Award-winning, Fear Free Certified, professional pet minding, support and wellbeing team based in Adelaide

At Hand To Paw, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care for pets with behaviour disorders and mental health challenges. Every pet receives personalised care in their own home tailored to their needs, routines, and temperament.

Our committed minders go above and beyond to ensure every pet feels safe, loved, and at ease, while providing owners with complete peace of mind that their pets are in highly experienced and capable hands.

About Hand to Paw

Our Mission

Industry recognised Hand To Paw is dedicated to providing reliable and exceptional care to all pets by prioritising their emotional wellbeing alongside physical health.

Why Choose Us

The Hand to Paw team are committed to providing positive experiences and relieving fear, anxiety and stress in every pet at every visit and every interaction.

We are leaders and educators in expert level pet care, and highly regarded by pet owners and veterinary professionals across Adelaide and interstate. We work closely with Pawly Understood and other veterinary clinics, veterinarians and consulting services for pets that suffer behavioural challenges.

Hand to Paw are a platform for students studying the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) Degree and Bachelor of science in Animal Behaviour, and people working in clinic settings to gain valuable experience in animal behaviour.

Our Values

genuine love for animals
build trust with pets and their owners
create a safe and comfortable environment
passionate about caring for pets
understand behavioural needs for pets
keep to existing routines to support pets feel reassured and confident
create a calm, reliable, and predictable environment for pets in care
educate pet owners and the wider community on the challenges of owning and caring for pets with special needs
update and reassure owners every step of the way

Hands down, Hand to Paw have provided us with the most seamless pet minding service and would 100% recommend them to anyone looking for a quality pet minder

Our Services

Overnight Care Options

We offer a range of overnight care services designed around the pets individual needs, routine, treatment plan, and comfort level. The key difference between each option is the length of time the pet can be comfortably left alone.

Standard

Overnight care with consistent evening and morning routine. Pets are settled and able to be left independently during the day. Suitable for pets who are comfortable being left alone for several hours during the day.

Premium

Extended overnight care with increased daytime presence, providing additional companionship, engagement, and reassurance throughout the day and evening. Suitable for pets who prefer shorter periods alone and benefit from extra attention.

Specialised

Tailored overnight care for pets with high anxiety, medical needs, or behavioural sensitivities. This service provides a constant presence for pets who cannot be left alone and/or require ongoing support and reassurance. Ideal for pets who feel safest with someone by their side at all times.

Day Care

Dedicated care and companionship for pets tailored to the pets individual needs and pace. Day care is typically provided within day time hours from 3-7 hours. Custom durations can be arranged.

Pet Check In Visits

Perfect for pets who benefit from care and attention throughout the day or early evening. Each visit is tailored to the pets individual needs and routine, including meal times, exercise, relaxation, and medication administration.

Enrichment and Wellbeing

Thoughtfully tailored sessions for pets, providing a balance of activity, stimulation, and relaxation. Activities are based on the pets personality, likes, age, and energy levels. Experiences may include dog walking, adventure walks, mental enrichment, relaxation, and massage,

Meet the Team

Hand to Paw minders are dedicated to pet care and wellbeing, committed to Fear Free values, and loyal to Hand to Paw. Minders are experienced and knowledgeable in dog and cat behaviour as well as behaviour medication.

Minders are Fear Free Certified, Dog Bite Prevention Educated, Pet First Aid Trained, Police Cleared, and Public Liability and Transit Insured.

Incredible service from Vicki and her team. The dedication, love, and commitment was second to none for my Fred. Highly recommend, there is no one better

Vicki

Founder, Owner, and Director Hand to Paw

Owner of a Special Needs dog named Marley. Passionate pet advocate where pet and minder safety, health and wellbeing is a priority.

Manage, educate, provide training, and chair team meetings and staff reviews. Provide 24/7 support to minders.

Studying Pet Grief and Loss Counselling.

Former Operations Manager at the Australian Veterinary Behaviour Services led by Dr Tracey Henderson BSC BVMS MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)

Livia

Veterinary student studying the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) Degree.

Previously studied Bachelor of Veterinary Technology.

Dedicated to animals and contributing to Hand to Paw's goals.

Livia has a calm approach and is recognised for her patience in our shy pets and loving interactions with all pets.

Theo

Veterinary student studying the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) Degree.

Previously studied Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Bachelor of Veterinary Technology.

Passionate about pet care and wellbeing. Loves building trust with pets and their owners to create a safe and comforting environment.

Theo is popular with pets and pet owners for his enthusiastic approach and positive energy.

Sarah

Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services.

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) with Honors.

Owner of Walter the St Bernard who has Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety, 2 horses, and cats in foster care.

Small Animal Hospital Manager at a Veterinary Hospital.

Passionate about caring for pets as if they were her own, and understanding behavioural needs for pets.

Sarah is highly competent and confident in all areas of pet care and wellbeing.

Pharis

Studying Bachelor of Science in Animal Behaviour at Flinders University.

Owner of 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a bearded dragon.

Passionate about animals from a young age, with a background in obedience training.

Pharis has shown dedication to caring for pets in our care, and commitment to understanding each pet's unique needs and personality.

Amy

A lover of all animals.

Worked with explosive detection dogs in Cambodia.

Has 3 rescue dogs including a German Shorthaired Pointer/Bull Arab cross who has been blind since birth and neurodivergent.

Loves keeping to existing routines in order to support pets feel comfortable and confident.

