PLEASE do not leave your pet at Camp Best Friends, they killed my friend's dog by neglecting it and didn't even have the decency to contact my friend at the first sign of distress! https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=212855265&is=neighbor_profile read more

I left my cat here for 5 nights, and when I picked him up his personality was normal and I took him home and he's been fine. They obviously treated him like he was in a nice home. I'm comparing this to when I left him at one of the big corporate kennels, which was like a jail cell, and after I left him there for 6 nights and then picked him up, he was despondent and just lay around for a few weeks before his personality returned to normal. So I'm very happy with what Cathi and her assistant did for him -- she says they petted him a lot. read more

Camp Best Friends - Softy back at home - Pet Boarding Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It has been several years since we boarded our two cats here. I have not considered providing a rating on any vendor but this place did such a damaging job on our two cats that it has been in my memory for years. The female cat had been let out of her cage and must have been pretty upset. They say she 'grabbed' onto the outside of her cage. They 'removed' her and in the process several of her toe nails were pulled out. Found her bleeding in her cage. The male cat had somehow experienced a 'personality regression' and behaved like the Exercist movie. Something drove him nuts and it was awhile before we could calm him down. When we picked up the cats (bleeding and crazy) the woman in charge told us 'we will not take your cats again. They are just bad cats'. In my mind they are merely cats and cats are cats in my experience. They were 'good cats' when we brought them in to this place, they became 'bad' during their stay, and got good again a few hours later. This was years ago but 'the memory lingers on'. When I read the current reviews, It looks like a different place these days. We still have the old grandpa male cat but the lady is not longer with us. My wife, my cats, and I don't get kicked out of places we go very often. Are there really 'good cats' and 'bad cats'? How about people? Some places you get kicked out of are a blessing in disguise. I see our lady cat's bloody paws to this day. read more

My dog of 11 years, Chloe, died under the care of Camp Best Friends in Aug. 2021 while I was away on a family vacation. I spent months researching the best place for Chloe to stay while I was gone for a week. She was the sweetest small bundle of fluff but was shy around other dogs and preferred to be separated during boarding. The last time I went out of town, she stayed at City Dog in West LA. It was fine there, but I preferred that she wasn't caged this time. I decided on Camp Best Friends, which was next door to City Dog. It says this on CBF's website, but the owner Cathi Helfer also assured me that they don't mingle the dogs, keep them caged and are familiar with taking care of senior dogs. I decided to reserve my spot after talking to her over the phone. Before I dropped Chloe off, I tried calling Cathi to confirm that there would be someone monitoring 24/7 because the hours of operation displayed on their website confused me. I wanted to know what the space looked like, where she would be sleeping and if she needed me to email feeding directions. I never received a call back from her, which worried me. Despite my hesitations, I read good reviews and decided to trust the care of CBF. I thought it was odd Cathi didn't ask me to fill out any forms, so I wrote up a two-page guide with details on her feeding, medication, personality, emergency contact info, etc. When I got to the facility, I was thrown off by how untidy it was, but Cathi apologized and said it was because of COVID-19 and she didn't have as many people working there now. Pablo, the main handler who lives in a small room at the facility came out to greet Chloe and watch her while Cathi gave me a tour. We decided that she would have Chloe stay in a separate area away from the larger dogs that barked as that would be the best idea especially since it was going to be a full house that weekend. Cathi could tell I was nervous because Chloe rarely left my side, so Cathi said she would send me photos of Chloe while I was gone. However, I never received photos or was contacted, which kept me wondering if that was a sign something was wrong or were they too busy? Five days into Chloe's stay, I received multiple calls early in the morning from an emergency vet hospital that she was under respiratory distress with pneumonia and pulmonary edema. Chloe passed away not long after the phone call. Cathi never called me to inform me about what happened. I had to call her to let her know that Chloe had died. Cathi told me that she didn't have my phone number at the time. I consulted with multiple doctors after receiving the lab results and X-rays, and talked to the emergency vet that took care of Chloe last. She indeed contracted pneumonia over the period of days at CBF, which led to a fatal amount of fluid in her lungs. My husband and I decided to show up at CBF after we got home. We had several questions about what happened to Chloe because we discovered that CBF had violated several state of California codes for pet boarding facilities, including failing to contact us about our dog's health when she was sick. The first thing Cathi said to us was "sorry I ruined your vacation." We agreed, in which she responded with, "Hey, I didn't kill your dog." She didn't have any daily records kept of Chloe during her stay and said that everything she needed to know was in her head at the age of 72. Cathi claimed she was "traditional," not like other pet boarding facilities that keep digital records. It turned out that Pablo was the only person taking care of the dogs during Chloe's stay and was the best person to ask what had happened. He was reluctant at first to even speak to us and his limited English-speaking skills made it difficult for him to articulate any details. Cathi and Pablo said Chloe showed signs of distress and had difficulty breathing while there, which we learned about from the doctor's report, and after further questioning, Cathi admitted that she regretted not calling Chloe's vet to have her looked at. She also claimed that Chloe had those symptoms when I dropped her off, which was not true. Chloe was healthy as I would not have left her there if I noticed something was off and I would have written down any symptoms on the form I gave to Cathi. They kept her in a playpen area near another elderly, but sick dog who also "coincidentally" was sent to the hospital yet survived. They finally brought Chloe to the vet when Pablo noticed her coughing up specks of blood after he got up in the middle of the night. During my visit there, they showed me Pablo's photos a couple days into her stay and I looked at them further when I got home. It was clear she was under distress and fluid was coming out of her nose. The neglect to even call me at the first moment of concern is a clear sign CBF should not be in business. This place is completely disorganized and not fit to take care of multiple animals simultaneously. read more

