The votes are in! We asked you to choose your very favorites in the pet world, from the groomer who makes your canine look like a million dollar dog to the cat toy that drives your feline wild. We’re proud to present your favorites and shine the spotlight on some of Washington, D.C.’s very best.

Best Place for Agility/Instruction

Winner

A Click Above
19277 Evergreen Mills Rd, Leesburg, VA
(703) 779-9955 • AClickAbovellc.com

Runner-up

WOOFS! Dog Training Center
4241-A North Pershing Dr, Arlington, VA
(703) 536-7877

Best Vet Practice

Winner

Capital Cat Clinic
923 N Kenmore St, Arlington, VA
(703) 522-1995 • CapitalCat.com

Runner-up

Bradley Hills Animal Hospital
7210 Bradley Blvd, Bethesda, MD
(301) 365-5448 • BradleyHills.com

Other Favorites

CityPaws Animal Hospital
Friendship Hospital for Animals
Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine
Union Veterinary Clinic

 

Best Vet

Winner

Dr. Marcus Brown
Capital Cat Clinic
923 N Kenmore St, Arlington, VA
(703) 522-1995 • CapitalCat.com

Runner-up

Dr. Kurt Phillips
Dr. Charles Weiss
Bradley Hills Animal Hospital
7210 Bradley Blvd, Bethesda, MD
(301) 365-5448 • BradleyHills.com

Other Favorites

Dr. Sarah Bowman/CityPaws
Dr. Herman Fernandes/Capital Cat Clinic
Dr. Margaret Hollis/Dupont Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Wendy Knight/CityPaws

 

Best Holistic Vet/Practice

Winner

Dr. Kim Danoff
Veterinary Holistic & Rehabilitation Center
360 Maple Ave, West, Stes A & B, Vienna, VA
(703) 938-2563 • VetRehab.org

Runner-up

Dr. Jane Morse
Ballston Animal Hospital
5232 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
(703) 528-2776 • BallstonAnimalHospital.vetsuite.com

Other Favorites

Dr. Harold Alterman/Emergency Veterinary Clinic
Del Ray Animal Hospital

 

Best Cat Food

Winner

Hill’s Science Diet
(800) 445-5777 • HillsPet.com

Runner-up

Purina
(314) 982-1000 • Purina.com

Other Favorites

Iams
Innova Evo
Wellness

Best Cat Treats

Winner

Pounce
PounceCat.com

Runner-up

Whiskas Temptations
(800) 525-5273 • Whiskas.com

Other Favorites

Catnip
Feline Greenies
Hill’s
Whisker Lickins’

Best Cat Toy

Winner

Catnip

Runner-up

Furry Mice

Other Favorites

Cat Dancer
Catnip Fish
Fat Cat, Inc. Kitty Hoots
Laser Pointer
Yeowww! Green

Best Pet Supply Store

Winner

Petsmart
Various locations
Petsmart.com

Runner-up (Pet Supply Store)

GreenPets
1722 14th St NW, Washington, DC
(202) 986-7907

Other Favorites (Pet Supply Store)

The Big Bad Woof
Nature’s Nibbles
PetMAC

Best Dog Bakery

Winner

Dogma Gourmet Dog Bakery
and Boutique
2445 N Harrison St, Arlington, VA
(703) 237-5070 • DogmaBakery.com

Runner-up

Organic Doggy Kitchen
(703) 532-PETS • OrganicDogs.com

Other Favorites

Barkley Square Gourmet Dog Bakery
and Pet Boutique
Doggie Style Bakery
Fetch Dog & Cat Bakery-Boutique

Best Pet Photographer

Winner

Lil’ Pals Pet Photography
(multiple locations)
LilPalsPhoto.com

Runner-up

Tamela Kemp
(301) 526-5683 • TamelaKemp.com

Best Overnight Boarding

Winner

Linda Welch
Dogs by Day and Nite
1724 14th St, Washington, DC
(202) 986-6301 • DogsByDay.com

How does it feel to be a Readers’ Choice Award winner for two categories?
We are so flattered! And gratified. From the very beginning, our goal at Dogs By Day has always been to be the best overnight boarding and doggie daycare facility. I’m excited that your readers feel we’ve succeeded!

How long have you been in your profession?
Dogs By Day opened in 1999, so it’s now eight wonderful years.

What drew you to it?
When we opened Dogs By Day, cage-less daycare and boarding for dogs was nearly unheard of. The only choice available to most pet [guardians] was to lodge their dogs in caged kennels. Dogs weren’t meant to live that way, and we knew we needed to offer something better: the kind of cage-less environment that [people] wanted and their
dogs deserved.

What is your favorite part of the job?
The support of our loyal customers, who love us for taking care of their dogs almost as much as we love their dogs!

