Client Testimonials

We’re grateful to the clients who have shared their experiences with Stable Hands.

Over the years, families across Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk have trusted Stable Hands to care for their pets while they’re at work or away. The comments below reflect the experiences of long-time clients and the relationships we’ve built through consistent, reliable care.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 108 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Jen F 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Have used this service for several years in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake for daily dog walking as well as overnight stays for trips out of town. They have been super flexible, take great care of my animals, and always send the most thorough updates including many pictures. Special shout out to Whisper and Sarah! My boys loved them!

Owner's reply
Thank you, Jen! We appreciate you trusting us with your boys over the years, from daily walks to overnight care. We’re glad the updates and photos help keep you connected while you’re away. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Whisper and Sarah. It means a lot to know your boys loved their time with them!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Marla Hartman 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have been using Stable Hands for a little over a year now and you can’t go wrong with them… they go out of their way to make you and your pets feel confident and comfortable while you have to be apart, give them a try, I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Owner's reply
Marla, thank you for trusting us with your pets over the past year and for recommending us! We’re glad our team helps you feel confident about their care while you’re away and keeps them comfortable at home. We appreciate being part of your pets’ lives and look forward to many more visits together.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   julie brown 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have used stable hands for our cat care for YEARS! They are amazing! Online booking and paying makes it super easy. The best is getting daily updates and pictures while we are gone. I trust them 100% and highly recommend them!

Owner's reply
Julie, thank you so much for trusting us with your cats for all these years! We’re glad the online booking and payment process makes planning care easier, and that the daily updates and photos give you peace of mind while you’re away. Your continued trust and recommendation mean so much to our entire team!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Marie Nichols 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have been using Stable Hands' pet sitting services since 2018 and have yet to be disappointed by them. The initial meet and great is a great way to be introduced to the person who will be taking care of your pets while you're away. I've always had the same sitter(s) coming to look after my fur babies, and if there was ever and instance of someone new needing to look after them, a new meet and great was set up so I could both meet the new sitter in-person, ad well as being able to give them a walktrough on my pets' care. Stable Hands was there for me when I had to leave the state last minute due to a death in the family, and they worked hard and quickly in order to help me make arrangements for a sitter, given the situation. I always know my pets will be well looked after and cared for anytime I have to be away from home and am able to enjoy my time away, knowing the sitter(s) take care of and treat my fur babies as if they're their own.

Owner's reply
Marie, thank you for trusting us with your pets since 2018! We’re glad the familiar faces and introductions to new sitters have made a difference for you. And we’re grateful we could help when you needed care on short notice. Thank you for being part of Stable Hands for so many years and for taking the time to share this.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Briana Murphy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have been using Stable Hands for years, and I recommend them to anyone who needs a pet sitter. They are very reliable, and I never have to worry when I'm out of town because I know they'll go above and beyond and treat my babies well.

Owner's reply
Thank you, Briana. It means a lot to have earned your trust over the years. We're so glad our visits give you peace of mind while you're out of town. Our team cares deeply about your babies, and we appreciate you continuing to choose Stable Hands and recommending us to others.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Claudia Baker 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wonderful experience. First time using a pet sitting service, they set the bar very high! Everyone I worked with was very knowledgeable, friendly, and thorough. We had a screening call to determine my needs and they paired me with a sitter who exceeded them. She came for a meet and greet and asked great questions and shared lots of valuable information. After establishing a good rapport with my dogs, I felt very comfortable knowing they would be in her care. During the visits, she wrote perfectly detailed updates, including photos! At one visit, she discovered that my smoke detector had a low battery chirping, which she reported to us since it makes my dog very anxious. I was able to then contact her and instruct her that I wanted her to locate the alarm and remove the battery (as we had plenty of other alarms in the home).  She did so and was my dog's hero for stopping the horrible beeping! I'm so thankful she went above and beyond to make sure my babies were well taken care of. I loved the flexible options as they were able to accommodate our odd hours work schedules. Will definitely use Stable Hands again! ❤️

Owner's reply
Claudia, thank you so much for sharing this. We’re especially glad to hear that you felt comfortable and confident with the care from the very beginning. Taking the time to understand your pets, their routines, and what matters to them is such an important part of what we do. The smoke detector story made us smile. Noticing those little things can make a huge difference for a pet, and we’re so glad we could help make your dog more comfortable while you were away. Thank you for trusting Stable Hands for your first experience with professional pet care. We’re grateful to be your partners in pet care and look forward to seeing your pups again!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   James Hyssong 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The service here is top notch. The team members that arrive for service show great care with all the pets and our property. The time and pricing is very flexible depending on what you need done. We use them exclusively when we're out of town and will continue to do so!

