We have a deep love for animals and are dedicated to providing the best pet care possible to our clients. To us, pets are family, and caring for other people's furry loved ones is a responsibility we take very seriously. We’ve always enjoyed going on dog walks and love opening our home to the dogs in our daycare and boarding programs.

Hounds of the Hills was founded in February 2012 by Daniel Feldman and Shan Ogdemli, a married couple with two dogs of their own. After their first trip as dog parents, they had to leave their beloved puppy, Bettie Page, at a traditional boarding facility. The experience was far from comforting—they longed for a place where they could leave her in a loving, home-like environment. Inspired by this need, they began a small side business in their Hollywood Hills home, offering the kind of personalized doggie daycare and boarding they wished they’d had. What started as a supplemental income source alongside their art and design businesses quickly grew into a bustling, full-time operation that became incredibly popular.

While on their daily dog walks, Shan and Dan became friends with a neighbor, Hazel Smith, who was often out walking dogs in the neighborhood. Born and raised in Goa, India, Hazel had been providing personal dog walking and pet-sitting services part-time to friends and neighbors since moving to Los Angeles in 2013. In 2018, Shan and Dan offered Hazel a part-time job with Hounds of the Hills, which soon became a full-time role.

During the pandemic in 2020, Hazel’s husband, Eddie Smith III, an animal lover and accomplished music producer, began joining Hazel on her daily dog walks and dog park visits, finding solace in the company of dogs. In May 2021, Shan and Dan announced their plans to move to Hawaii to pursue their art business full-time and began exploring the possibility of selling Hounds of the Hills. Hazel and Eddie immediately expressed interest, and Shan and Dan knew they would be the perfect team to carry on the legacy of Hounds of the Hills.

The transition was seamless, and Hazel and Eddie moved operations to their home in Sherman Oaks, continuing the vision of a home-like setting for doggie daycare and boarding. With their personalized approach, including indoor and outdoor activities, they’ve created a space where dogs feel loved, cared for, and at home. Working with dogs every day has brought Hazel and Eddie immense joy and a profound sense of purpose.