The Salisbury Dog Retreat

26/07/2026

Just for fun… spotted this in New York City. Puppy yoga & Pilates 🧘‍♀️ 😂🐶💕👏🫶

26/07/2026

Rain! Whohoo!

26/07/2026

Did we make the right decision? Yes, wholeheartedly… 🥰🐶💕🐾

Becoming a licensed dog boarder last year wasn’t a decision that we took lightly - as there is so much to do in order to become licensed and to maintain your licensed status - all requiring much preparation, time, training, cost, planning and administration.

In fact… we looked into it and we decided against it initially as there was just soooo much involved! It seemed like a mountain to climb! 🧗‍♂️

We look back now and we are so pleased that we did go down this road… as it’s been such a pleasure looking after so many different dogs young and old, large & small. And we have learned important lessons too - along the way!

We are very “niche” and small scale … providing just home boarding services in our family home for just one household at a time - and within that niche… solely for dogs who will settle & sleep in our utility room & not in our bed or bedroom! We don’t just board dogs - we also have main careers too with Marie managing a team of 12 at Salisbury and South Wilts Physiotherapy and Harnham Physiotherapy, Johnny working in engineering and Cerys about to start A-Levels.

We still love having dogs to stay. 💕🐶💕

We are open about costing more as we often only have 1-2 dogs rather than up to 6. And we have no dogs or pets of our own - so when we have guest dogs we totally change & adapt our schedules, routines, commitments & plans & revolve around the dog’s needs & routines. And we still love it! 🥰

No one size fits all and Salisbury is so blessed to have so many service providers to suit so many different needs and for daycare & boarding and do check that they are registered and licensed - thus legal & insured. Ask on site to see a license as it’s required to be shown and on display. Check on the Wiltshire Council website or on their website / social media - it’s a requirement to display a license number online.

Apart from November availability - We are booked solid now until well into January 2027 so do get your dates in early for next year to avoid disappointment. 🙏

🐶💕🥰🐶💕🥰🐶💕🥰

25/07/2026

We so love the variety of guests that our boarding brings and this week has certainly been busy with boards & 24h trials! All with different routines, preferences, characters & needs. One household at a time ensures we focus solely on your needs and that works pawfectly for us 🥰🐶 🐾 💕

23/07/2026

Note to self... don't forget to book your own holidays!!! 🏖️
Calendar update... 👇

23/07/2026

😞

A rogue dog boarder was spared jail after a beloved family pooch died when he was left unattended on a hot day💔🐾.

Charlotte Sutton, 26, left pooch Hero alone at her property for a "significant period" during high summer temperatures, leading to his tragic death on August 2, 2024.

Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard how Sutton was operating an unlicensed home dog boarding business in Essex, despite repeated warnings and guidance from Braintree District Council regarding legal requirements.

Sutton was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and also pleaded guilty to carrying out an animal boarding business without a licence.

District Judge Williams handed Sutton a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, pay a £154 victim surcharge, and pay £10,000 towards the council's prosecution costs.

Speaking after the sentencing, Hero's heartbroken owner Leighanne Ship spoke out to urge all pet parents to check their boarder's credentials.

"Whilst nothing will ever bring Hero back, we finally have justice for him and some measure of closure," Leighanne shared. "We hope Hero's story serves as a reminder of the importance of using properly licensed animal boarding providers and of the immense responsibility that comes with caring for someone else's beloved pet."

"If sharing our experience prevents even one family from suffering the heartbreak, uncertainty and anguish that we have endured, then Hero's legacy will continue to protect others." 🐶❤️

23/07/2026

A £10,154 penalty does not make it right for anyone for losing their dog like this 😢. More awareness needs to be raised to understand that dog boarding is an activity that legally requires a licence. This ensures appropriate standards of training, setting & care 🥺.

Beware of boarders listed on Rover etc. There is no checking of licenses.

Sutton was found guilty of a second offence - trading without the appropriate licence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. She was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, to contribute £10,000 towards Braintree District Council's prosecution costs and pay a victim surcharge of £154.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8ln450w5jo?app-referrer=deep-link

A dog owner said she felt "rage and anger" after her family's pet died in the care of an unlicensed boarder.

18/07/2026

Do you know what the vital signs are for your dog?

Panting heavily for no good reason is an early indicator of something wrong and should ALWAYS be investigated.

