What is the 703 area code?

The 703 area code is the original telephone area code for Northern Virginia, covering Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Reston, Herndon, Vienna, McLean, Tysons, Springfield, Burke, Centreville, Manassas, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, and 47 other cities.

Is the 703 Business Directory free?

Yes. The 703 Business Directory is free for both residents and businesses. Listings are SMB-only, never pay-to-rank.

How many businesses are in the 703 area code directory?

6,500+ active business listings across 64 Northern Virginia cities and 32 categories. Largest categories: Food & Dining (864), Health & Medical (644), Nonprofits (553). Top cities: Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Leesburg.

Do you cover the 571 area code too?

Yes. The 571 area code was overlaid on the 703 area code region in 2000. We cover both areas.

How do I add my Northern Virginia business for free?

Sign up at https://703businessdirectory.com/register. Claim an existing listing or create a new one. New submissions are reviewed by humans within 24 hours before going live.

How do I submit a community event?

Free at https://703businessdirectory.com/events/submit. Northern Virginia only, English-default. Editorial review within 24 hours. Events appear in the iCal feed at https://703businessdirectory.com/api/events.ics and RSS at https://703businessdirectory.com/events.rss.

Are chain businesses and franchises allowed?

No. The 703 Business Directory is exclusively for independently-owned small and medium businesses operating in the 703 area code. Chains, franchises, and national brands are explicitly excluded by automated filters.

Is the directory good for AI citations?

Yes. The directory publishes a machine-readable index at https://703businessdirectory.com/llms-full.json designed for LLM ingestion. The robots.txt file explicitly allows GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended, and CCBot.

Pet care and veterinary services in Northern Virginia: vets, boarding, grooming, and pet stores in 2026

Northern Virginia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the United States — 75%+ of households have at least one dog or cat, well above the national average of 65%. That demand has driven a dense network of veterinarians, animal hospitals, pet boarders, dog walkers, groomers, pet stores, and specialty services (canine rehabilitation, veterinary oncology, dog daycare). The 703 Business Directory has 70+ active pet-care listings. This guide explains how to pick the right one for your pet's needs in 2026.

Veterinary care in NoVA

General practice vs specialty veterinary

General practice vets handle annual exams, vaccinations, routine care, dental cleanings, basic surgery (spay/neuter, mass removal). Standard for most pets.
Specialty vets handle specific organ systems or conditions — internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, dermatology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, neurology, behavior. Require referral from your general practice vet.

Major NoVA veterinary groups

VCA (Veterinary Centers of America): multiple NoVA locations, runs NorthPaws Animal Hospital, VCA SouthPaws, etc.
GoodNeighbor Vet: smaller community vet group
Local independents: there are several dozen independently-owned veterinarian practices in NoVA, often with more personalized service than chain hospitals

How to pick a vet

Are they AAHA accredited? (American Animal Hospital Association — voluntary accreditation; signals quality care standard)
Emergency / after-hours protocol — what to do at 11 PM on a Sunday
Whether they have in-house lab / x-ray / ultrasound (saves time and cost vs external referrals)
Whether they partner with a nearby emergency / specialty hospital
Whether the vet has specific experience with your pet's breed or condition

Typical NoVA vet costs (2026)

Annual exam: $65-$150
Vaccinations (full set): $80-$300 depending on species and travel needs (kennel cough, leptospirosis for dogs; FeLV for outdoor cats)
Spay / neuter: $200-$800 depending on species, size, and gender
Dental cleaning: $400-$1,500 (with extractions if needed)
Emergency visit: $200-$500 just for the initial exam, then additional for treatment
Annual cost of pet ownership in NoVA: $1,500-$3,500 for dogs, $800-$2,000 for cats (food + routine vet + preventives)

After-hours emergency hospitals in NoVA

The Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Care (Vienna) — 24/7 emergency + specialty
VCA Southpaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center (Manassas) — 24/7 emergency + specialty (cardiology, internal medicine, surgery, oncology, dermatology)
Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) — multiple NoVA locations
Pet+E.R. (multiple locations)

Important: Call your primary vet's main line first, even after hours. Most have an answering service that connects you to the on-call vet or local emergency hospital.

Pet boarding

Types of boarding

Traditional kennel boarding: concrete-and-chain-link standard. Budget option, $25-$50/night for dogs.
Boutique boarding: smaller, in-home, often with webcams for pet parents. $40-$100/night.
Luxury boarding: private suites, AC, daily report cards, optional activities. $75-$200/night.
Pet hotel: full-service pet resort with pools, suites, webcam, individual attention. $75-$250/night.

