Small numbers, watched properly

Watched Boarding and Daycare for Ipswich Pets

Animal Mash is Mara Ellis’s small boarding and daycare yard in Ipswich for dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. Owners use it when work, travel, house moves or hospital stays need a tidy place with low numbers and plain updates. Mara founded Animal Mash in 2023 after six years working in local kennels and helping local rescue dogs settle before rehoming around Ipswich.

See Stays and Prices How to Book
Yard Ledger 07:42 IP4, Suffolk
Illustrated archive drawing of the Animal Mash yard Line drawings of dog rooms, cat shelves, a hutch mesh, paw paths and webcam time stamps layered like yard record cards. 08:16 settled, bowls washed, yard swept No. 23
Specimen card, not a public livestream private updates only
Daycare Monday to Friday 07:30 to 18:30 Boarding handovers by window only Meet-and-sniff visits before first bookings Vaccination records due 7 days before first stay

Today at the yard

Four Stays, Kept Deliberately Small

01

Daycare

Dog Daycare

£29 full day

07:30 to 18:30, Monday to Friday. Half days up to 5 hours are £18.

Capacity
Low-number group
Window
Monday to Friday, 07:30 to 18:30

1 Daycare dogs sleep harder than owners expect by 14:00.

02

Overnight

Dog Boarding

£36 per night

Includes daytime play and two owner updates. Second dog sharing the same sleeping room is £24.

Capacity
Private sleeping rooms
Window
Mon-Fri 07:30 to 10:00 or 16:00 to 18:30; Sat 08:30 to 10:30; Sun collections only 16:00 to 18:00

2 New dogs complete a meet visit and paid half-day trial first.

03

Cat Cabin

Cat Cabin Stays

£17 per night

Quiet cabin boarding for one cat, or £27 per night for two cats sharing.

Capacity
Single cabin household
Window
Mon-Fri 07:30 to 10:00 or 16:00 to 18:30; Sat 08:30 to 10:30; Sun collections only 16:00 to 18:00

3 Cats usually inspect the shelf before they inspect us.

04

Small Animals

Rabbit and Guinea Pig Boarding

£9 per night

For one rabbit or guinea pig. Bonded pairs sharing are £14 per night.

Capacity
Hutch space by species
Window
Mon-Fri 07:30 to 10:00 or 16:00 to 18:30; Sat 08:30 to 10:30; Sun collections only 16:00 to 18:00

4 Small animals are checked without being fussed into a panic.

How the day runs

A Measured Yard Day, Not Pet-Sitting Theatre

Times move a little for weather and the animals in residence, but this is the working rhythm owners can expect.

  1. Arrivals and quick notes

    Dogs come in through the handover window. Leads, coats, food bags and any behaviour notes are logged before yard time starts.

  2. Settled groups

    Daycare dogs are matched by temperament. Cats and small animals are checked after the dog rush has quietened.

  3. First owner update

    Boarding owners get a plain settled-in note. Nervous animals are not asked to perform for a photograph.

  4. Rest and cleaning

    Bowls, bedding spots, litter trays and hutch areas are dealt with while the yard is calm.

  5. Afternoon photo or clip

    A short useful glimpse is sent when useful, or for daycare and trials where agreed, when the animal is relaxed enough for it to mean something.

  6. Final weekday collection

    The yard closes to visitors. Resident animals get evening checks, food and bedtime without a reception desk running beside them.

Mara’s seasonal note

“We close the gate for handovers from 24 to 27 December. The animals already in still get breakfast, fuss, cleaning and bedtime as usual - I just don’t want strangers arriving while everyone is full of sprouts and fireworks are starting early. Mara.”

Holiday booking reminder

August, Easter and Christmas Fill Early

Boarding is normally booked 2 to 6 weeks ahead. School holidays often fill 8 to 10 weeks ahead. Dogs and cats have a 2 night minimum stay, 3 nights during school holidays and 4 nights over Christmas and New Year.

Check Booking Rules
Founded2023
PlaceIpswich, Suffolk
UpdatesPrivate webcam notes
NumbersKept low
ExerciseNo public off-lead walks