Amid pandemic, businessman bets on pets with Waggles Pet Resort

A lifelong Chicago-area resident and former attorney is going all-in with a multimillion-dollar launch of a high-end dog boarding, daycare and spa emporium, Waggles Pet Resort. Though competition is fierce, owner Ross Neihaus firmly believes families in Chicago's northern and northwestern suburbs will want their canine companions to have "the best." Waggles is located at 419 Harvester Court in Wheeling.

Neihaus acknowledges opening in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic certainly seems risky. But he has made a clear-eyed calculation: people will always want the best for their four-legged family members, the pandemic will eventually pass, and this year’s stressful times have sparked sustained growth in dog ownership and pet-related spending.

He kicked off Waggles’ launch with a Howl-O-Ween Doggy Costume Party on Tuesday, October 27th. The socially-distanced party included a doggy costume contest, photo booth, hay maze, and bobbing for treats station plus cool swag and special offers. The top prize for the doggy costume contest was a free daycare 10-pack (over $300 value), with second- and third-place finishers receiving Waggles gift certificates.

Key Services

Waggles offers premium dog suites for lodging, complete with raised beds, pillow-toppers, and tuck-in service. Its daycare program offers multiple play areas to accommodate dogs with different play styles. And after all the fun, dogs can enjoy Waggles' spa services – offering bath and brushes, nail trims, ear cleanings, and even blueberry facials.

Numerous accounts across the country have underscored the surge in dog ownership and care, including stories in the Washington Post and Entrepreneur. Cumulatively, it points to a trend that promises to unleash more pet spending – which in 2018 had already more than tripled over a two-decade span, to $72 billion, according to the American Pet Products Association.

As Neihaus notes, serving up canine comfort, safety and happiness has family-wide implications. “When you care for a dog, you care for an entire family,” he says. “To most people, a pet really is another child.”

Chauffeur Service

To widen his reach and make location a secondary factor, Neihaus offers an affordable, pick-up, drop-off chauffeur service. Specially equipped and well-ventilated Mercedes Metris vans with plenty of windows will whisk dogs in comfort to and from their homes spanning a 15-mile radius, reaching: Glenview, Northbrook, Winnetka, Deerfield, Highland Park, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Lake Forest, Libertyville and Lake Bluff.

Key Amenities

The freshly gutted and remade 8,000-square-foot facility has an additional 2,000 square feet of outside, fenced-in, play-yard space. State-of-the-art Waggles features the following high-end offerings that distinguish it as likely the area's premier canine offering:

* A new, $200,000 HVAC system that ensures fresh, non-recycled air – minimizing airborne pathogens and keeping the building dry and free of mold, mildew and dog smells.

* Paw-friendly indoor play yards, which can be reconfigured with mobile dividers. The yards are covered in durable rubber, which is comfortable on paws and makes for easy cleaning and sterilization.

* Outdoors, a specialty AstroTurf (K9 Turf), is made with antimicrobial materials to prevent bacterial buildup, and with a sturdiness that feels very comfortable on dogs’ paws.

* Nearly 70 luxury boarding suites (kennels) manufactured by the Mason Company, featuring full glass fronts and decorative paneling (to be installed mid-November, in time for the Thanksgiving holiday).

* Lodging guests enjoy a raised bed with a pillow topper and receive tuck-in service before bed, which includes cuddle time, a gourmet treat, and a five-point daily wellness check (short examination of eyes, ears, torso, paws, and tail).

* The spa area includes three sturdy grooming tables with K9 dryers operated by staff, and two stainless steel bathing tubs with an adjustable floor, to accommodate dogs of varying sizes.

* Sav-Ur-Fur bathing systems, which automatically dilutes shampoo to the proper concentration, shortening bathing time. It also features a powerful, patented nozzle that can remove loose undercoat during the bathing process, reducing drying and brushing time.

* Exterior dusk-to-dawn lighting allows for evening play sessions and bathroom breaks.

* Extensive central wet vacuum system with ports throughout the building allows for thorough disinfecting, rinsing, and drying of all surfaces.

* Lodging areas include dimmable lighting and pre-bed soothing music, so pets can rest and fall asleep comfortably.

Top-Drawer Staff

Employing keen attention to detail and investing in this vital area of operations, Neihaus has assembled a team of employees with strong backgrounds in animal care. Personnel have extensive experience in the pet care industry, including a manager who has been working in and managing dog daycares for 15 years and spent four years assisting a veterinarian.

Another employee has a Master’s degree in animal behavior, is a certified trainer, and has trained dolphins and sea lions at the SEA LIFE Orlando aquarium. Other staff members have previous experience in dog daycares and have certifications in pet CPR, dog safety and training. Staff members have also undergone a customized training program that includes industry-leading online courses and on-site training with dogs.

Neihaus a Serial Over-Achiever

This high-standard, full-investment approach is how Neihaus has approached everything in his life – from his legal career to athletic competition to academics to pursuit of social justice.

Neihaus's extensive pro bono legal work for domestic violence survivors as well as his board service for a regional organization battling sexual exploitation offer a glimpse into his mindset: aim high…fight for the underdog…don’t let difficult circumstances stifle your dreams.

Those core principles were forged growing up as the son of a police officer-turned-contractor-turned-elementary school teacher and a nurse. Neihaus has a brother, Steven, who as a veterinary surgeon made headlines when he performed life-saving surgery on Stockings, a kitten born with its hind legs on backwards.

At Niles North High School in the late 1990s, Neihaus captained the football and wrestling teams, starred in the school musicals, was president of the local National Honor Society chapter, and was selected by faculty as the Outstanding Senior Male during his senior year. After obtaining a degree in biology at UCLA, Neihaus received his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

Neihaus began practicing law in 2011, when he started working for an AmLaw Top-100 law firm. He viewed the practice of law as a steppingstone, however, as he has long held an entrepreneurial vision closely tied to a passion for social justice. As his mother likes to say, he has now gone “from laws to paws.” Neihaus currently lives in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Giving Back To Causes

Neihaus expects to use Waggles to generate financial support for social-justice causes, such as the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, for which Neihaus volunteers and has served as the board president for five years. He also envisions forging partnerships that bring joy and deepen inclusion to various segments of the community.

Those plans include exploring dog-therapy partnerships; having dogs in Waggles’ care provide certified therapy-dog companionship to residents at nearby senior-care facilities; and offering work opportunities through an organization that serves adults with disabilities.

About Waggles Pet Resort:

The daycare portion of Waggles is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Overnight boarding will begin in mid-November, and Waggles is now accepting reservations for the Thanksgiving holiday. Waggles’ chauffeur service area includes Glenview, Northbrook, Winnetka, Deerfield, Highland Park, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Lake Forest, Libertyville and Lake Bluff.

To learn more, please call 847-886-3030. Folks bringing their dogs for a tour of Waggles can still enjoy the photo booth, hay maze and bobbing for treats through the end of November.

https://www.wagglespetresort.com & https://www.facebook.com/wagglespetresort.