Find Your Local Branch

Browse Our Branch Map

Own a PetStay Branch

Franchise Opportunity

Find Your Local Branch

Browse Our Branch Map

Own a PetStay Branch

Franchise Opportunity

Home Dog Boarding South Essex

Providing Home Dog Boarding in Wickford, Hockley, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Benfleet, Canvey, Basildon, Billericay, Brentwood, Ingatestone, Blackmore and Fryerning.

New Customer Enquiry

Pet Information

Dog 1
Dog 2
PetStay South Essex - Home Dog Boarding Service
New Customer Enquiry

Pet Information

Dog 1
Dog 2

PetStay South Essex Branch

Jo & Emma Stratton

Fully Licensed

Fully Insured

Dog First-aid Trained

Fully Licensed

Fully Insured

Dog First-aid Trained

Fully Licensed

Fully Insured

Dog First-aid Trained

PetStay South Essex, your local home dog boarding provider.

Hello, we are Jo & Emma, mother and daughter, and proud owners of the South Essex branch of Petstay. We are lifelong dog lovers and after 14 very happy years with our Tibetan Terrier, Ollie, we chose to become carers. Nearly two years on, after caring for many beloved dogs in our home the opportunity arose to take our involvement to the next level and we are now owners of Petstay South Essex. Whilst we will be running Petstay South Essex from home we will still offer our services as carers as this remains our overriding passion.

Why Choose PetStay?

At PetStay, we understand that leaving your beloved dog while you’re on holiday is a big decision. That’s why we offer a trusted, home-based alternative to kennels, ensuring your dog enjoys a comfortable stay in a loving environment. With one-on-one care and no mixing of dogs from different households, we provide a stress-free experience tailored to your dog’s needs.

What Makes Us Different?

Personalised, Home-from-Home Care – Your dog stays in a cozy, caring home, just like their own.
Solo Boarding Only – We never mix dogs from different families, ensuring a calm and relaxed stay.
Tailored Matching Process – We carefully select the perfect carer for your dog’s personality and routine.
Meet & Greet Before Booking – You and your dog get to visit the carer’s home beforehand to ensure a great fit.
Fully Insured & Licensed – Your peace of mind is our priority, with full insurance and licensing in place.
Ongoing Support – Our team is here to help, offering 24/7 support for both owners and carers.
With PetStay, you can enjoy your time away knowing your furry friend is safe, happy, and being cared for like family.

Our Carers

All our carers love dogs and are experienced dog owners who provide the best care for your pet while you’re away. Each carer is personally interviewed by PetStay to ensure they offer a safe, loving, and comfortable home environment for your dog. We are fully licensed, and our carers are covered by our public liability insurance for your peace of mind.

Some of our carers may have a dog of their own. If your pooch is happy to stay with another friendly dog, we’ll arrange a meet-up so they can get acquainted and see if they’re a good match.

Home Boarding for Dogs

Home Dog Boarding Service York

Booking with PetStay: Simple and Stress-Free

1. Get in Touch – Call or email your local PetStay branch to discuss your dog’s needs and your preferred dates.

2. Learn About PetStay – We’ll explain how PetStay works and guide you through the next steps.

3. Matching Your Dog – We’ll take all the details about your dog and match them with the most suitable carer available.

4. Meet the Carer – We’ll arrange a meeting for you and your dog to meet the carer and ensure a good fit.

5. Ready to Book – If you’re 100% happy with your carer, you’re all set to proceed with your booking.

6. Confirm Your Booking – Complete our online booking form and pay the arrangement fee within 5 days to confirm your booking.

7. Confirmation – You’ll receive an email confirming your booking details.

8. Stress-Free Booking – You’re all set! No worries, just anticipation for your time away.

9. Drop-Off Time – On your dog’s drop-off day, bring their food, bed, toys, and any other essentials to their carer’s home. At this point, you’ll pay the carer’s allowance directly to the carer.

10. Enjoy Your Holiday – Head off on your trip with complete peace of mind knowing your dog is in great hands.

We cover the South of Essex and surrounding areas including postcodes:

SS1 TO SS17: Wickford, Rayleigh, Hockley, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Benfleet, Canvey, Stanford-le Hope, Basildon, Benfleet, Westcliff-on-sea and Canvey Island areas.

CM11 TO CM15: Billericay, Brentwood areas.

