About Us

BARK! - BRIE - & Me!

"US" started as a passion for animals, from dogs to horses, when I was a child growing up with my mother.  We lived on a farm & my mother operated a Save-A-Pet Shelter on the same property, in Palatine, Illinois. By "default" I was the assistant manager & groundskeeper at a young age & unbeknownst to me this laid the ground work for my future later in life.  My mother showed Persian cats, worked the shelter & saved any other stray animal that crossed her path, from raccoons, beavers, squirrels, toads & salamanders--you name it she rescued it!  In my later years, while working full time in government, I started walking dogs in my neighborhood for extra income & a break from the police world. I noticed that what I was doing with my small business was what I loved to do & came so naturally! I hoped the future would be successful so a career change could be within my grasp. Seven years later my business grew from a small dog walking company to a full operating facility caring for dogs & soon in 2010 cats! For myself this entire journey has been exciting, eventful & scary all at the same time! While economic times have made most of us wonder about choices we make, I KNOW the decisions I made in my life & BARK's life have been the best for all of "US" from a personal level & professional level. Doggie Hotelier? Really? I never would have guessed! Working in government for 17 years & conquering a Bio-Chem degree from Loyola University, dog kennel operator wasn't even on my radar! I know I've chosen the best staff...staff that truly loves dogs with the dogs loving them too! We continue to make changes to improve our company & our personal selves. The only person that matters now is the one that is shown above & below, my daughter Brienna.  Brienna & I love to go swimming, dancing, playing at parks, & petting every dog that passes her by.  She loves the outdoors, she loves to go to BARK and play with the dogs, some say she's a carbon-copy of me! (scary! LOL) Who knows one day she may be writing on her website about "US"..a similar story, similar goals, similar feelings...until then she's just 3..but even Brie has that natural gift of caring for the animals  & loving it! One day she may be running the show, continuing on with our little family business. Then, "US", will be the BARK! family, Me & BRIE!

- Respectfully, Jennifer Schilling/Owner-BARK Chicago Group

	Learning how to take care of animals became natural to me and was the perfect blueprint for the small dog walking & in home cat care business started as BARK Chicago in 2003!
	SpaBARK! Mobile Grooming added to the BARK Chicago group, Chicago's 1st Mobile Grooming Service!
	In July 2006 our company was Chicago's best kept secret, but not for long, & BARK Chicago's West Loop was born! A facility that would take the kenneling industry of petcare to the next level. We now offered luxury boarding in atrium suites (instead of cages),  & offering all day play in a facility that now boasts 10,000 sq. feet of indoor/outdoor urban play space!
	In April 2007 the term "US" was taken to the next level when my daughter was born! Brienna Lynn Schilling begins her journey through life..
	BARK Chicago Bucktown closes & the West Loop expansion project begins. Taking over more building & play yard we expanded our indoor play area, put down Chicago's 1st only Perfect Turf System with a specialized drainage system below; a first for any facility in Chicago. We continue to do improvements on our facility & staff to make us the BEST BARK Chicago yet!
	BARK expansion project is completed! Meeow Chicago,, Chicago's 1st Feline ONLY Resort & Spa for cats set to open October 2010!