How to pick a boarder

Visit the facility in person — every good boarder offers tours
Ask about exercise / play area access
Check vaccination requirements (most require DHPP, rabies, bordetella for dogs)
Look for: clean facilities, no strong odor, animals appear calm not stressed, staff is engaged with pets
Ask what happens if your pet gets sick

Booking windows

Holiday periods book up 2-4 weeks in advance:

Thanksgiving + Christmas + New Year's: 4 weeks ahead
4th of July + Memorial Day: 2-3 weeks ahead
Summer weekends: 1-2 weeks ahead

Dog daycare

Daycare is essentially daily boarding — drop off in morning, pick up in evening. Types:

Open play: all dogs together, freedom to socialize. Higher risk of conflict.
Structured play: staff-led small groups by size / temperament / play style. Safer.
In-home: small (typically 3-8 dogs at a time), often with socialization and structure. Best for shy dogs or those who don't do well in big groups.

Typical cost: $35-$60/day per dog. Most NoVA daycares offer monthly packages ($250-$400/month for 10-12 days) and weekly rates ($150-$220).

Dog walking

Two types:

Solo walks: one walker per dog, 30-60 minutes, $20-$35 per walk
Group walks: 3-5 dogs + walker, 30-60 minutes, $15-$25 per dog

Major NoVA dog-walking platforms: Rover, Wag, local indie walkers. Direct booking with one walker is usually more reliable than marketplace apps for regular schedules.

Pet grooming

Types:

Mobile grooming van: $75-$180 per full groom. Convenient, individual attention, no cage time.
Salon grooming: $50-$150 per full groom. Most dogs do well with a good salon groomer.
Self-service dog wash: $15-$30 per use. Bring your own shampoo or use their hypoallergenic options.

Grooming frequency: most dogs need a full groom every 6-8 weeks. Maintenance brushes between full grooms extend the time between full services.

Pet stores

Specialty chains: PetSmart, Petco, Pet Valu — most NoVA neighborhoods have a PetSmart or Petco within 15 minutes.

Independent pet stores: lots of small independents in the 703 directory. Specialty retail: raw food stores, boutique dog bakeries, gear stores. Use the directory: filter /category/pets-animals to see them.

Pet-friendly NoVA

Best dog parks in NoVA (free or low-cost)

Wolf Trap National Park (Vienna/Tysons) — dog-friendly trails + dog swim area
Lake Accotink Park (Springfield) — 6+ acres of off-leash dog park + trails
Barkhaus (dog park + beer garden): Springfield — off-leash dog park paired with a beer garden for humans
Chandon Park (Herndon) — large fenced dog park in a planned community
Great Falls Park — dog-friendly trails along the Potomac (leashed only)
Scott's Run Nature Preserve — dog-friendly trails

Pet-friendly housing in NoVA

Most Northern Virginia apartment buildings welcome cats (60-70% of buildings) but fewer welcome dogs over 50 lbs (40-50%). HOAs typically ban dangerous breeds (pit bull, Rottweiler, etc.) and pet-weight restrictions vary widely.

Pet health emergencies: what to know

Poison control

ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435 (24/7, fee). Can advise whether your pet needs emergency care if they ate something toxic (chocolate, grapes, xylitol, etc.).

Heat safety

Northern Virginia summers get hot (90°F+ with 80%+ humidity). Dogs left in cars can die in 10-15 minutes. Paved surfaces can burn paws at 140°F+. Watch for excessive panting, drooling, stumbling.

Ticks and heartworm

NoVA is high-risk for Lyme disease (deer ticks), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (dog tick), and heartworm (mosquito-borne). Year-round prevention is recommended (oral, topical, or injectable). The vet will recommend based on local risk.

Frequently asked questions about NoVA pet care

How much does a vet visit cost in NoVA?

Routine exam: $65-$150. Sick visit: $85-$200. Emergency: $200-$500 plus treatment. Surgery: $500-$5,000+ depending on complexity.

What's the best vet in Northern Virginia?

Depends on your pet's needs. The directory lists vets per city. For general practice, look for AAHA accreditation + a primary vet who has been practicing for at least 3-5 years. For specialty (cardiology, oncology, etc.), The Hope Center (Vienna) and VCA SouthPaws (Manassas) are both excellent 24/7 emergency + specialty centers.

Is pet insurance worth it in Northern Virginia?

For most dogs and cats: yes. Premium is $30-$70/month for cats, $50-$150/month for dogs. Pet insurance covers 70%-90% of unexpected vet costs after deductible. NoVA vet costs are above national average, so insurance makes sense here.

Where can I board a reactive dog?

Look for "private" or "in-home" boarding options in the directory's pets-animals category. These typically handle 3-8 dogs at a time with structured routines. Make sure the host has experience with reactive dogs and meets your dog in person before booking.

Where can I take my dog swimming in NoVA?

Legal options: Bull Run Swim Club (Manassas), some private dog swim lessons, plus the Potomac River and its tributaries at sandy beaches (Great Falls Park, Scott's Run, etc.). The annual Dog Days of Summer at South Riding is a popular dog swim event.

What is the best vet for an exotic pet in NoVA?

Exotic vets are scarce in NoVA. The center of gravity for exotic vet care is the DC area: CityPaws Animal Hospital (DC) treats exotic species including reptiles, birds, and small mammals. The 703 area's general vets typically focus on dogs and cats.