Policies

Checkout is 1pm. Daycare rates apply for checkouts after 1pm. Daycare is included in the price of boarding. Longer stays of 10+ days are discounted.

Requirements

Pack Life requires the Rabies, Bordatella, Distemper, and Parvovirus vaccinations. A Titer Test may be substituted for the Distemper, Rabies and Parvovirus vaccinations. A collar with name tag. Temperament test. If your dog has issues, please call for more information, at 773.592.4006.

Belongings

Pack Life provides beds, blankets, water and stainless steel food bowls for our guests. Please refrain from bringing belongings from home. Pack Life is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

Food and Medication

Please put your dog’s food in a zip lock bag with his/her name on it and the amount to be fed per day. Raw food is permitted. If you need us to put your dog on a diet whilst your gone, we can help a pup out. Pack Life can provide meals at the price of $3 per meal. We give treats out, so please inform us if your dog has any dietary restrictions. Make sure all medication is labeled and clear dosage instructions are included.

Schedule

Breakfast at 8am Daycare at 9am Lunch at 11:30am (if requested) Daycare at 1pm Dinner at 4pm Bedtime at 9pm

Transportation

Pick-up and drop-off service available 7 days a week. Morning: 7:30am-9:30am, Afternoon: 4:30pm-6:30pm Pick up area: Most of Chicago…if located in BFE, extra charges apply. If you forget to cancel a scheduled pick up for your dog, you will be charged a $10 fee. Please request transportation needs before 8am. All vans are climate controlled and have GPS trackers.

Emergencies

If your dog becomes ill while you are away, then we will contact you, your emergency contact and your veterinarian immediately. In case of emergency during regular business hours, we will transport your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic. During after hours and on weekends, as needed, we will transport your dog to a 24-hour veterinary emergency center.

Cancellation Policies/Holiday Boarding

During holidays, boarding rates will incur a $5 increase per dog/per night. Pack Life recognizes the following holidays: Memorial Day: May 23rd-May 29th Independence Day: June 28th-July 10th Labor Day: Augut 28th-September 5th Thanksgiving: November 20th-November 27th *Christmas/New Year’s Eve: December 20th-January 2nd A 50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of reservation for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve boarding stays. The credit card ion file will be charged for the entire reservation for no-show, or cancellation given with less than a 10-day notice.

What is the potty break schedule?

If temperatures reach 60F and above, the pack is free to go outside at their leisure. During the cold months, we take potty breaks every 2 hours.

I have a special needs dog. Can you accommodate extra potty breaks?

Of course!

Does my dog get water throughout the day?

Yes! There is high-quality H2O everywhere.

Is there an age limit for my dog to play with others?

Puppies under 4 months of age will be placed in a group with fellow shorties. Once they reach 4 months, they're able to play in larger playgroups.

What if my dog does not play well with others?

He or she will have a solo supervised playtime twice a day. We can also accomodate these situations with walks and bike rides.

My senior dog does not like puppies; can he play with seniors only?

Yes, we always have seasoned dogs he can socialize with.

What is the lunch schedule?

For dogs whose owners request they be fed lunch, we feed them midday. The dogs are then given an hour-long break to digest their food before playing again.

Do you separate and monitor dogs during feedings?

Yes, all dogs are fed separately and monitored.

Does my dog get breaks from activities throughout the day?

Breaks can be given per owners' request.

What is the transportation schedule?

Morning pickup or dropoff is from 7:30am to 9:30am. Afternoon pickup or dropoff is from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

What is the transportation like?

All dogs ride securely in the PackLife vans. Shorties get to ride shotgun! All vans are equipped with A/C and GPS tracking. We take just a few dogs at a time so they don't have to ride around for long.

Do I need to be present for the driver?

You do not necessarily have to be present for the driver. You can either provide keys to your place or instructions for the driver to gain access to the unit. Pack Life keeps all keys locked inside Chicago’s safest building!

Can someone other than me pickup or dropoff my dog?

Yes! Please provide us with the full name of the individual picking up or dropping off your dog.

When should I dropoff and pickup my dog?

You can check in anytime during our open hours. Boarding checkout time is 1pm. After 1pm, daycare rates apply, and you may pickup as late as 9pm if needed.

What happens if I can't pick my dog up before closing time?

Please let us know! Dogs will be boarded after 9pm Monday through Friday and after 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Do I need to make a reservation for boarding?

Yes, all boarding stays require a reservation. We recommend that major holiday reservations be made a month in advance if possible. Last minute reservations are also possible...we always try to accommodate!

What vaccinations do you require?

Pack Life requires the Rabies, Bordatella, Distemper, and Parvovirus vaccinations.

Does my dog need the influenza vaccination?

Pack Life doesn’t require the influenza vaccination. However, it is highly recommended.

If my dog is vaccinated for Kennel Cough and/or Canine Influenza, does that mean my dog won't get sick?

Vaccinations against Kennel Cough or Canine Influenza may prevent either of these illnesses in your dog; however, much like the human flu shot, they don’t rule out the possibility of your dog contracting either one. Vaccinations against both are still very important as the duration and severity of Kennel Cough and Canine Influenza may be greatly reduced if your dog has been previously vaccinated.

What does Pack Life do to prevent dogs from contracting Kennel Cough and Canine Influenza?

Our facility is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with a mac-daddy pressure washer every day, inside and outside. The Bordatella vaccination is required for all of our services, and the Canine Influenza vaccination is strongly recommended. Any dog that is suspected of having or is showing symptoms of Kennel Cough or Canine Influenza is immediately quarantined. Since both illnesses are highly-contagious airborne viruses, we cannot eliminate the risk of infection.

Do you administer shots, medications, or special requests? Does it cost extra?

We can accomodate any special requests at no extra cost.

Does Pack Life accept all breeds of dogs?

Yes, we love all dogs and do not discriminate based on breed, age, alteration or size. If your dog is not so social with other dogs, he/she will get individual play time with a staff member or solo walks/bike rides.

Do you have an outdoor area?

Yes! We have about 5000 square feet of outside space. During the summertime, it's decked out with playground equipment and pools. It is also surrounded by an 8 foot tall double-fence to secure those dogs who have hops!

Does my dog need to be micro-chipped?

Nope!

Can I have a tour?

Of course! Please call or email us to schedule an appointment. We prefer to have tours on weekends, as there are less dogs and we can give you our full attention.