June 23rd, 2025

I wanted to begin again by sharing why I opened Green Paws—and what the ultimate goal has always been.

I officially launched Green Paws in January 2022, though I had been boarding dogs throughout 2021. Starting a business on your own is terrifying, but I knew I wanted to do something good for dogs—and I wanted to create the kind of place I could leave my girls.

Rylee and Mowgly resting on the bed with me on November 3rd, 2019

Traveling with dogs is hard, period. Either you bring them and constantly ask if dogs are allowed, or you leave them behind in someone else’s care and hope for the best.

When it was just Rylee, my friends were happy to watch her and roll with her quirks. Even when I added Mowgly, most friends were still on board—though Mowgly’s knack for destruction trimmed down the volunteer list a bit. Still, they were generally well-behaved in care.

But then I brought home a Border Collie. And then I started sheep herding. She quickly turned from pet to part-time working dog—with a lot of opinions. I went on a five-day solo vacation, and while I had an amazing time, my dogs…did not. The terrier stopped eating, and the Border Collie chewed the walls. What was she even thinking?

After that, no one wanted to watch my dogs. And honestly, I didn’t want to put them in a loud kennel or traditional dog facility.

So I searched for something better—a home-based business that could care for my dogs like family. A place where they’d follow house rules, be safely crated at night, and receive a couple reassuring updates. I found nothing.

So I built it.

Freyja hanging out on top of a household crate on June 8th, 2022

I created the space I needed—for my girls, and for people like me. I wanted to give dog owners peace of mind, knowing their family members were safe, loved, and cared for with structure and attention. I know most dogs experience some level of stress during boarding—even the happiest champ can get quiet when their people leave. My job is to help them find their rhythm, settle in, and send you those reassuring pictures and stories.

This is a place where dogs can be dogs. Where they’re given respect, trust, and guidance. Where we don’t force them to “fit in” but instead give them time and space to adjust.

I meet every dog before they board. If it’s appropriate, mine meet them too. I also work with reactive and aggressive dogs, with the necessary safety measures always in place.

Green Paws is more than a boarding service—it’s a space where people can learn how to support their dogs, and where dogs feel safe and understood.

I wanted that space to exist.

So I made it.

Happy Boarding (Training),

Addi and The Girls