BARK Chicago Inc.-WEST LOOP

If anyone is wondering what happens if a place like Bark Chicago encounters a dog medical emergency, we can tell you first hand and I have to say, our emergency was handled with total perfection and we are so appreciative.

One of our dogs had a cut from a piece of glass that opened up while staying at Bark and she was bleeding out all over the floor in the rubber room. This wasn't a small amount of blood as it was right on a main artery. It could have led to some devastating issues had Jennifer and crew not handled it the way they did. They rushed her to the emergency room in Jennifer's own car, got her stitched up in minutes and our dog was acting as if nothing ever happened by that evening. We watched her on the web cam a bit over the weekend and she was constantly being checked on and monitored.

I felt so good knowing that in an emergency, Bark Chicago has the knowledge and ability to handle any situation. There was a lot of blood loss and it could have been a potentially dangerous situation, if it weren't for the Jennifer and the staff at Bark! So thank you, again and again.

If you are looking for a wonderful facility (clean, well run and a fun place for your dog)- don't hesitate to send them to Bark Chicago's Lake Street Location!

Pros: Wonderful facility with a great staff

Posted 11/10/09

I started going to bark when I liven in Bucktown so I went to that location(now closed) with my german shep mix-totally in love with her! Fast forward a few years, a new hubby and a new rescued dog of unknown breeding we are still customers-Lake St location. I never write reviews but I will post this on a few sites bc I had a unique experience worth sharing if you are considering where to leave your pet. So, we had to leave for a week for my brother's wedding dropped off the dogs and were on our way. Day before the wedding I got a call from Jennifer(owner) and she told me she was rushing my dog(the german shep) to VCA Lakeshore(our vet) bc she looked like she was dying-laying on the floor, didn't want to move etc. We were freaking out but just had to wait for news. She was really good about keeping us updated with what was going on and basically just being there for our dog-she was our eyes and ears since we were in DC. Turns out our dog had an Addisonian Crisis and has Addisons disease(didn't know it) and freaked out bc those dogs cannot handle any sort of stress. I read up on the disease and a crisis happens very suddenly and can be fatal quickly which proves they watch the dogs and worth noting that at Bark, your dog WILL actually play with other dogs so don't bring your dog there if a little scratch or something small will freak you out. I read other posts about the owner being short or even mean, but I strongly believe it's bc ppl are so annoying and outrageous when it comes to "injuries" their pets get from simply playing. I could see if there was a broken bone :)They are dogs so they play and my little dog plays like crazy and energy through the roof! Anyway, Jennifer(owner) offered to let my dog stay at her house(less stressful) but the vet said my dog had to stay at the ER for overnight monitoring at another location. Jennifer personally drove her to the 24 hour animal emergency about 20 min away she even gave a follow-up call to see how my dog was doing! So she and her staff through their close monitoring saved my dogs life. There's no place I would trust more with my dogs.

Posted 10/05/09

We have been taking our 2yr old Vizsla to Bark Chicago for about 5 months now . The quality of service and competency of staff at Bark is exceptional! Not to mention our dog noticably has had a full play day when we pick her up in the evenings. We used to take her to another facility in town and were extremely disappointed by lack of play time and the horrible attitude of the owner. Thankfully, we made the switch to Bark Chicago and couldn't be more pleased with the owner Jennifer and her staff - they absolutely go above and beyond. Thanks Bark, you guys are the BEST!!!

Pros: Friendly staff & Great Place for Dogs

Posted 07/13/09

Owner can be very unfriendly and defensive. As a business owner, she should take responsibility and not blame miscommunication on her customers. My dog seems to have a very good time, but will never give her another dime

Posted 04/09/09

Bark Chicago is the only place I trust to care for my dog. Bark treats my dog as family, and I can trust that his special medical needs are fulfilled. All of the staff know and love my dog, and I can call anytime to check on him. I highly recommend Bark for boarding and day care. My dog loves it!

Posted 01/04/09

I've taken my dog, Molly, to Bark for years now and she always comes back tired--from playing and enjoying her time away! She always looks forward to being dropped off for her few days of constant play. What Lab wouldn't? The sleeping quarters are beyond a doubt the cleanest I've seen in town. Thank you Bark!

Pros: Clean, safe, attentive service

Cons: not close to my home

Posted 11/16/08

The Bark Chicago Staff and Facility is unbelieveable. While the dogs are their first priority, they maintain a beautiful boutique facility in the most sanitary of conditions, and have a staff that exhibits the highest degree of professionalism at all times. Each and every staff member goes out of their way to communicate with me, the client, and provide a warm, loving environment for my dog while I am at work.
In addition to the daycare and boarding facilities, I regularly get my dog groomed at Bark Chicago. SpaBARK has the best groomer in all of Chicago and the products they use are second to none!

I have honestly tried numerous doggie daycares and doggie spa facilities in this town. And the truth is, there is no comparison to Bark Chicago!

Posted 11/12/08

I have been taking my pup, Pixie, to BARK Chicago for over 5 years. The facilities (at both locations) are clean & comfortable. Pixie is treated like a queen! The staff make me feel like she is the most special pup & I know they take excellent care of her. I send her to BARK for daycare & I board her often! I just picked her up from a short boarding stint - she was clean and shiny...and worn out! I could tell she had been playing her butt off! I have never had a problem & will go nowhere else!

Pros: Clean, Professional, Safe, Fun

Cons: Can't think of any.

Posted 11/11/08

I have been using Bark Chicago for several years now and they are wonderful. No matter if it's daycare boarding or grooming they offer everything from A-Z. They even offer pick up and drop off in case you don't have the time to do so yourself. I recently went on vacation and boarded my dog for a week and everyhting went wonderful. I will use BARK CHICAGO agian soon.

Pros: DAYCARE, BOARDING, DROP OFF PICK UP SERVICES, VERY CLEAN

Cons: NONE

Posted 10/30/08

I took my dog to BARK Chicago for the day to try it out, I also got her groomed. The minute I walked into this facility I felt comfortable leaving my buddy there. It's very nice and clean. The staff is very knowledgable and Professional. She was exhausted from playing with all the dogs in this amazing play space for pups. When I picked Bailey up, she smelled so good and her coat was Super Shiny. Bailey will definitely be back!

Posted 10/23/08