Any crazy stories to share?
Oh, my goodness; when you have 80 dogs visiting you every day, that pretty much is your crazy story!

Do you have any pets at home?
Yes, I have two beautiful Saint Bernards, Ares and Apollo; they’re my babies!

How do think your industry has changed over the years?
We when started out, the idea of dog daycare was new to many people, and we had to explain to them its virtues and value. But as more and more people have used our services over the years, having a daycare facility for your dog has become the rule, not the exception.—KB

Runner-up (Overnight Boarding)

Capital Cat Clinic
923 N Kenmore St, Arlington, VA
(703) 522-1995 • CapitalCat.com

Other Favorites (Overnight Boarding)

All Dogs Club
Ana’s Ark Doggie Depot
Dog-ma Daycare and Boarding
WOOFS! Dog Training Center

Other Favorites (Doggie Daycare)

All Dogs Club
Ana’s Ark Doggie Depot
Dog-ma Daycare and Boarding
Wagtime Pet Spa & Boutique

Best Pet-Friendly Outdoor Cafe/Bar

Winner

Java Shack
2507 N Franklin Rd, Arlington, VA
(703) 527-9556 • JavaShack.com

Runner-up

Helix Lounge
1430 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC
(202)-462-9001 • LoungeDC.com

Other Favorites

Argonaut

Best Groomer

Winner

Collette Bischow
GreenPets
1722 14th St NW, Washington, DC
(202) 986-7907

Runner-up

Old Towne School for Dogs
529 Oronoco St, Alexandria, VA
(703) 836-7643 • OTSFD.com

Other Favorites

Capital Cat Clinic
For Pet’s Sake
Gigi’s Pet Salon

 

Best Dog Walking/Pet Sitting

Winner

Sit-A-Pet in Arlington
(703) 243-3311 • SitAPet.com

Runner-up

Karing by Kristina
(703) 329-1043 • KaringByKristina.com

Other Favorites

Cats Only
Tails of the City
The Doggie Walkers

Best Dog Food

Winner

Hill’s Science Diet
(800) 445-5777 • HillsPet.com

Runner-up

Merrick
(800) 664-7387 • MerrickPetCare.com

Other Favorites

Iams
Purina
Solid Gold

Best Dog Treats

Winner

Greenies
(816) GREENIES • Greenies.com

Runner-up

Organic Doggy Kitchen
(703) 532-PETS • OrganicDogs.com

Other Favorites

Beggin’ Strips
Milk-Bone
Nylabone
Trader Joe’s

 

Best Dog Toy

Winner

Kong
(303) 216-2626 • KongCompany.com

Runner-up

Tennis ball

Other Favorites

AKC Dog Toys
Rawhide Bone
Rope Toys
Squeaky Toys

Best Dog Park

Winner

Shirlington Park
2601 S Arlington Mill Dr,
Arlington, VA
ArlingtonDogs.org

Runner-up

Congressional Cemetery
1801 E St SE, Washington, DC
CemeteryDogs.org

Other Favorites

Clarendon Park
Glencarlyn Park
Lincoln Park
Walter Pierce Park

Best Dog Leash/Collar

Winner

Premier Gentle Leader Headcollar
and Easy Walk Harness
(888) 640-8840 • GentleLeader.com

Runner-up

Planet Dog
(800) 381-1516 • PlanetDog.com

Other Favorites

Bella Bean
Hartz
Martingdale
Up Country

Best Trainer/Training Class

Winner

Rachel Jones (see profile on page 12)
K-9 Divine
1325 11th St NW, Washington, DC
(202) 306-9876 • K-9Divine.com

How does it feel to be a Readers’ Choice Award winner?
It is an honor and a pleasure to be acknowledged for doing a job I love.

How long have you been in your profession?
Almost five years.

What drew you to your profession?
I wanted a job where I could hang out with dogs all day and make an impact on people’s lives.

What is your favorite part of the job?
Doing my small part to create a happier home life for people and dogs, and seeing those happy, enthusiastic doggie faces when I come over for
a lesson.

Any crazy stories to share?
I have never been bitten on the job, except for the time I was opening the client’s front door and I looked down to see a Chihuahua hanging from my hand. So I went in the house and said, “OK, you don’t need to tell me about your behavior problem.”

Do you have any pets at home?
My two best friends, Ace and Shadow, both
rescue mutts.

How do think your industry has changed over the years?
I’m happy to report that the dog training industry is moving toward positive reinforcement methods and achieving a better understanding of dog psychology, as opposed to using punishment and physical force to get results. —Kristina Buen

Runner-up

Old Towne School For Dogs
529 Oronoco St, Alexandria, VA
(703) 836-7643 • OTSFD.com

Other Favorites

A Click Above
Greenbelt Dog Training
Teresa Hanula/A Dog’s World
WOOFS! Dog Training Center