Doggy Day Care in Big Rock

About: Hello! Kim and family here. We have over 30 years of animal care experience. From cats and dogs to lizards and horses. We feel comfortable with a variety of animals. With a background in law enforcement adjacent positions and a TS clearance. Clean background. Bachelors level education in behavioral science and criminal justice and security administration, as well as CPR certifications for humans and animals, and a vet assisting certification/experience! We can administer insulin and give oral medications. We also LOVE elderly animals. We are licensed bonded and insured. And have decades of the world under our feet. Animals are like people to us. We actually prefer them, and function with them better. Living on a five acre hobby farm for over a decade. They are literally our family now that the kids have aged into adults. It’s me and my husband Mike here. My family helps me operate a small pet care business out of Big Rock IL. House Sitting: We treat your home with respect and follow all of your rules. Water plants. Get mail. And stick to pet schedules. Please advise we do this full time. Each sitting is different as each animal and owner ask for different things. If full time care is needed it will be an extended stay rate of 125 for 8am through 8pm hours and 75 for the night. If we can’t come and go. We can’t make money. This is all I do for income and no one can survive off of only 75 or less for the day. Otherwise most sittings look like me making that my center of gravity through any schedule I have for the day. Usually no longer than four to six hours away from the home while out with drops in accrued in a single day. For Boarding: PLEASE READ: This is a home setting; we do not consistently tour our home. I believe the photos on here and reviews do us justice. We send pet parents updates with the surrounding view almost daily to every other day. Having people walk through the house consistently was just too much for out family and the farm animals here. So we do not do this anymore. In the future we may build a kennel/outbuildings addition, and will offer tours of that should the time ever come that we decide to do that. But again, WE DO NOT PROVIDE TOURS OF OUR PERSONAL HOME. There are also other considerations to consider that most residential people do not account for. 1. Liability coverage: my liability coverage covers your animals. Not you. 2. Animal anxiety: it’s a chain. The system I have for doing things allows for animals to be as calm and anxiety free as possible. If you’re on the property. The regulars don’t know you and anxiety fills the entire area. 3. Biosecurity: Don’t take this the wrong way. I don’t know where your shoes have been. 4. Private farm setting: exactly as it states. The lay out past my private acres long drive does not even allow access to my front door without going through two secured gates. It’s not easy access. 5. Safety: I live in the middle of nowhere, and do not need anyone to know the exact lay out of my home. You’re signing up for pet service. I am providing this service. Not giving people access to my home. Thank you for understanding. Please note this is a country setting. Someone is always here if I (Kim) am not. Sometimes photos have issues sending. But they always eventually go through. Service can be patchy because it’s the country. Text updates are reliably daily. I pride myself on building close relationships with my clients. I treat the animals I care for with top priority as my family does this full time and this is our entire income. Our reviews and the animals we care for speak for themselves. If you’re looking for someone to love and care for your animals with truth, trust, and transparency. That also has a family of well versed animal humans at her disposal as back up care approved through Rover. You are in the right place. Look forward to hearing from you. -Kimberly, Mike, and Family. Please note that prices will more than likely rise, since Rover has gone from taking 20 percent of each booking to now 30 percent from sitters. Prices must rise to enable us to continue providing service while combating this rise in inflation, not only on the platform, but in the world. Liability contract needed to continue service with the understanding that dogs bark, bite, scratch, and get into physical environmental factors. In a farm setting please make sure all of your animals are on needed monthly flea and tick preventative as well as heart guard. I have plenty of time for your pups and their specific needs/routines. We cater to every animal as if they were our own, and understand each one is special and different. We have a double fenced yard, with lots of open space indoors and out. Extra crates and or farm house furniture for your pets needs.

About: I have cared for my pets since young child and have owned my own 4acre farmette for last 27yrs. I have horses, chickens, fish, and an amazing Mail-Dutchie dog. I have a work from home career allowing me flexibility to be home and have also worked for a leading pet kennel/training/boarding/grooming facility that allowed me hands on handling for many different breed, size, difficulty, and aged pets. Trustworthy and reliable and enjoy all the wonderful and beautiful personalities our pets have and embrace them all! Dogs allowed on bed for sleeping time to cuddle but not on furniture. Prefer dogs that can feel comfortable in a roomy kennel should need arise to leave my home for a couple hours as to keep all fur babies safe in their own space while unsupervised. Well mannered pups preferred, Photos and videos provided during days activities. Attentive and loving, I’ll treat your pet like my own! I have a work from home career that allows me the flexibility to be with your fur baby for all their needs and attention during their stay. I also provide crates to be sure all boarders are kept safe if need arises to leave home to ensure safety of all furry friends. I have a well trained and behaved dog that loves the company of our boarding friends. I make sure to have 5x day let out and a tie line that allows them to privacy but security during pottie breaks.