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I would never ever leave our girl with anyone else. Cathy is outstanding and her groomer is awesome. They truly love and care about your pet. Only the best will do for our Brookie. read more

Camp Best Friends - Pet Boarding Near Me - Los Angeles, California

What would we do without you!! So accommodating and friendly. Our dog loves when he arrives and runs right in. Dependable with instructions for specific pet care. We also love the grooming option on day of departure. Thanks so much for everything!! read more

I can't say enough good things about camp best friends! My cat Noir stopped eating shortly after we left. Kathy went all out - contacting me, contacting his vet and getting him hooked up to eat again. I have taken my cats there on and off over the years and CBF is my first and only choice for boarding my cats. BTW, they do dogs, birds, etc. too!!! read more

Camp Best Friends - Pet Boarding Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I am soooooo thankful for Camp Best Friends! There aren't many places that are not daycare style with 30-40 dogs running around together which my pooch doesn't like. There are NO places that will keep them separate yet give them so much love individually throughout the day! Also, my little guy is the worst eater and they always have something on hand to entice him to actually finish his meals. They are amazing!!!! read more

Boarded my very anxious mixed breed dog here and they took incredible care of her. Cathi is an expert and she and her team truly understand and love animals. Can't say enough good things! Highly recommend. read more

Excellent My pug and puggle were extremely well cared for. Pablo and Cathi really kept their promise with 1:1 attention, plenty of walks and a large, clean comfortable environment for my little besties. Thank you so much! read more

I have an older dog with multiple issues: Cushing's disease, arthritis, and behavioral issues. He's on seven different medications, which he must get twice a day. Where on earth can you board a problem child like this? Well, Cathi Helfer and her very caring staff agreed to take Tino on, finally giving me a chance to get away now and again. And miracle of miracles, he did well there, both in his trial run and then in a 3-day stay while I was out of town. They kept him separated and none of his challenges seemed to deter them. Camp Best Friends is nowhere near where I live, but I am so appreciative that they're willing to work with me. read more

I am so happy to have found this place! Cathi was amazing from the start! It was my first time leaving my 8 month old husky with anyone and Cathi was very understanding and patient with all the questions I had. She was even nice enough to provide me pictures and an update on how my pup was doing for the weekend. My pup looked very happy to have stayed here and loved the employees. I will definitely be leaving my dog here going forward! Thanks Cathi! read more

These people are completely horrid. I had to go away for a LONG trip, my sitter bailed on me, and being away for 3 weeks was going to cause some serious wallet shock if I boarded El Perro at his usual stop, Urban Dog. So I checked in at "Camp Best Friends". Well...I'm not sure whose best friends they are, but certainly not man's, woman's, or dog's. First of all the facility sucks. Fido goes in a tiny windowless area and gets to leave it once a day to "play" for 20 minutes in a pen. You can get walks, sure, if you pay extra. But the real capper is the staff. I have never encountered such nasty folks in my life. I truly had the sense that my dog could die on their watch and they wouldn't be much bothered. And all this happened just as I was signing him in. How bad? I pulled my doggie right out of there and went down the street to Urban Dog. Not only do I love my pup and want him to have the best care; I wasn't giving people that hostile a penny of my hard-earned cash. read more

Cathi has lots of experience with animals of all types! Our dog is happy as can be to come to Camp Best Friends. He loves that they have individual 'runs' for the dogs, actually go on walks outside and are checked on frequently. When I pick him up he is bathed and a true 'happy camper'. Highly recommend Camp Best Friends and have gone here for years and years. read more

