! I am not sure how these people are diamond certified but if you care about your beloved furry friends (dog, Cat, guinea pig, etc) don't bring them to this dungeon. I have another trip coming up and have chosen to take my piggies elsewhere and pay twice the price as this place does not understand animal care. read more

I rarely review anything, but based on the other reviews I think it is important to share my experience boarding my cat at Bridewell. I have left Rico in the care of Bridewell Hilltop a few times. He is usually mellow and clingy after I pick him up, but after this last trip he spent more time that usual by my side and was low energy. I chalked it up to having been gone 8 days until I put my hand on his right side and felt significant swelling on his right leg/shoulder. There was clearly a silver dollar size scab under his fur. He was able to walk and didn't have signs of fever so (after consulting with the vet) we decided to monitor it. The next evening we came home from dinner to find Rico had broken the sore open. I'll spare you the details here but it was not a pretty sight. We bandaged him up and put him in his inflatable collar. I called Bridewell the next morning on the way to vet to see if they had any idea how he had ended up with the sore and why no one had noticed (even though he had clearly been brushed before I picked him up). The response was that there was nothing in his log and there is nothing that could have punctured or scrapped him in his kennel. The man did mention they will occasionally let the cats out to roam in the cattery during the day, which is actually preferable to me, but not if it means they miss a trauma that causes a significant wound. For the price to board him, there really isn't a better option in the area. However, the added stress of an unnoticed wound and a vet visit isn't worth it for us. read more

I have been taking my intact male Labrador here for almost five years. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. You must provide all the vet info to them prior to boarding, if there is a problem they do have a vet down the road they use that doesn't cost a lot but I've never had any issues. I also board my two cats and recently my newest puppy (now she is over a year old) and all the animals love the place. Everyone takes time to visit with my pets during their stay. For those who have given a poor rating, read between the lines: they did not provide information nor did they listen when they were told their pet might have to go to the vet during the stay and what they can and cannot do without your consent. I recommend this place highly! read more

My heart is broken: Used Bridewell in the past for my dog. Things were ok. This past week dropped off two cats for my week in Tahoe. Came back on August 25th, 2013 and was told that one of my cats seemed sick and had a seizure, but that now he is better (less active). Murdering idiots! They gave me back an unconscious and nearly dead cat. Rushed my cat to the vet (Drs. Frank and Robinett at Bel Marin Animal Hospital) who were both in shock as they had seen my cat two weeks ago and he was in perfect health. My beloved cat had to be euthanized! Both doctors were aghast and told me that this cat was severely neglected. (My poor cat was dehydrated, in kidney failure, had a seizure and inhaled kitty litter which impacted both of his nostrils and left to die.) No one at the kennel even phoned the vet for advice, let alone thought to bring the cat into the emergency room. Attempts to have a discussion with the manager at Bridewell turned ugly and the bottom line is that the manager's biggest concern was about her reputation and lost business. We had to ask to have the credit card bill refunded. This was not even offered at first. The more I process what they did, the more I believe they should be put out of business. They murdered my cat and made no attempt to even consult by phone with a vet as his health deteriorated. They are completely negligent. Use this facility at your own risk. If you doubt the validity of this review, feel free to phone Bel Marin Animal Hospital and speak with Drs. Frank or Robinett who were both in tears as they euthanized my cat. Debbie McKinney, MD Novato, CA read more

discovered Bridewell after a long search for a dog savvy place to leave my boxer/pit mix. I have been using Bridwells services (worry free) for a year. The staff is always nice, friendly & remember who we are! I feel assured that my boy will get everything he needs while he is in their care.They always feed him his own food, give him a KONG to chew on in his run & I was even more impressed when I scheduled a bath for my dog & they had trimmed his nails at no extra cost. I can't take my doggy everywhere (anywhere) and knowing Bridewell Hilltop Kennels will take good care of my "pubby" while I' m gone gives me the piece of mind I need. read more