Amy's dedication to pets is clearly reflected in the care she provides.

Kim

Lives in a multi dog household who have special needs.

Dedicated to ensuring each pet feels safe, settled, and understood with a strong focus on wellbeing.

Kim is known for her calm presence, and thoughtful approach to care.

Elsa

Joint owner of a Special Needs dog with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Territorial Aggression, and Fear Related Aggression (dogs).

Holds a Bachelor of Human Nutrition Degree with a strong understanding of the gut-brain connection and it's relevance to animal wellbeing.

Kyle

Owner of 2 dogs with Special Needs. Confident in managing the more challenging behaviour in dogs.

Employed at a Veterinary Centre, experienced in all areas of pet management and client relations.

Kyle is dedicated to the wellbeing of all animals, supporting their physical health, emotional comfort, and daily happiness.

Thank you for making his last few years truly memorable.

He would have not made it this far without the dedication of people like yourself

Fred's story

Fred was the reason I started Hand to Paw. Fred's paw and my hand form the Hand to Paw logo and led to the Hand to Paw name.

Fred was banned from boarding due to his challenging behaviour and at serious risk of behavioural euthanasia.

Fred was highly intelligent, and required extreme management to keep him and others safe. Fred's OCD and types of anxiety resulted in resource guarding with a high bite risk of any object including a knife left on the bench or any item out of place.

Fred and I built a trusting bond. He thrived on routine and a calm and predictable environment. He always greeted me with a soft gallop and wagging tail.

Fred relied on people who were confident, diligent, and skilled body language readers who respected his space and understood his needs.

I have learnt so much about behaviour from Fred, and he will continue his legacy through education and training.

Vicki, Founder and Director, Hand to Paw

Hand to Paw Face of '25

Bebe has been blind from birth and overcome adversity to enjoy her best possible life. Life's obstacles test her at times, but with the right support, she's a shining star.

We can all learn from Bebe. She enjoys the moment. Her ears bounce and smile widens when she runs with the wind. She loves feeling the sun on her back, listening intently to sounds, sniffing the air, and experiencing the grass on her back and textures under her paws.

Bebe shares a household with dogs Dandy and Koa and her amazing owners.

Bebe absolutely loves minder Theo who takes her on sniffari walks and outings. Stunning adventures and a stunning girl.

Hand to Paw Face of '24

DJ suffered significant physical and emotional trauma as a puppy. He was petrified of absolutely everything.

DJ is a regular client of Hand to Paw. He was cautious for the first few visits, but soon realised minder Vicki was his friend. With calm, routine, and respect for his space, he soon approached and jumped in her lap for much love and many cuddles. He even fell into a deep sleep on many occasions.

DJ has come such a long way and its been heartwarming seeing him slowly build confidence and living his best life. DJ's owners adore him to pieces.

Testimonials

From the first contact with Vicki and the initial meet and greet with both Vicki and Amy it was clear how passionate they both were about caring for other dogs. We received regular updates and photos which showed us how settled and happy Leo was. Can not say just how happy we were with the whole service and experience. Highly recommended for people who have dogs that may need some extra attention while they are away. Wendy

We couldn’t be happier with Hand to Paw. Vicki and Livia looked after Scout for three weeks while we were overseas and it’s the best experience we’ve ever had leaving her. The daily updates gave us so much peace of mind, and for the first time we were able to fully enjoy our trip without worrying about her. Thank you both for everything. We highly recommend Hand to Paw and will definitely be using them again. It feels so good to travel knowing Scout is in the best hands!. Dylan

Our anxious girl has separation anxiety and so we were very nervous to leave her, however our minds were very quickly put at rest with Hand to Paw. She clearly had such a good time with Theo. Hand to Paw will treat your dog like a member of the family. Lara

Vicki from Hand to Paw has just completed a wildly successful multi day sit for my anxious young dog who is very fearful of new people. My little girls experience was beyond anything I could have possibly hoped for, thanks to Vicki's care and attention and also her support in getting to know my girl in the lead up to my travel. I am beyond grateful. Jennifer

Vicki's expertise and ability to read the cues of both our dogs enabled up to go on holiday with peace of mind. She understood and managed the anxiety of our high needs dog, and sent us reassuring photos of him chilling out in her care....quite an amazing feat for him to relax with someone other than us. Suzie

Honestly wish I could give more stars. Lando is a shar pei and hates every one. Her calm and kind demeanour made it instantly a pleasant experience (we don't usually have that with new people) I got to fully relax as I knew he was in amazing hands. Victoria

It's not just pet sitting, it's monitoring their behaviours, health, temperament, and more. We received a comprehensive pet minding report on our return and hands down we were so impressed with the whole process. Lucy and Gabor

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible dog walkers who came everyday to walk my Special Needs dog Tuppy during my recent surgery. Your skills and kindness made it possible for me to focus on healing, and I never once had to worry about Tuppy's wellbeing. I could not have had the surgery without your support. Mary

Vicki with her kindness and patience, has taught my dog just through sheer love, that not all humans are bad. He loves Vicki and she now can come into my home. This now gives me peace of mind that if something happens to me, I have Vicki who I can trust in my home and look after my special boy. I think all people who live alone with a pet who has problems should seriously think about who will look after their pet in an emergency. Well I have found someone I can trust. Bronte

Vicki was amazing while overseas. One of my dogs is Special Needs and thrived under Vicki's guidance. Can't recommend highly enough. Siobhan