Owner's reply
Thank you so much, James! We truly appreciate your kind words and your continued trust in our team. It means a great deal to know that the care we provide for your pets and your home gives you peace of mind while you’re away. We’re grateful to be your partners in pet care!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Peyton Weinrich 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have had nothing but a 5-star experience using this company. I love that everything for booking and communication is in an app and the team always sends great updates and pictures. Any time there have been any changes they have called me and communicated well. Whisper is so caring and I’m always confident in my senior dogs care when she’s available

Owner's reply
Thank you so much, Peyton! We’re glad the app and visit updates make everything easy and give you peace of mind. We’ll also make sure Whisper sees your kind words. She truly cares about the pets she works with, and it means a lot to know you feel confident in your senior dogs’ care. We really appreciate you trusting Stable Hands with them!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sandy Hill 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had Stable Hands take care of my kitty while I was gone for a week visiting family. They were wonderful and went above and beyond! Sandra C. was my petsitter and she communicated well and showed great care each and every day. I was unaware I would get daily reports and photos of how my pet was doing and after a couple days started looking forward to reading them. She informed me of my kitty's behavior, litter pan status, feeding schedule, and even about my mail pickup! I really appreciate their service as it takes the anxiety away for me going out of town. I don't have to worry about my little girl! Thank you!

Owner's reply
Sandy, thank you so much for taking the time to share this! We’re so glad Sandra helped make your time away feel easier and gave you the peace of mind to enjoy your trip without worrying about your kitty at home. Our visit reports are meant to help you still feel connected while you’re away, so we love hearing that you started looking forward to them each day. Thank you for trusting Stable Hands with your cat. We truly appreciate it!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rebecca Ballance 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Sandra at Stable Hands Pet Care! She took care of my cat, Ollie, and my fish, Scarlett, while I was away, and I felt completely comfortable knowing they were in her care.

Before her first visit, Sandra came over to meet Ollie, Scarlett, and me. She took the time to ask detailed questions about their routines, personalities, feeding, and care, which immediately showed me how genuinely committed she was to making sure they were well taken care of.

Every time she came to the house, she sent me pictures and a thoughtful update, which gave me so much peace of mind while I was away. She also made sure Ollie received all of his medications exactly as needed. On top of caring for the pets, she even brought my packages inside when they arrived, which was such a thoughtful extra touch.

It was clear that Sandra wasn’t just checking a box by stopping in — she truly cared about Ollie and Scarlett and treated them as if they were her own.  Knowing that someone so responsible, communicative, and caring was looking after them made being away so much easier.

I highly recommend Sandra and Stable Hands Pet Care to anyone looking for someone they can completely trust with their pets.  I will absolutely be using her again! ❤️

Owner's reply
Rebecca, thank you so much for taking the time to share this. We’re so glad Sandra helped you feel comfortable while you were away and that Ollie and Scarlett were able to stay in their familiar routines at home. Thoughtful updates, medication care, and paying attention to the little things are all part of how we try to be true partners in pet care. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Sandra. She’ll be thrilled to know how much her care meant to you. Thank you for trusting Stable Hands with Ollie and Scarlett. We look forward to caring for them again!

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Sean O.

Virginia Beach

I utilize Stable Hands as Buck's caregiver because David and Lara have always been great with him. From the very beginning, they spent time getting to know Buck and allowing him to get to know them. Just like our vet, Stable Hands has become a trusted partner in caring for Buck. Lastly, I value Stable Hands utilization of technology and love getting the report cards (every visit) and pictures (most visits); it makes being away a little easier.

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Meaghan D.

Virginia Beach

I have never used another pet-sitting service before, but when I was new to town and didn't know anyone I could trust to let my dogs out while I was at work Stable Hands was recommended to me. Not only did you clearly love my dogs and they were at ease with you. But the comfort I felt with how thorough you were getting to know them and their routines was awesome. I have used just about every service offered from 15 minutes visits during the day to late-night and overnight visits. I have even called in a rush the night before or the day of needing a visit due to unexpected work schedule changes. Loved that I can work my long night shifts and know that my baby will be looked after and not in her crate all night. Prices are also super reasonable. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

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Dawn F.

Virginia Beach

What I love about Lara and David is their obvious love for our girls. I look forward to reading the daily notes they leave for me; the detail they will take the time to document like meeting a duck on their walk and how the girls reacted. I feel like Lara and David are part of our family and that gives me great comfort and allows me to concentrate on my job. We are coming up on a year utilizing Stable Hands and the only regret I have is that we didn’t find them sooner!

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Page G.

Virginia Beach

I chose Stable Hands on a recommendation from my previous dog walker who relocated to Hawaii. When I called and spoke to Lara and David, they set up a time to come and meet me and my dog. Not only I could tell that it was important for them to make sure I was comfortable with them being in my home. But also caring for my dog. The time they spent getting to know Sasha put me at ease, as I work long days with a long commute.

I felt comfortable knowing Sasha would get exercise every day and I was happy that there was a team of people that were getting to know her and her quirks and anxieties and caring about her beyond the 30-minute daily interaction. Because of their consistency, Lara and David were often able to detect or confirm when Sasha wasn't feeling or acting like herself and gave great advice as to how to help her feel better. Sasha and I highly recommend Stable Hands.