CM4: Ingatestone, Blackmore, Fryerning, Stock areas.

If you prefer not to leave your dog in kennels, consider our home dog boarding and pet sitting service in the South Essex area

We’re proud to offer our trusted PetStay service in your city, providing local, personalised dog care that ensures your pet feels right at home. With a dedicated PetStay branch in your area, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your dog will receive the best care from experienced, fully vetted carers who are part of your local community.

Milo and Mabel

Home Dog Boarding Prices in the South Essex area

1 dog £32.00 a day

2 dogs £42.00 a day

3 dogs £52.00 a day

Prices above are per day, or part thereof, except Bank Holidays. For more information regarding those rates, please contact us.

PetStay Arrangement Fee & Carer’s Allowance

Our daily rate is made up of two separate payments: the Arrangement Fee and the Carer’s Allowance. Together, these payments cover the full cost of your dog’s stay, ensuring they receive loving care in a safe and happy home.

Prices listed are per day (or part thereof), except for Bank Holidays, when the Carer’s Allowance is doubled — because we believe our wonderful carers deserve extra for their dedication during these special times!

Arrangement Fee

The Arrangement Fee secures your dog’s booking and is due within five days of meeting your chosen carer. For repeat bookings, this fee must be paid within five days of your requested dates being confirmed by PetStay.

This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, as it covers the service provided by your local PetStay branch in carefully matching your dog with a suitable carer. It also contributes to essential operational costs, including:

Carer’s Allowance

The Carer’s Allowance is a separate payment, made directly to your chosen carer when you drop your dog off for their holiday. On Bank Holidays, this allowance is doubled, reflecting the extra commitment and care our carers provide during these times.

Together, the Arrangement Fee and the Carer’s Allowance make up the full daily rate for your dog’s stay.

For more details on Bank Holiday rates or any other inquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Become a PetStay Dog Carer – The Best Role You’ll Ever Have!

Have you ever dreamed of welcoming adorable dogs into your home while enjoying a flexible, home-based role? As a PetStay dog carer, you get to spend quality time with lovable dogs while their owners are away on holiday, enjoy the companionship they bring, and receive a daily allowance – all without the full-time commitment of owning a pet!

Why You'll Love Being a PetStay Dog Carer:

Become a PetStay carer
Become a PetStay carer
Become a PetStay carer
Become a PetStay carer

As a PetStay carer, you’ll have the joy of looking after dogs while their owners enjoy their holidays, knowing their dog is in safe hands. We carefully match dogs to you, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable experience. Whether you want regular four-legged guests or just occasional visitors, you have complete control.

So, if you love dogs and want to enjoy their company in a way that fits your lifestyle, why not join the PetStay family? It’s the paw-fect role for any dog lover!

Please call Jo and Emma for more information and an informal chat

Apply to be a carer

Please fill in the details below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions about becoming a PetStay Carer

You must be a genuine dog lover, have experience of looking after dogs and you need to be home during the day so you have plenty of time to give to the dogs you are caring for. You must have a secure garden and agree to abide by PetStay guidelines. You are allowed to have a dog of your own as long as your dog gets on with other dogs.

If you meet all the requirements listed above, we will come and visit you at your home. We will check the security of the garden, explain PetStay procedures and show you the guidelines each carer needs to follow. If you are happy with everything and we feel you would make a suitable PetStay carer, we would follow up a reference and arrange public liability insurance for you.

Our service is on a one-to-one basis, so only dogs from the same household will stay with you. You are allowed to take up to three dogs from the same household, BUT you choose what you are happy with. We will ask you how many dogs you would like to look after and what sized dog/s you would be happy to care for.

No, the owner will bring any food or treats for the duration of the stay. Any toys, bedding, medication and leads will also be brought.

Yes each dog MUST have up to date vaccinations, have been wormed and treated for fleas. Proof of the vaccinations will be brought to the meeting and shown to you.

All dogs should be taken out each day for walks. When you have your meeting with the owners all routines, including the number and length of walks, will be discussed. The dog is only ever walked on a lead.
We/you would endeavour to contact the owner or the emergency contact. The owner or the emergency contact would be liable for any expenses incurred in taking the dog to the vet.
You will receive a daily allowance starting from £17 per day.
If you are interested in becoming a carer, please ring us for an informal chat and ask any questions or email us with your details and we will come back to you. You can also use the contact form on the ‘contact us’ tab. If we feel you are suitable we would then arrange to visit you at home.