Cathi Helfer and her wonderful handlers at Camp Best Friends have been taking care of our dogs and cats since the early 1990s. Her facility is immaculate and her care standards are impeccable. She goes the extra mile to custom feed when asked, and of course gives any needed medications. Long ago our dog Jake had a medical emergency while I was away on business in Europe, and Cathi personally took him to our vet and made sure he got the care he needed. Best of all, she truly loves animals, even the difficult ones. Our blue heeler Harley is a ranch dog with an edge. He's unpredictable, ornery, and to be honest, a problem child when it comes to boarding. But Cathi has been taking care of him for years and she knows what to do to keep him and everyone safe, unstressed and happy. One of her handlers, Pablo, is not only able to give Harley a bath, but he brushes all the undercoat out and executes a nice mild trim. I can't believe how this has stopped the insane shedding and Harley still smells so good, two months later! I would never trust anyone else to care for our pets. Thank you Cathi, Pablo and everyone at Camp Best Friends! read more

So, I brought my boys back here when I needed to go away for the weekend. I called maybe a day in advance and they said there was no problem fitting me in. I'm not sure why I waited to do so, but I finally asked to see the back room where all the dogs are kept. First off, CLEAN!!!!!!! I'm a little embarrassed to say that it smelled better than my living room. Second, they have a little play area that the dogs go in shifts. It's semi-outside, meaning it's technically open to the outdoor air (during the day) but most of it is sheltered away from the sun/heat/wind. Also, good air circulation throughout the whole place. I was able to leave my boys with their blanket and some toys. The staff was very respectful and understanding when I just wanted to make sure my doggies were treated well. I explained that one of my dogs is super-allergic to just about everything, and the staff told me they'd bathe the boys in their skin-sensitive shampoo. The verdict: wagging-tushie approved. read more

Jade is always happy to go to Camp and visit her best friends. She could be what you consider a "problem dog" she likes to snap at people and bite them but she seems to like everyone at camp. She even lets them bathe her!! Unheard of!! That says a lot about the people there. Very friendly staff! read more

Camp Best Friends - Jade at CBF - Pet Boarding Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My kitty Juanita and I LOVE the Camp Best Friends! Cathi is just the sweetest, most accommodating cheerful business owner ever. The team takes good care of my furry companion and always gives a cheer when we walk in. read more

We had our little kitty here for 8 days and we couldn't be happier. Cathi and everyone at Camp best friends were wonderful! They took such wonderful care of our kitten, she was so healthy (all around) when we picked her up. They had given her a bath too and she was still happy and very comfortable. I am so very grateful that this place exists! Thank you Cathi! read more

This place is amazing. The staff is friendly and they really care about their clients, both 4 legged ones and their two legged companions. My mom left her dog with them when she was going through a difficult time and they were always more than accommodating. We are so grateful to them for helping us when things were "ruff" read more

We let our bunny stay there for 2 weeks while we went on a road trip, and when we came back she didn't want to leave because of how much she loved it there. she came in as a princess and left a queen she was treated like a queen she had all her animal friends around her and had all the exercise space she could ever hope for. i 10\10 recommend ur pet stay there. read more

Cathi and crew are incredible! They are friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, kind, and understanding of any situation with your pet. Every time I've been there, they've attended to my needs and requests with a smile. My friend Eve and I trust them our dogs. Words do very little to express how great they really are. Once you use their services, you will truly understand what I mean. I highly recommend them. read more

Cathy and her staff at Camp Best Friends are fantastic! I am so grateful that I found them. My dog Yoda is 70 lbs, elderly, arthritic, and has separation anxiety. Yoda spent 5 weeks at Camp Best Friends after we lost our home in the Woolsey fire. He was pampered, cuddled and well-loved while he was there. Yoda was given his pain medication twice a day, plus his special food. The first few weeks after the fire were traumatic but knowing that Yoda was safe and content is a blessing that I'll never forget. Thank you read more

Gizmo and Oliver have been coming to Camp Best Friends since they were puppies. Cathi always does her best to ensure that our fur babies are comfortable and have everything they need: Our doggies were right at home and really enjoyed their stay! read more

I brought my 3 year old bunny rabbit here for boarding, of course I was very nervous leaving him with strangers, but Camp Best Friends proved to me that I never need to be nervous again! When I came to pick up my bunny, he was so Hoppy and I could tell he was taken care of very well. He got great reviews from the staff and they also fell in love with him! They gave him excercise, which is hard to find a place that will do that for bunny boarding and I will bring him there every time! He can't wait to go back to camp:) read more

I guess you can say this is a biased review, since I had a horrible experience.... First 2 times I brought my pet here, were great. 3rd time was a disaster. I got overcharged by 1 day. The office was closed for the holiday and before I dropped off my pet, they noted that there will be no charge for this day. Also - the dog came back smelling horribly! On another note - I got a tour of the kennel - and when they tell you they "take him out" - they mean inside into a caged area on tile floor - INSIDE. So if you want your pet to start doing his business inside your home, this is the kennel to take him. How is one supposed to train their pet to go outside and not inside, if the kennel makes them go inside? read more