Tyler W.

Virginia

"Our dog Charlie loved working with David! She is a high-energy lab who needed a mid-day walk daily. We not only felt confident with David taking care of her. But, he was prompt, reliable, and flexible. When she had CCL surgery and needed extra attention and sensitivity during her walks, we knew David would be able to take care of her. Working with him gave us great peace of mind while we were at work or away."

Tracy M.

Virginia

"David has provided exceptional pet-sitting services for my 4 Siberian Huskies over the last 5+ years. Moreover, his loyalty to me and my family has always been greatly appreciated. Not only was he always on time. But he also left detailed status reports and goes the extra mile by sending a text to let me know all is well when he arrives and departs. That extra level of communication would give me complete peace of mind. Not once did we have an issue. David has also accommodated some crazy schedule requests sometimes without much notice without any complaint. Lastly, and most importantly, my dogs LOVED HIM!"

Sheila H.

Virginia

"David and Lara have been pet and house sitting for us for the last few years. They are very attentive to the pets and their needs. Our dog Sappho likes very few men, but David won her over the first time they met. You would be wise to hire David and Lara as they are caring, able to see a problem if it arises, and adept at addressing the needs of the pets and the owners. We are extremely sorry to have them leave the area. Finding anyone else to care for our pets and our home will be a challenge."

Linda L.

Virginia

"I am writing to you to provide a very High Recommendation for David and Lara Huzzard. Moreover, they have provided dog walking and pet sitting services for us for our two large dogs over the past 4 years.

David and Lara are reliable and dependable and very conscientious. Not only did they arrive at a punctual time in the afternoon to walk our two dogs, so we and our pets know when to expect them. But they also provided commands and training to our dogs that they understand and obey. When David and Lara walk our pets, they give them enough walking time, so they can get exercise and also time to perform their business. Not to mention, they are conscientious in that they pick up our pets’ business in plastic bags.

Whenever we have had to be out of town, we have been able to depend on David and Lara to pet-sit our dogs and watch the house and bring in the mail. We also have been able to feel at ease with them watching our pets and the house, as they are very trustworthy and dependable. We know our pets are being well cared for by David and Lara while we are away.
In addition, we have sometimes had last-minute or emergency requests where we would need David and Lara to sit our pets for us. Above all, they have always been able to accommodate our requests and make themselves available to help us out in times of need.

We truly have appreciated their service to us and our pets and they have become more than just pet sitters and dog walkers, but are true friends.

We Highly recommend David and Lara Huzzard to you."

Lila L.

Virginia

"David and Lara have been taking care of my two dogs and cat for about two years. Not only have they always done a great job. My dogs love them and it is such a comfort to me to know that they are being well taken care of. David and Lara are extremely dependable, and responsible, and go out of their way to accommodate my needs. I highly recommend them to take care of any type of pet!"

Robyn T.

Virginia

"David and Lara dog sat my two goofy basset hounds for years. One summer while we were away on vacation, a terrible storm came through and knocked the power out. Concerned about the heat in the house, they contacted me to see if they could take my dog to their house where there was air conditioning. Sadly we have lost both of our hounds in the last year or so. As soon as we have another one, I know who I will be contacting."

Margie H.

Virginia

"David and Lara cared for my Labrador Retriever puppy - walking and playing with him while I was at work. They were reliable, caring, and kept me abreast of anything I needed to know. Hopper looked forward to their visits! He was well cared for by them. I was sad when they moved from our area."

Sue G.

Virginia

"Lara walked my two dogs, a beagle and a lab/spaniel mix, daily for over a year. She was fantastic with both dogs -- especially as my lab mix was an exuberant puppy! The dogs loved her and couldnt wait to see her every day. She arrived on time, was caring toward the dogs, showed flexibility when our schedule required it, and was a fabulous help to my family!"

Melissa W.

Virginia

"David and Lara took excellent care of my older dog for at least 2 years. They were always very tuned in to my dog's needs and completed all visits in a timely manner. My dog loved them and was thrilled to see them when they came to take care of him. If our dog was still with us we would definitely still be happy to use their services."

Lori K.

Virginia

"Lara walked my challenging fox terrier for about year. She is an outstanding dog caregiver, and I strongly recommend her to other pet owners. She is extremely conscientious and reliable. I never had to repeat the instructions for care of my dog, and never had to worry whether he was getting the care that he needed when I was at work. What really distinguishes Lara is her ability to understand pets' unique personalities and fears and give them the patience and encouragement that they need to make her time with them happy and productive."

Katie B.

Virginia

"You won't go wrong having Lara and David pet sit for you. I can't say enough great things about Lara and David. I have known them 7 years. They have cat sit and house sit for me. They take the time to make sure my fur babies are doing alright and gives them lots of love and attention. I have become best of friends with Lara. I give them 4 paws up."

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