“Boots just loves going to see his friend Jennifer and all the other dogs there. Jennifer & her family clearly care for the dogs they watch & the large yard is just the best!”

Laura L.

“Miriam was wonderful, absolutely wonderful with Katie, our terrier rescue. She let her sit on her lap while she worked. She had a raincoat, then a winter coat, on her when the weather got colder for her trips outdoors. She furnished these coats, I didn't bring any. A 3-page report card was given to me when I picked Katie up. It detailed her potty breaks and told cute little stories about their day together. I received numerous pics and videos that I thoroughly enjoyed. I met Terrell when I was leaving, and he seemed just as wonderful. I would give her 100 stars if I could.”

susan b.

“Max had a wonderful time spending the day with Roger and his two dogs. Roger provided many pictures and a great summary of Max's time spent there. Highly recommend.”

Kristine A.

“I absolutely love leaving my dog with Beyonka! My pup is always extremely happy when he goes to her place, and that gives me so much peace of mind knowing he’s being well cared for. Every time I pick him up he smells delicious and looks so well-loved. You can tell she truly enjoys what she does. I 100% recommend her—she’s amazing!”

Anyela M.

“Helen was very kind, and was super good with my high energy pup, Rocky! Would definitely use again :)”

Maria K.

“This place is amazing!!!! I feel very fortunate that I found them!!! I contacted Jessica to watch my dog while I was going on vacation. I adopted my dog about 3 months ago. She was returned 2 times to the shelter (nobody ever took the time to properly train her..she's a bit hyper). We did a meet and greet and she gave me the idea to drop her off for a daycare session to let my girl know that mama would be back for her when we went away for vacation, because I have been worried that she thinks she's being given up again. When I got to Jessica's house, I could immediately sense that she was a kind soul and so good with dogs! I feel SO comfortable leaving Miss Buttercup here for a week with them!!!”

Kristen S.

“Thank you soooo much for the last minute daycare! You have a beautiful land! My dog is so happy and tired out yay! You guys are awesome will deff be booking again! Highly recommended!!”

Jonathan S.

“So incredible! She is very attentive and responsive! We got video and photo updates throughout the day which made me know our dogs were well taken care of! Our dogs came home happy and tired! There is honestly nothing better than that. Cannot recommend Vanessa enough!!”

Danielle F.

About: We have collective pet parent experience of over 40 years and have loved and cared for cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs and even beared dragons. Personally, I previously worked at PetCo in addition to volunteering with PAWS Chicago. In both roles I received extensive training in caring for dogs, cats, and small animals. Currently, I work from home full time with a ton of flexibility and plenty of time to devote to additional fur babies. I work from home full time Monday thru Friday and have complete flexibility. Meaning I have time and energy for plenty of walks, playing in the park, or even just lounging in the yard. I own my home and have plenty of space to care for animals. As the mother to a toddler, our home has already been child proofed (cabinets locked, large furniture anchored, Simplisafe home security, etc.) Importantly, our yard is fenced in completely with vinyl fencing that is only a couple years old (but tried and true).

“Our dog had a wonderful day with Donna and her dog, which included plenty of outdoor play. Donna is patient, calm, and genuinely cares about dogs. We are happy that we found Donna and are looking forward to more visits in the near future.”

Xavier M.