A dog can’t tell you that something is wrong.

We highly recommend basic courses with Animal Love Pet First Aid - whether in person or online. It’s not expensive and it’s accessible to all. The vet Sophie Bell is absolutely brilliant.

Marie, Johnny & Cerys have all undertaken training with Sophie’s company because we want to deliver the best care. And it’s also a legal requirement for licensed dog boarders.

Obviously there’s far more to observe but vital signs are critical observations to act on swiftly.

And just like humans - a raised respiratory rate for no good reason is one of the earliest indicators that something is wrong

🙏💕

18/07/2026

A huge thank you to Avon Lodge Veterinary Group for your care yesterday. Your reception team & staff were all so lovely & helpful & thorough.

All licensed boarders are required to be registered with a local vet or two and we always monitor a dog’s health closely for health changes and keep an owner informed - especially if we are concerned about something that could be an acute medical emergency.

If a dog has a local vet we would contact them of course.

Your dog’s health is always our priority. We deliberately only have dogs from one household at a time whilst having none of our own. We get to know them & we monitor them very closely.

We rarely need veterinary services but when we do - a swift, reliable, thorough & reassuring response is so wonderful. 💕👌

‼️ And because we are licensed and therefore legal - we know that there is no risk of the vet keeping the dog and contacting the dog warden to take the dog‼️

Do stick to licensed boarders - we have all undergone training in canine health & care as well as inspections and your dog is in very safe hands. 💕🙏.

And so lovely to hear that the Vet herself had heard such lovely things about us! 🥰🥰

Providing exceptional care of your pets in Salisbury, Amesbury and Wilton

16/07/2026

Check your boarder is licensed. Always.

CONVICTED | Gary and Eden Hopkins, née Eden Edwards, most recently of Kirkmuirhill, near . Lanarkshire ML11 – operated a horrific illegal dog boarding business from their home.

A Scottish SPCA inspector attended the Hopkins’ address in July 2025 after being contacted by the owner of a 12-year-old lurcher named Monty.

The elderly pet had been returned to the woman in a state of distress, with huge open sores on his legs, and saturated in urine. Veterinary examination showed Monty’s hocks had infected wounds and been drastically swollen for several days.

Inside the couple's home, the inspector discovered seven dogs kept in cramped, broken, and stacked cages with no bedding or access to water. The room was extremely warm and the dogs were panting heavily.

The inspector said: “I was absolutely shocked at what we saw and the conditions they we kept in. The dogs were petrified and cowering away. They had tried to cram as many dogs as possible into each cage.

“One cage had a doberman and a collie so badly confined their legs were tightly intertwined and they couldn’t move at all. The base of their cage was wet and sticky, and they had no access to water.

“Stacked on top, was another small cage containing a Staffordshire bull terrier. The dog’s head, nose and tail were touching the bars on all sides, he had no space to stand and turn.

“Another cage held four dogs. The environment was completely unsuitable, and it was horrific to see.”

When released from their cages, the pets were frantic. They passed copious amount of urine, indicating that they had been confined to cages for hours.

The dogs were seized and taken to a Scottish SPCA centre .

All were scanned for microchips, and six were returned to their owners. The remaining dog, a pug named Bella, belonged to the Hopkins. She was kept for ongoing treatment, and later signed into the care of the society.

Gary and Eden Hopkins pleaded guilty to breaching animal welfare legislation and were given a paltry two-year ban on owning or keeping dogs.

The Scottish SPCA inspector said: “While we welcome the sentencing, we are concerned that without a longer-term ban, they will go on to get other animals a`nd subject them to similar circumstances.”

Sentencing |
Eden Hopkins: 60-day restriction of liberty order
Gary Hopkins: 160 hours of unpaid work.
Two-year ban in relation to dogs only (expires June 2028).

https://ukanimalcrueltyfiles.org/kirkmuirhill-south-lanarkshire-gary-and-eden-hopkins/

https://www.scottishspca.org/news/hopkins-unlicensed-boarders-banned-2026/

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/i-will-never-trust-boarders-again-after-my-dog-was-abused

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Eden Hopkins is originally from and retains family links to the town.

The couple have also lived in , G15 and , Glasgow G14.

The couple, who are also believed to be backyard breeders, have shown little remorse for their shocking cruelty to helpless dogs and have apparently bragged that they will move to a new area and “start again”.