Pet Pals

Pet Pals runs cage-free dog daycare and playgroups out of 278 Salem Street in Woburn, Massachusetts, where the day is built around group play instead of kennel time. The main draw is space: a 50,000 sq ft private dog park with seven separate Pet Turf fields, plus indoor play areas when the weather turns.

What a day looks like

Dogs are sorted into playgroups by size and energy level, so a small dog isn't stuck keeping up with a pack of adolescent retrievers. Puppies get their own groups, and puppy visits include a walk and feeding.

• Cage-free daycare with indoor and outdoor play
• Size- and energy-matched playgroups
• Small dog and puppy playgroups
• Grooming and training
• Pick-up and drop-off transportation

What sets it apart

Seven fields is the detail that matters. It gives staff room to run several groups at once and match dogs by size and energy level instead of putting everyone in one yard. Pet Pals is fully insured and bonded, and a member of Pet Sitters International. Transportation is part of the offering too: a pick-up and drop-off service covers dogs whose owners can't do the midday run.

Practical details

The facility sits at 278 Salem Street in Woburn, open 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. Published rates run from $27 to $56 per day; call for the exact figure that fits a given schedule. Vaccinations are required. Booking happens by phone at (781) 721-7387, and the same number works for questions about the transportation service.