Face it. You’ll never be able to relax on vacation if you’re worrying about your pet’s well-being. The solution? Board your dog or cat at one of these stellar spots. The little heartbreakers will have such a good time, they won’t even miss you.

The Dog Ranch

9602 Dalecrest Dr., 713-465-2275, Spring Branch; houstondogranch.com

If the thought of man’s best friend boarding in a rustic cabin in an Old West town makes you happy—and it should—this is the place. Cabins come equipped with ceiling fans, comfortable bedding, and flat-screen TVs. You heard us—flat-screen TVs.

Meadowlake Pet Resort

13500 Furman Rd., 713-300-3957, Pearland; meadowlakepetresort.com

This place features nature trails for long walks, a diving pool and dock, relaxing music for dogs, and indoor/outdoor suites with patios for kitties. Wait, do we need a weekend there?

Rover Oaks

2550 W. Bellfort St., 713-234-6624, Southwest Houston; 
24250 Kingsland Blvd., 281-751-6995, Katy; roveroaks.com

Splurge on a VIP package—available for both dogs and cats—and your pet will enjoy gourmet treats, plenty of play time, and perhaps even a luxury suite or kitty condo. There’s even story-time and tuck-in service—aww. 

There are some pet owners for whom only the highest-quality oatmeal-blueberry-vanilla facial will do—for their pet. (Yes, that’s a real thing.) Or maybe they don’t have the time or skills to shape their poodles into the correct poodle shapes. Anyway, here are three of Houston’s best groomers sure to get whatever job you need done in style.

Kickapoo Ranch Pet Resort

23230 Kickapoo Rd., Waller 936-931-9480; kickapooranchpetresort.com

If the sky’s the limit, there’s only one place in Houstonia to take your pet: the Kickapoo Ranch Pet Resort. Situated on 40 acres of land northwest of Cypress, the ranch offers luxury spa services such as deep conditioning wraps, aromatherapy, facials, “pawdicures,” and more. They’ll even pick up and drop off your dog or cat in their own customized pet shuttle.

Demi’s Dog House

239 W. Gray St. 713-942-0688, Midtown; demisdoghouse.com

This inner loop favorite specializes in the personal touch, offering indoor and outdoor play areas where pooches can socialize while waiting to be groomed. The reasonably priced services include furmination, dematting, and teeth brushing. 

Haute Pets

713-862-6900, hautepets.net

Mobile grooming vans have come a long way since Jeff Daniels’s Mutt Cutts in Dumb and Dumber. These groomers-on-the-go offer a full range of services for dogs and cats, from a deodorizing coat spray to blueberry facials, all using eco-friendly, chemical-free products.