I haven't boarded my dog here, but I stopped by for a tour and was pretty impressed. I'm not a fan of kennels in general, but this one seems better run than most I've seen. The manager, although young, seemed to know her business. She was happy to give me plenty of information on rates, policies, etc. And she gladly toured me around the facility. The inside bathing/food area seemed very clean & neat and organized. The staff were pleasant. There is a nice wooded (well, trees & dirt ... not just gravel) dog play area. And it's about 30% cheaper than other places in the area. I hope to avoid having to kennel my dog again, but if I have to, I'll give these guys a shot. read more

We've been to kennels all over Marin and Bridewell is our favorite! We have a very active and territorial mutt and we've been having to board her once a week or so while we've been renovating our house, we also had to board her for a week over the holidays. The team at Bridewell always welcomes her despite her rambunctiousness, they walk her and encourage her playing with other dogs. They have never complained that she is too active, raised their rates on us or forgotten to give her her meds- all things that have happened at other kennels. We've taken her there exclusively for over a year now and she is always returned to me happy and tired. read more

We usually try to take our pup with us everywhere we go, but sometimes its just not possible. Long weekends in NY would not be a fair deal for our dog, so a kennel becomes neccessary. I did my homework, and went to every boarding facility that I could find in San Francisco. Our vet offered a crate (a CRATE) the dog could stay in all day, with 2 walks for $45 a day; other places were in shady areas or cost more then my own hotel room. I was always left unimpressed, even by the places that were stupidly expensive. Then, I found Bridewell. The staff is professional, fun, and I have never had problems that Janet mentioned previously. I am overly anal about my dog, she is treated like a spoiled princessed, so I would not turn her loose to just anyone. The runs are roughly 6 feet x 20 feet, and each dog has one to themselves. Also, I suggest you pay for a long (1 hour) walk for a couple of the days your dog will be staying with them, I know Belle lives for these. She is actually there right now, as I am about to catch a plane back east for the holidays, and I have no worries what so ever. Referring to the vet problems mentioned by someone else, we just let the office know that if anything happens, go to the vet, and the bill can be dealt with later (aka, dog first, money second). We were a month behind on some vaccinations when we dropped her off (today), and Bridewell took her to the vet, got her shots updated, and could not have been easier to work with. Belle (our dog) is excited to see us whenever we come to pick her up, but hestitant to walk out the front door to go home. She truly loves it there. Plus they give her a bath the day we pick her up (for a small fee). In short, she will come back happy, vaccinated, and less smelly, a beautiful situation. read more

We love this place. They are nice and take great care of our dog all the time. Their hours make it easy to pick up and drop off. Our husky Koda is not easy as she would escape if given an opportunity and they take such good care of her. read more

This place is great My dogs are always well taken care of, and they are able to handle my larger dog, who can get aggressive. I appreciate the good service and the fact that they keep great records about my dogs' shots! read more

Pearl is only 6lbs. We were worried she might be overwhelmed by larger dogs. The staff was very helpful and attentive. They kept her in the "pamper room" with smaller dogs. We called for updates while we were gone...it was such a comfort to find out how Pearl was getting on. After a week we came back to a happy clean (free wash) dog. Thank you Bridewell! read more

I've been bringing my dogs to Bridewell for 5+ years for boarding. They love to come here & play with their friends. The staff is great & love the dogs. I appreciate that the price is affordable compared to places in SF. read more

I've been taking my small (13 lb) terriers here for 15 years. They go to the "pamper room" rather than the individual long kennels for bigger dogs. The dogs have a chance to run around together and play, inside and out. The staff at Bridewell have been attentive to the dogs' relationships with the other dogs and move them around if there is a conflict. I'm not a fan of kennels, and would rather a home-environment, but when needed, I have always felt fine leaving our dogs there. read more

