Your Pet's Happiness. Your Peace of Mind.

KAHU Heart Logo

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Our Philosophy

is embodied by the Hawaiian word KAHU

A KAHU is a guardian, a caretaker, and a beloved attendant entrusted to protect someone precious and valuable.
At Happy Puppy, we are the KAHU for your pets. We see ourselves as their best friends and protectors, dedicated to providing the safe, loving, and attentive care they deserve while you are away.

About Us

Our Heritage

Trusted companion in professional pet care since 2017.

The Happiness Bond

What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to your pet's well-being.

Gold Standard Safety

Following strict protocols to ensure a secure environment.

Your Trusted Partner

Contact us to experience the difference of Happy Puppy.

Personalized Partnership

Care tailored to meet the unique needs of each pet.

Expertise & Enrichment

Providing a safe, comfortable, and stimulating environment.

Extended Family

We are a family extending love to your animal-babies.

It's my Passion
Deborah - Owner

We don't just occupy space — we occupy their hearts.

While in our care, every moment is filled with dedicated, active engagement — no matter the hour. To us, they are never just 'there' — they are cherished.

Our Services

  • Pet Sitting

    Icon Pet Sitting

    • hourglass_top Per Hour Visits: Flexible pop-ins.
    • light_mode Day Slot: 08:00 - 16:00
    • dark_mode Night Slot: 17:00 - 07:00
    • emoji_events Premium 23h: Continuous care cycle.
    In-House In-House
    Hosting Hosting
  • Dog Walking

    Icon Dog Walking

    • beach_access Adventure Choice: Local or Beach walks.
    • timer Tailored Fitness: 15-60 min walks.
    • health_and_safety Safety First: Family Pack walks only.
    • payments Rates Per Dog: Ensures 100% focus and safety.
  • Pet Taxi

    Icon Pet Taxi

    • local_hospital Vet Visits
    • content_cut Grooming Appointments
    • local_taxi General Pet Taxi
    • flight_takeoff Airport Transport
  • Property

    Property Property & Wellness

    • Pet Check-in Pet Check-in
    • House Check-in House Check-in
    • Watering Garden Watering Garden
    • Meet & Greet Meet & Greet
    • Key Management Key Management

Meet Our Loving Sitters

    Client Reviews

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are your standard care time slots?

    To provide a Gold Standard of care, we operate on professional shifts. Bookings must align with these specific slots:

    • Day Sitting / Hosting: 08:00 – 16:00
    • Night Sitting / Hosting: 17:00 – 07:00
    • Premium 23h Care: 08:00 – 07:00 (Full on-call dedication)
    Why are the rates different from a kennel or hotel?

    Unlike a kennel or campsite, you aren't paying for "space"—you are paying for active, 1-on-1 professional monitoring.

    We do not offer long-stay discounts because the level of care actually intensifies over time. Our sitters provide continuous health and stress monitoring. For long stays, our sitters sacrifice their social lives and personal time to ensure your pet is never unattended. Maintaining a safe, high-quality environment for an extended period requires significant mental energy and dedication.

    Feature Standard Kennels Happy Puppy
    Attention 1 Sitter to 20+ Pets 1 Sitter to 1 Family
    Environment Cages / Constant Noise Private Home / Stress-Free
    Safety Unattended at Night Continuous Presence
    Do you use cages or host multiple families?

    Absolutely no cages are used. To maintain a calm, stress-free environment, we only take in one family at a time. This allows us to observe your pet’s unique personality, monitor for ailments, and adjust our care to suit their emotional well-being.

    What happens in a medical emergency?

    Safety is non-negotiable. We require a medical release form and your vet's details. Our sitters are trained to recognize critical ailments like GDV (Bloat) and will initiate immediate veterinary transport while notifying you and management instantly.

    Why is there a surcharge for additional pets (even "low-maintenance" ones)?

    As your Kahu, we don't just "watch" pets; we are legally and ethically responsible for their entire well-being.

    Even if a cat has a self-feeder, they still require professional monitoring. A Kahu must ensure the equipment is functioning, monitor the pet's health and stress levels, and maintain hygiene—like locating and cleaning litter boxes tucked away in spare bathrooms.

    The Kahu Standard: Every additional pet adds a layer of complexity to the safety of the home. We charge for the mental energy and accountability required to ensure that no animal—no matter how small or "easy"—is ever overlooked or neglected while in our care.

    Can I pay for only 'some' of my pets if the others are easy?

    No. To maintain the Kahu Standard, we provide care for the entire family.

    It is impossible—and unkind—to provide love, play, and stimulation to some pets while ignoring others in the same home. This creates immense stress, jealousy, and potential safety risks within the pack.

    The Kahu Mission: We are guardians of your entire household's emotional well-being. We do not "pick favorites." Our surcharges ensure that every single pet receives the attention, monitoring, and professional safety they deserve, ensuring no one is left feeling abandoned in their own home.

    Do you offer house sitting for vacant homes?

    Yes. For homes without pets, we provide security checks, mail collection, and garden care to ensure your property remains secure and looks lived-in. This includes our signature physical pull test on all exit points.

    Why do you charge an extra fee for more than 2 pets?

    Our base rates are calculated around South African municipal bylaws, which set the standard threshold at two pets per residential household. Caring for a third or fourth pet brings additional hands-on work for our sitters—including extra feeding routines, waste cleanup, medication management, individual attention, and physical monitoring. The extra pet fee accounts for this additional labor and care, ensuring every pet receives the full attention and safety monitoring they deserve.

    What is your cancellation policy for holidays?

    To protect our sitters during high-demand peak seasons, service fees are non-refundable. However, we maintain a Fair-Play Policy:

    • Service Fees: Used to compensate the sitter for the lost booking.
    • Logistics (Travel & Coastal): 100% is returned as a Happy Puppy Credit.
    • Validity: Credits are valid for 12 months in your profile "Vault".
    Is the Meet & Greet fee refundable?

    We charge for the Meet & Greet upfront to value our sitters' time and professional advice. However, we reward committed families with the Kahu Loyalty Gift:

    If you book a second stay with the same sitter within 6 months, the initial M&G service fee is deducted from that invoice as a gift.

    *Valid for bookings over R300. Non-redeemable for cash.

    Why is there a "Coastal Fee" on my invoice?

    Coastal air contains high levels of salt mist that causes rapid vehicle corrosion. This fee helps our sitters maintain their vehicles whenever they are parked Outside or under a Carport at your property.

    We use a Precision Unit System based on exposure levels:

    • Day Exposure: 1.0 Unit
    • Night Exposure: 1.5 Units (Due to heavy night mist)
    • Premium 23h Exposure: 2.5 Units (Full cycle protection)

    Note: If you provide a fully enclosed garage, this fee is waived.

    Garden Route Veterinary Directory medical_services

    We have provided this directory of veterinary facilities across the Garden Route for your convenience. For critical emergencies, Mossel Bay Animal Hospital is a primary resource as they possess the specialized medical equipment required for advanced urgent care.

    Professional Grooming Partners content_cut

    Keep your furry friends looking and feeling their best. Book our Pet Taxi to safely transport your pets to and from these trusted local grooming salons.