Have a browse through some of the latest reviews for PetStay South Essex your local home dog boarding service for the South Essex area.

Stella, Sefi & Obi

March 2025

Just brilliant! It was so nice to be away and not have to worry. I knew they were having their own holiday and being spoilt, which was confirmed by the photos sent of them taking over the sofa, not to mention some bathing on the sun lounger! With the house being located right next to the woodland and with a lovely back garden they were bound to be kept occupied watching for squirrels. Thank you so much for taking such good care of Stella, Sefi, and Obi, they had such a wonderful stay.

Marie

Buddy

July 2024

I trust Jo and Mick to look after and care for our precious Buddy. He has been a couple of times now and he loves it there. He is totally at home and is treated as part of their family. All his needs are catered for and we have total peace of mind while we are away. We wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Lynda

Buddy

May 2024

Just picked up Buddy from Jayne and Phil and would just like to pass on our thanks to them for taking such good care of him, he really didn’t want to come home. Could really tell he had been loved and cared for and had a whale of a time during his holiday with them and made plenty of new doggy friends on his walks. Will definitely be recommending PetStay, and especially Jayne and Phil, to anyone who asks for someone to look after their fur babies.

Stuart

Donny and Phoebe

February 2024

I just wanted to write to say how wonderful Dawn and Peter were with our two French Bulldogs (Donny and Phoebe). They sent me photos of them looking completely at home which was wonderful. When I collected them yesterday you could see how much they’d enjoyed having them and they’d cared for them so wonderfully. They are such lovely people and thank you for matching them with Donny and Phoebe. They looked like they had a wonderful time there.

Many thanks
Helen

Julia

June 2023

My two dogs are well looked after and they love to stay with Joanne and Mick.

Helen

September 2022
The dog had a lovely holiday. Lots of walks, fuss and play. Perfect

Lenny

August 2022

Right from the start the whole process of booking a pet sitter was brilliant. The friendly, helpful and professional service made me worry less about leaving our dog Lenny when we went away. We got Lenny as a rescue 2 years ago and he can be quite nervous sometimes, especially around other dogs. We knew a kennel wouldn’t be right for him and needed to find an alternative. PetStay arranged for him to stay with Mandy and Garry while we were away and I honestly couldn’t be more pleased with the love and care he received from them. For a dog who doesn’t like to be away from us I don’t actually think he was bothered if he came back with us or not! He had a lovely time and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend PetStay to anyone.

Mr & Mrs Taylor

Isaac & Jack

June 2022

We have used PetStay a number of times for our two Labradors, Isaac and Jack and have been very happy with the service. Recently they have been staying with Jayne, which they seem to enjoy very much, and that gives us a lot of confidence and piece of mind while we are away. Jayne was very good with them and kindly kept us updated with regular pictures and messages during their stay. When we have had last minute issues Jo and Emma have always managed to come up trumps, even on one occasion looking after our two themselves. I have no hesitation recommending PetStay – we will certainly continue to use them in the future.

Michael

Rachel

June 2022

It’s great to know someone is loving your dog while you’re away. I can’t say how thankful I am to PetStay and especially Maureen, my George’s mum for the week.. A MASSIVE THANK YOU.

Adam

May 2022

Wonderful care for my puppy, felt really comfortable and she was happy as ever when I returned. Thanks very much PetStay; highly recommend your services.

Foxy

May 2022


I left my “Foxy” with Kate for almost a week. Very professional and pleasant service!

I managed to have a holiday at peace of mind knowing that my dog was being looked after… And undisturbed! (bar a couple of cute happy pics, which was a nice surprise).

Mordechai

Buddy

May 2022

Just picked up Buddy from Mandy and Garry and would just like to pass on our thanks to them for taking such good care of him, he really didn’t want to come home!! Didn’t think he could have been more loved and cared for outside his home but Mandy and Garry were absolutely fantastic. Will definitely be recommending PetStay, and especially Mandy, to anyone who asks for someone to look after their fur babies.

Stuart

Charlie

October 2021

Thank you to Mandy from Petstay Essex who looked after our Charlie while we were away for 4 days. He was very happy & well looked after and will definitely use Mandy again.