This place is less expensive than other kennels for a reason. When I visited, everyone was very nice and talked about how much they care about animals. They gave me a bunch of information and were generous with their time to tell me all about the kennel. They also told me how experienced they were -- that they would know what to do in an emergency and they laid it all out for me. I felt pretty good after talking to them. It was a different story when I took my dog here for a two day stay. During the stay, I received a few calls about my dog saying she was not feeling well and what should they do? Well, I was on vacation and although their policy is to take animals to the vet if there is a problem and they felt an animal was in danger or pain (they do not have a vet on the premises), they apparently didn't do that. I was not going to be reachable (and that was the point, I was on vacation --- and in a place where I didn't have cell coverage which I had told them when I called to reserve a spot there) so that is why I asked the question specifically about how what they would do if I were unreachable and there was an emergency. When I checked my messages as soon as I got to a place where I had coverage at the end of my weekend, there were numerous messages from them saying my dog appeared to be in a lot of pain and why didn't I call them back and tell them what to do with my dog. I called immediatley and they said they didn't have direction from me so they couldn't bring him in!!! What???!!?? I was appalled, picked up my dog and took him to our vet. It turns out he had a bladder infection which our vet said was very painful but all they had to do was call him (I had given them his contact information) or taken him to an emergency room and simple antibiotics would have alleviated his pain. I wouldn't leave any animal overnight at Bridewell. That scared me to death. It's a good thing my dog was only there for two days -- what if it had been for a week??? Despite their promises of experience, they clearly have no clue. If I could give this place zero stars, I would. read more

I've been to this place only once, but once was enough. Took my puppy and left him there for 2 hours to test and see how the place is run. In my gut, I was apprehensive about the place the minute I got out of the car. The noise level of the howling dogs in their kennels made it difficult to think. Dogs barking their heads off does not mean that dogs are having fun. This is a sign of stress. My dog immediately started reacting to the others dogs misery and started whining and trembling, hanging on to me desperately. I had never seen this reaction in my dog, before or since, but because he was just 5 months at the time, I didn't know if this was normal. The 2 attendants, (about 17 years old each) said he would be fine and tossed him into a section (with 8 other dogs) that was for small dogs, and my puppy immediately was mauled by 3 or 4 of the other dogs in the pen. He started running around to get away and ran into an open storage door. I should have picked him out of there right there and then, but was getting desperate to find a place for him. When I came back 2 hours later, and picked up my puppy he strained against me and threw back his head and howled for 20 minutes and WOULD NOT be consoled. My boyfriend even started crying. I have never seen a reaction like that with my dog, and I have now had him for 4 years. As I have relayed my story to other dog owners I have heard 2 more horror stories about this place, one about a pet dying within a week of leaving, and another getting a skin infection from being made to lay in his cage for too long. This place is scary. No wonder it was so cheap, they don't want to pay for any real care for the animals read more

This was my dog Nelly's first time there. She was there for 7 days, and it was awesome! This was the first time that I was away since I got her, and I behaved myself and only called 2 days before I came home. They were so kind and said that she was having a great time. They took great care of her and I will be back in March....I will not go anywhere else. The price for the 7 days was sooo reasonable! They Rock! read more

Friendly staff. Good pricing. A big yard for the dogs to play in. Long walks through the country. And my dog loves the staff. Need I say more? read more

I've been taking my dog here for years. Never had any problems. The staff is very professional. They remember my dog and her needs (medicine and keep away from other dogs) and she's always treated well. I never like leaving my dog in a kennel, but when I do I never consider anywhere else. read more

We recently had a medical emergency with our Frenchie and could not leave her at home unattended while we were at work. My husband and I live in the CIty but both work in Novato. We had three choices: 1) He work 6am to 2:30pm and I work 3:30 to midnight so that someone is always there with her: 2) Drug her up and crate her for 10 hours or: 3) Take her to a kennel. I checked out Bridewell, mostly because of the proximity to our work, but we also had good feedback from a co-worker who has taken her dogs there. Honestly, they were an absolute LIFESAVER. When I first called, Natalie spent a good amount of time on the phone to really understand our situation. We went to check out the place the next day... the place is clean, well kept, and the dogs all seemed to be housed in a way that was appropriate to their size and energy level. What we needed was to have our dog as immobile as possible, but checked on regularly and given medications daily. They were able to do all of this and more. Our dog, Dracula, was well taken care of there and we never, ever had a single problem. She actually would get excited to go there.... she knew when we were getting close and would totally perk up in the car. Natalie told us that she would even hold her on her lap during the quieter parts of the day, which for a Frenchie is heaven... they live to love people. I could really tell that she likes Natalie, too... just now, I said, "Where's Natalie?" and she tilted her head to the side and started to get excited. This place is great... I'm actually surprised that anyone gave Bridewell anything less than 4 stars. Just because a dog is barking, it does not mean that they are stressed out. If you read any of my less than happy reviews on Yelp, you'll know that I'm not one to mince words. My dogs are my life and I would never trust them to just anyone. Bridewell has proven time and time again that they are not just capable of caring for my animals, but happy to do so. This is a public thank you to them for being exactly what we needed and then some for our little one. read more

