Our Journey
It began like most stories do, with love - and a little bit of worry...
When Hema brought home her first dog Buster nearly two decades ago, she struggled with what every pet parent knows too well: someone who would care for her dog the way she did. Back in 2010, pet care in Bangalore was still an afterthought. Daycare or boarding meant a cramped enclosure, a bowl of food and a vague assurance that someone would 'check in' on the dog. So when Hema started to look for a safe place to leave her own dogs she hit a wall. For Hema, then a working engineer, the thought of 'where she could safely leave her dog' brought a knot in the stomach.
That question slowly turned into an idea that was so strong that she decided to build one herself. After completing an entrepreneurship programme at IIM Bangalore and a US accredited pet sitting certification course a pet creche called Petspace was born with a simple mission: The happiest place for dogs. This could only happen when dogs could be dogs - running around with others of their kind!
Growing the pack
The response was immediate and organic. From 2010 onwards Petspace saw a steady increase in pet parents trusting Petspace as their dog's second home. The place turned into play days with activities, overnight boardings, training, grooming and even birthday parties- each one looking more like a family gathering than a commercial event. Nearly everyone was amazed as to how dogs from different homes could get along together.
Petspace soon caught the media's eye and Petspace's journey was featured on TV shows such as "Heavy Petting" on NDTV, TV9 and CNBC, bringing the idea of professional, affectionate dog care into living rooms across India. Newspapers and magazines wrote about how a creche was helping busy professionals adopt and care for pets without fear of neglect.
All in the family
Through the years, the heart of Petspace reassuringly remains unchanged as a family-run business now helmed by Hema's sister Ashik. What sets Petspace apart even today is its refusal to become impersonal. Every addition - from behaviour-based playgroups to special senior-dog routines was shaped by hands-on experience. It grew quietly, mainly through word-of-mouth, wagging tails, and stories that made worried pet parents smile.
Fifteen years on, some of the earliest dogs who lived and grew along with Petspace have crossed the rainbow bridge, but their stories live on in the memory of the team and in younger pups who now bound through the same gates with their limitless energy and love. The team sends updates that are heartwarming and handles emergencies the same way as their own dog. It's just not about making boarding stress-free - it's about making it joyful and giving dogs a second home.
