When Christina Dos Santos opened the doors to Paws at Play Pet Hotel in 2011, she had a simple vision: to create a place where dogs could feel safe, comfortable, and loved while their parents were away. More than a decade later, that vision has blossomed into one of Boksburg, South Africa’s most trusted pet hotels, offering boarding, grooming, training, and even fostering for rescue dogs.
The pet-care business was born out of Christina’s belief that dogs deserve more than just a service—they deserve a joyful experience.
Beyond this vision, Christina aimed to fill an essential need in her area, which she experienced as a dog parent herself. When she planned a trip, she was disheartened to find a lack of kennels in Boksburg available to care for her companion. She ended up canceling her holiday because she had no boarding options.
From the start, the team has focused on building trust with pet parents, knowing how important it is to find safe and caring accommodations.
“It is so important for us to build a deeper level of trust between you, us, and your furry companions,” she said.
Back in the beginning, Paws at Play started with just a handful of wooden kennels. Today, the facility can house 100 dogs and includes brick cottages with Harvey roof tiles, penthouses, and a condo for smaller breeds, providing comfort and a homelike environment for every dog.
Paws at Play is more than a boarding facility—it’s also a dog grooming parlour known for reducing stress and creating a spa-like experience.
“We groom weekly, pick up and drop off in our local areas. Dogs aren't caged during their pampering session,” Christina said.
Grooming takes place in the Powder Room, where each pup enjoys:
And for dogs with separation anxiety, Christina encourages parents to bring a comforting item that smells like home.
The Paws at Play team is dedicated to pet safety and well-being. Staff are trained to:
This ensures every pet is cared for like family.
Christina’s passion extends beyond her paying clients—Paws at Play also fosters and rehabilitates rescues.
She said her favorite part of the job is “working with dogs and saving and the rehabilitation of rescues.”
This mission adds purpose and heart to the business, making it a true community resource.
Running a dog hotel and grooming business with so many moving parts requires organization. That’s where Revelation Pets excels.
Christina loves that it’s user-friendly, integrates with QuickBooks, and provides the actionable business data she needs in reports.
She also appreciates the ability to look back on reservations over the years. "The history on bookings can go back to as many years as you like,” she said.
And her team relies most on the Bookings and Appointments feature to keep things running smoothly.
Christina even found a clever way to become resourceful by relying on her digital tools.
“Putting pictures of dogs on boarding cards has saved me money," she said. "We used to buy hospital tags to tag dogs. Now their photo appears on their boarding card for staff to identify.”
This practical solution reduced costs and created a more professional check-in process.
For Christina, using Revelation Pets has had a direct impact on professionalism and growth.
“It has saved me a lot of money overall and made my life easier and my business more professional," she said. "It is a phenomenal software I would recommend to any dog boarding facility.”
With compassionate care, luxury boarding, and efficient software, Paws at Play has become a leader in dog boarding and grooming in Boksburg.
From five wooden kennels to a facility that now cares for 100 dogs, Christina’s journey is one of passion meeting professionalism. As she continues to expand services and support rescue dogs, Paws at Play stands as an example of what’s possible when you combine love for animals with the right tools for business management.
Want to simplify your pet business operations like Christina? Start your free trial of Revelation Pets today.