This place is depressing! We dropped our dog off for grooming and noticed several dogs in pins with gravel floors. When we came back five hours later the same dogs where still in the gravel holding pins, no dog beds. My dogs are use to a certain basic level of comfort - gravel pins for hours--- eek poor pups. This place is very outdated and a dirt play lot in the center of the parking lot is the only entertainment they offer. It is strictly a dogs in runs place with a quick walk to the main road and back. There are so many lovely boarders in Marin and these guys just don't make an effort. The groomer does a great job but I just felt the place was a bit to run down. read more

We got our puppy last October and have used Bridewell two times. Prior to that we had two large dogs (Rottweiler mix). We've always had good experiences when we've brought out dogs in. One of our dogs had a thyroid problem and they seemed to have administered the meds as instructed. One reviewer commented on the noise level. I had thought the same about this the first time we came, but as the check-in person explained, the dogs only bark when a car drives up. This seems true as one time I listened at the bottom of the hill and it seemed pretty quiet. One downside of the kennel is that it's at the very top of a hill. The road seems to go forever. We used to live in Novato, so the drive was not far, but now that we're in Southern Marin, it's a long drive. I'm afraid we'll have to find another kennel closer to home. read more

My 2011 review gave them 5 stars. I hardly ever review on Yelp but feel compelled to update my review and warn others of deteriorating care. My dog has been going there since 2002. I had tried a number of kennels, and although this is an older kennel and not a dog spa, she was happiest there. The staff seemed to know and love the animals and accomodated for personalities. However, this place is not the same as it used to be. There's quite a bit of staff turnover, and the newer ones don't seem to care or cannot follow instructions. There had been periodic issues with feeding in the past couple of years, but we worked out a system. But the last 2 times, they messed up her medications and feeding even though I simplified everything. For the past 6 months she had needed anti-seizure medications to which she is very sensitive. Her dose has to be right. The past 2 times I've taken her there, they have over-drugged her, giving her extra medication. My dog has came home as a zombie and could barely walk. Anne apologized both times and said that they would get it right the next time. She showed me the chart and swore that they followed directions, but I know they didn't. There were very few pills left in the bottle. There should have been a week's supply. What's almost worse, they underfed her by about half of her daily amount. To make it easy on them I took in canned food and went over the instructions very carefully - 2 cans a day, spread over multiple smaller meals. I was told they could only feed 3 times. That was OK. But when I picked her up after 5 days, they returned half the food. When I called during my business trip, they told me how much she loved the food and gobbled it down. Of course she did; she was starving! My 25 pound dog lost 2 pounds in the 5 days that she was there. She was so skinny and had no reserves in case of illness and has been famished ever since I got her home. Anne apologized yet again, and said they would get it right the next time, a familiar response by now. I'm very leery to leave my dog at her "home away from home" any more. I don't know what's happened to this place, the place where my dog was so happy and well-cared for. I'm writing this because they need to know that their care has declined to the point of being life-threatening to an older dog. I'm very sad because it's the place that's most familiar to my sweet Sadie and the care used to always be so good. I used to trust them but now I can't. read more

We have been taking our dogs here for the past three years and they always come out happy and clean. Our best review is that when we arrive the dogs always go right in and join the other dogs without any fuss. read more