This is hands down the ONLY place where I feel secure leaving my pets. Cathi is like the animal whisperer! Her extensive knowledge and experience mixed with her genuine love for them leaves me feeling anxiety free every time I drop off my critters. Clean facility, amazing staff and happy pets. Thank you Camp Best Friends! read more

This is a wonderful place to board your pet! I recently had to board my cat for the day and they were incredibly kind and accommodating despite the fact that my kitty is not the most pleasant when taken out of her comfort zone. I'm so thankful for Camp Best Friends and the loving people working there. read more

I have a senior dog who is blind and deaf. Camp Best Friends was an excellent place to board my dog. She was well cared for and they give great attention to detail. The owner Kathy is very attentive and on her game. There are individual larger cages so dogs have a safe space. This is a great alternative if you have a dog that needs more attention. I'm using this again for Xmas holidays read more

Our Ragdoll cat Tucker is about to turn 14 in September and has been going to Cathi at Camp Best Friends ever since he was a kitten. My son, Joshua, and I trust her with all our hearts...truly no one takes better care of Tucker than Cathi and her extraordinary staff who absolutely live up to their impeccable reputation. They all shower Tucker with so much TLC he barely misses us! And Cathi is so kind and accommodating whenever we need extra time in any way...Tucker needing to stay longer at the last minute, picking him up later than expected and on and on. It is such a blessing to have complete peace of mind that Tucker, is safe, loved and very well taken care of whenever we are away. Cathi and Camp Best Friends are a part of our family...we are so grateful for that! read more

Camp Best Friends is definitely a home away from home for my cats. I just moved here from Miami and was worried about finding a place to board my cats, but I was referred by a friends who raved about them. So I decided to visit the facility, the cat room was awesome. I thought they would be in small cages but instead they are in big "kitty condos" that connect, and have shelves so they can climb up. I was so happy that both of my cats could stay together in their own private space and still have plenty of room to lounge around. When I came to pick them up my cats seemed very pleased and relaxed. I am so happy to have found them. read more

Cathi -- THANK YOU! Camp Best Friends is our dog's home away from home. She runs into the kennel and it's the only place I could leave her and not worry when we travel. Thank you for taking such great care of our little girl. read more

Our kitty, Lois says, "Camp Best Friends is the cat's meow!" Everyone there is friendly and very professional. Lois needs her meds, and they're completely on top of it. When we drop her off, we leave comforted to know that she will be well taken care of! Thank you Cathy and staff! So glad you're there!!! read more

Cathi has years of experience and knowledge taking great care of animals. She is a gem of a woman and lives up to her impeccable reputation. She has taken care of my little guy Ziggy and my little girl Evie for years. She provides a wonderful doggy daycare and boarding when I go out of town. I trust her wholeheartedly. Camp Best Friends is the best. read more

Thank u Cathy and Amanda. Even though we have used u throughout the years and have been so pleased. We were concerned about leaving our little rescue. He is home now....and we can not thank u enough! Because he is a rescue we were so worried. He is home now and happy. Thanks and thanks. This is an and was a great experience for Dylan. Thanks so much. We are so happy and so is our boy! Will be seeing you soon! Love, Dylan, Sheila and Bruce! read more

Camp Best Friends - Pet Boarding Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My hound, a 9-year-old poodle mix with energy, enthusiasm and a social streak, thinks this place is great.

Great experience! We were in LA for the week and boarded our Newfoundland puppy at Camp Best Friends a couple nights and another single day so we could participate in some family, day- long activities that were not dog friendly. Our puppy happily went in for both visits and Cathi and her staff were beyond accommodating. We'll be back! read more

Camp Best Friends - Pet Boarding Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I have been taking my dog Ginger to Camp Best Friends for years. Ginger has double cataracts and her vision is not so great. Not only does Cathy and the staff take care of her daily needs for eye drops, but they will stay open a little later if I am out of town and unable to show up at closing time. They really go out of their way to make Ginger comfortable! read more

Team at Camp Best Friends are outstanding. Our dog is a really high energy dog who they cared for while she was recovering from being hit by a speeding SUV. Everyone at CBF knows her name and they love her like she was their own dog. read more

I have been taking my dog to Camp Best Friends for many years, and he is always happy to get dropped off there, for a few days or weeks...this says a lot about this wonderful place. During his last visit, he got real sick (13 years old and aging big Lab) and Kathy (the amazing owner) took him to my vet after calling me overseas. She left a deposit (her own money) and waited with him while he was going trough tests and x-rays. She remained in contact with me and the hospital until i returned. This level of care is above an beyond any typical business and shows that it is mainly driven by love and care for the animals...Highly recommended and forever grateful! read more