ANNA BOYTSOVA, Business Owner, Hart & Harry’s Pet Resort
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France.
If these words ever needed proof, they would find it in the quiet, determined life of Anna Boytsova. For her, loving animals, just don’t accompany us in dark hours; their association awakens our soul to something deep and transcendental. It is the realization of this inevitable truth that carved the greatest purpose of her life.
From the frosty streets of Yekaterinburg, where her Russian Terrier taught her about silent companionship, to the sunlit sands of Dubai, where she now nurtures hundreds of pets through Hart & Harry’s Pet Resort, Anna Boytsova’s journey is defined by a love so profound that it transcends mere affection. In a world obsessed with technological prowess and economic acceleration, she carries within her a unique rebellion: a determination to build a world where animals live with dignity, safety, and affection – a world that reciprocates the unconditional love that our whiskered and wagging companions so freely offer.
From the Cold Steppes to the Warmth of Compassion
Born in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Anna’s earliest memories were filled with the soft fur, bright eyes, and silent companionship of her family’s Russian Terrier, Grizli. Losing Grizli during her grandmother’s illness left her with an ache that only deepened her bond with animals. At 14, Maks, an Airedale Terrier, entered her life. “He was my best friend, my guard in the night, my therapist through heartbreaks,” she recalls. With Maks, Anna learned a truth many ignore: animals don’t just fill our lives – they shape them with purpose, patience, and soul.
A Journey Woven with Silent Strength
Enchanted by its turquoise sea, porcelain sand, and mountains of seashells, Anna moved to Dubai in 1997. She worked her way up in Administration, HR, Compliance, and Operations at companies like Nakheel, RA International, and Commvault. Yet, it was a one-year stint as a dog handler in 2003 at Dubai Kennels & Cattery that revealed her true calling, though she dismissed it for years, believing she couldn’t afford such a dream.
After two decades in corporate roles, life came full circle in 2023 when, at 49 and newly laid off, an unexpected opportunity arrived. She had the chance to take over a pet boarding business. Doubt shadowed her – the fear of age, energy, and finances. But as Rumi wrote, “What you seek is seeking you.” Anna listened to her heart’s whisper, “What if this is it?” With quiet determination, she leaped.
Hart & Harry’s: Where Furry Love Meets a Healing Comfort
The business she took over, K9 Central, needed more than rebranding – it needed soul. Anna saw an uninspired facility; one she wouldn’t trust with her own dogs. Guided by her daughter’s wisdom, she renamed it Hart & Harry’s, after having rescued Harry and Hart, the two dogs, though different, but to quote her, were ‘endlessly loving.’ Their stories mirrored the ethos with which the pet resort has been built.
Managing their conflicting energies while separated from her daughter during lockdown tested Anna’s resolve. But in teaching them to coexist, she discovered a deeper purpose. These two dogs carried her through her hardest chapter, anchoring her amidst life’s storms.
While Anna rebuilt the legal and operational structure, her daughter designed the brand’s logo, embedding love into every pixel. “Hart & Harry’s was built not just with plans, but with second chances,” Anna says. Here, each rescued pet, each boarding guest, finds more than shelter – they find dignity, respect, and warmth.
A Home Away from Home
At Hart & Harry’s, dogs are not just boarded; they are sheltered with care and deep understanding. Anna knows each of them by name, need, and nuance. She remembers the quiet dog that shudders with the fear of being abandoned, the confident retriever who needs mindful boundaries, as well as the fragile rescue learning to trust again. Their daycare isn’t a business – it is life shared with animals.
“Care and love are always the priorities,” she reflects. Owners often describe the resort as their pet’s second home. Dogs return wagging, sometimes barely noticing their owner has left, knowing they are safe, loved, and free to play. Cats, too, are nurtured in calm climbing spaces that honour their silent grace and independence.
Even the agility equipment in the facility carries a story of devotion – built piece by piece by Anna’s father, embodying the love of generations who see animals as family.
The Unseen Struggles and Unbreakable Spirit
Building Hart & Harry’s was far from easy. With poor client handovers and resistance to change, Anna inherited a facility in disrepair, desperately waiting for revival. She managed bookings, accounts, staff, pick-ups, drop-offs, and renovations – often working 12–14 hours a day. “That’s how I approach anything I care about – fully,” she says.
Yet profitability remains a distant horizon. Pet boarding is no goldmine, but Anna’s success lies elsewhere. “Care and love — always the first two priorities. All my life, I dreamed of having different dog breeds. I’ve had the luxury of experiencing them— through the dogs that stay with us,” reflects Anna. “That’s how, overnight, I became rich in the most meaningful way,” she adds with a quiet sense of gratitude.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple yet profound, wrapped in wisdom that holds success as a recognition of inner fulfilment over material gain. “Don’t chase something because it seems profitable. Build something with your heart and soul. That’s what carries you through the hard days—and gives you a kind of fulfilment no pay check ever could.”
Campaign for a Compassionate World
Beyond her business, Anna remains a dedicated advocate for animal welfare. She partners with rescue groups like Green Paws, providing boarding for rescues year-round, even in peak seasons. She dreams of a future where every boarding facility supports rescues, building a community anchored in compassion.
Looking ahead, Anna plans to expand Hart & Harry’s into a veterinary clinic once her daughter qualifies as a licensed vet in the UAE. Working side by side in a mission so deeply shared would fulfil a lifelong dream.
Awards and Recognition
Despite challenges, Hart & Harry’s has gained significant recognition in the UAE’s pet care industry. The brand was nominated for the Pet Industry Award 2024 under four categories: Best Dog Boarding Facility, Best Doggy Daycare, Favourite Cat Boarding Facility, and Best Animal Welfare Initiative. Each nomination reflects not only operational excellence but the deep love and purpose that underpin Anna’s leadership.
Looking Ahead with Hope and Determination
Recently, a court notice to vacate their premises within a year has cast a shadow of uncertainty. But, like an undeterred soul capable of breaking through every barrier, Anna walks forward fearlessly with “Big dreams, big plans – and a heart full of hope.” Her resolve echoes her father’s timeless wisdom: “There’s nothing wrong with wanting – the real danger is not wanting at all.”
In Anna Boytsova’s world, where silent compassion guides every decision, the future remains anchored in love. For, in her eyes, every pawprint matters, every wag is a blessing, and every life saved is a quiet revolution against a world often too busy to notice.