About: I have always loved every different kind of animal out there, but spent my childhood with mostly just cats. 15 years ago, I adopted my first puppy, a German Short-haired Pointer, at the age of 8 weeks. My ex-husband and I decided to take the "treatless training" approach which was a huge success! Crate training, leash training, obedience training were all a collaborative effort and turned out extremely well. 10 years later, we adopted a sweet rescue named Gizmo who was already 7 years old, but became part of the family immediately. They have both passed on now to doggy heaven, but I am always the first to offer to care for other family member's pets anytime I can :) I'm currently working part-time from my home in Blackberry Creek and always have time for some fur-ball company. My 2 girls, 7 and 10 years old, are with me part time and are also very helpful, gentle and patient with our pets and hopefully yours! I have a fenced back yard with plenty of room for your fur-baby to play and exercise! If it better suits you, I can always come to your home as well for potty and play time :) UPDATE 6/8/26 - Since starting my Rover journey in 2022, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many amazing pets and their wonderful families. Along the way, our household has grown and changed in ways I never expected. In 2023, one of my regular Rover pups (actually a senior pup) became a permanent part of our family. Tigger’s owner had rescued him from a Chicago Animal Shelter just months before I began caring for him. As a 100 lb. Staffordshire Terrier, Great Dane, Bully, etc. mix, Tigger was a big boy with an even bigger heart. His owner dedicated to helping him become the best version of himself, especially since he wasn’t always comfortable around other dogs. With patience, training, and love, he blossomed into the sweetest, gentlest giant you could imagine. When his owner unexpectedly passed away, her husband reached out to ask if I would consider adopting Tigger. My answer was immediate: absolutely. I couldn’t bear the thought of him returning to a shelter. Bringing Tiggy into our family was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My girls and I were lucky enough to love, spoil, and cherish him for three wonderful years before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We miss him every day, but are so grateful for the time we had together. Since then, we’ve also welcomed two adorable brother cats into our home. They keep us smiling and full our days with plenty of fun and affection. While our family has grown, we’re excited to have some doggy energy back in the house through Rover! When your pup stays with us, they’ll be welcomed with open arms and treated like a part of the family. We understand how much your pets mean to you because we’ve experienced firsthand just how special that bond can be. Our promise is simple: we’ll care for your furry family member with the same love, attention, and respect that we give our own. I work from home full time, so am able to provide your pup with all of the attention they deserve. They are free to run around in the fenced-in backyard and play at their fullest extent! Every pet owner has a different perspective on how to care for their pets. Some require a special routine for dinnertime or bedtime, while others require basic care with lots of love. I will follow whatever instructions are given to me by the owner…and I promise not to judge 😊

“Linda and George are amazing! Our dogs had a wonderful time and cannot wait to go back.”

Nora W.

“Jackie was phenomenal. I reached out pretty last minute with a request that wasn’t exactly simple—she had to pick Ghost up from his training facility (not from me) and coordinate all of that seamlessly. On top of that, she even helped me sort out a small payment detail on Rover to make sure everything reflected correctly, which she absolutely didn’t have to do. She was super responsive, easy to work with, and just handled everything without friction. And the best part—Ghost lit up the second he saw her again after a few months, which tells you everything you need to know. Somehow she manages all of this while caring for multiple dogs at once and raising a young family, which honestly makes it even more impressive. Highly recommend giving Jackie a shot.”

Kevin B.

About: Love to have a furry companion on my walks and give them some time outside, I’ve had dogs my whole life big and small and always enjoy walking them. Me and my husband are working part time, and we love dogs, so we have plenty of free days to spend and take nice walks with your pup! Our house has a fenced in yard and we also have a few gates so the dogs can’t get to any places they shouldn’t be.

About: First things first: I only accept 1 canine guest at a time. I have a fun-loving 3 yr old Black Labrador who is as excited for new guests as I am. I'm home 24/7 and have a large enclosed back yard for playtime. Come by anytime for a visit and check out the environs if you're thinking of boarding. I work from home 24/7. Weekdays/weekends start at 6:00 AM and the day wraps up from 9:00-10:00 PM. I have more than enough availability to give your dog all the attention it needs. I have a large, enclosed back yard that's big enough for a good run, and a very friendly 3 yr old black labrador who loves guests. We often go to the Batavia Dog Park on Main for summer swims in the spring-fed pond if that's something you're interested in. If you haven't ascertained this by now, I only accept 1 canine guest at a time, so rest assured your pup will have plenty of attention and minimal risk of negative interactions that could result from an unrestricted boarding environment. I keep my house very clean; if you suspect your pup is having any issues with fleas please bring that to my attention.

About: I’ve had dogs and cats every since I was 5 years old so I guess you could say I’m experienced!! I just received my graduate degree & now have plenty of time to provide exceptional care & love for your pups! 🐶 I’m available any day of the week for boarding, I work part time, have weekends off & have a very flexible schedule! I’m looking forward to providing exceptional care to your animal while you’re away! I have a fenced in yard and love to go for plenty of walks! Lots of space for your dog to explore in the house and backyard!

“Yesenia was so great. I was in from out of town and I had a gap between when we needed to be out of the Airbnb and when the class I came for ended. I needed some place to take my dog for a few hours. She was conveniently near where I needed to be. She attentively asked about my dog’s needs (she’s dog-reactive and has anxiety) and provided a safe space for her to be. My dog felt so relaxed that she fell asleep while cuddling with her. Would highly recommend Yesenia’s services!”

Bethany R.

“This was my first time taking my little Mollie to Stepfanie. It was a very positive day. Mollie was loved on and I don’t think she e wanted to leave. I will definitely use her again.”

Carolyn C.