Paula

Bertie

August 2021

This is the first time I have had to find someone to look after my precious Bichon, Bertie, since moving to Essex late last year. Through PetStay, I was put in touch with Mandy. We went along for an initial meeting and Bertie seemed very happy in the company of both Mandy and Garry, so I was happy to leave him with them. I have to say that both my husband and myself are beyond delighted with the way that Bertie was looked after! Indeed, he was more than looked after, he was loved by them and I am truly grateful. Bertie seemed to be perfectly at home when we went to pick him up and I believe he has missed them. What a super couple they are – Bertie is already booked to go to them at the end of the year when we go to my son’s wedding.

Mari

Albey

July 2021

Albey is only 11 months old and a lockdown puppy , he is a very nervous puppy and has never been away from me or my children. I was extremely concerned when we booked our holiday and got in touch with PetStay who made me feel very at ease and listened to everything I mentioned about Albey .

I met Maureen in May and she was lovely made me feel very comfortable on leaving Albey with her for 5 nights.

I was very nervous & upset when I dropped Albey off before my holiday and Maureen assured me he would be fine , I texted Maureen everyday and she updated me on how Albey was doing, and he must of had a great time as when I went to collect him he stood by Maureen and just looked at me!

Thank you PetStay and Maureen for a very easy and professional experience

Happy Customer

Coco

July 2021

Coco had a lovely time staying with Victoria, great service as always.

Venus

Lulu

June 2021

We would like to pass on our thanks to Jo and Mick for giving us a worry free minibreak last week. Lulu 11 years old, is our latest rescue dog and from our initial visit made us all so welcome and reassured as this was Lulu’s first time away from us. She looked so at home and has shown no sign of having missed us!

Maria & Harry

Patch & Archie

June 2021

This was Patch and Archie’s first stay with Jo, we were recommended by a neighbour who have used Jo & PetStay for a number of years. We were a little concerned about leaving our dogs particularly Patch who we rescued and can be a little vocal. However we had no need to worry, Jo made us feel very much at ease and explained the dogs are very much part of the family whilst staying with them.

Archie and Patch thoroughly enjoyed their stay and were very happy and relaxed when we returned to pick them up. I would highly recommend using Jo to look after your dogs

Happy Customer

Barney

August 2020

Our 7 year old Doberman Barney has been Staying with Jo and the Petstay South Essex family since he was a puppy.

He is always very happy and excited to see them and he settles straight in every time they have him.

It’s always difficult to leave our fur baby when we go away but Jo and her sitters send us photos and videos of our boy and he gets plenty of love and attention.

Can’t thank Jo, Mick and the girls enough for being so wonderful and treating him like part of their own family.

Myrna Clement

Barbara

February 2020

Good morning Jo and Emma,

Oh my goodness Peter and Dawn what can I say ? What a super couple !

We are so pleased to have discovered you having not needed this kind of service in the 11 years we’ve had Barb. From the moment she put her paws through the door she was welcomed into their home. Whilst away I had regular contact and photos and could see she was having the time of her life and clearly being loved- what more could I ask.

Thank you very much for introducing us and I will be in contact in the next few days to re-book with ‘Uncle Peter & Aunty Dawn’ (& granddaughter Daisy)

Kate, family AND Barbara XX

Bobby

February 2020

Absolutely, everything was fantastic with Bobby’s stay with Dawn & Peter so we’re really pleased. Review below:

We contacted PetStay at relatively short notice with a request for someone to look after our puppy Bobby who was being left for the first time. Jo introduced us to Dawn and Peter who were lovely and from the first meeting we felt confident they were the right people to look after Bobby for us. The listened to our requests and treated Bobby like a member of their family and were so kind to send multiple pictures/messages per day to let us know how he was getting on. Bobby loved it and we’re definitely going to book again!

Adam & Evlynne

Here are some of our recent home dog boarding guests that have used PetStay South Essex, your local home dog boarding service for the South Essex area.

Contact Details

To find out more or to arrange a visit to one of our carers in the South Essex area, please get in touch using the details below.

You can also get in touch to find out more about becoming a PetStay dog carer

PetStay South Essex have been awarded an Animal Activity 5* rating by Castlepoint Council

Licence number: 115

New Customer Enquiry

Pet Information

Dog 1
Dog 2
New Carer Enquiry

Contact PetStay - Your local Home Dog Boarding Service

Five Star Home Dog Boarding service in the South Essex area