Dan Gaughan had a successful 21-year career behind the scenes in broadcasting, working at TV stations locally and on the West Coast, including WBBM ( channel 2 ) . However, "for the longest time, I wanted to get out and do something completely different, though I wasn't completely sure what that would be."
Then one day in early 2008, after a particularly stressful day at the office, he went to a North Side doggy day-care center to pick up his beloved Berwyn.
"I went in there and saw all of these wagging tails. I instantly thought, 'Ah ha, this is it,'" Gaughan said.
He mentioned the idea to his partner, Ed Kaczmarek, and so started an amazing, wild ride. They ultimately checked out 41 potential facilities for their new business, and talked with nine banks about loan options.
"Those facilities just weren't meant to be," Gaughan said.
Then, on a spring afternoon in 2010, Gaughan was driving home from work, heading north on Lake Shore Drive. He exited at Irving Park Road, heading west and, almost spontaneously, he decided to turn right on Ravenswood.
Gaughan found the perfect facility that, by the end of 2010, was the home to Urban Pooch, a canine life center in the heart of the Ravenswood neighborhood. The 7,100-square-foot facility offers grooming, boarding, training, a retail store and more, including traditional and Reiki massage for pooches. There are 16 full-time employees, up from 13 when it opened.
Urban Pooch can accommodate up to 120 dogs for daycare and about 80 for overnight boarding. They have cage-free boarding where the handlers sleep with the pooch pack each night. They also offer a daycare by the hour option.
"Our staff has been trained by one of the top canine care experts in the country," Gaughan said. "We offer a complete line of quality, eco-friendly toys and supplies, as well as a complete selection of all-natural food and treats."
That's just the start of why Urban Pooch excels. Just consider:
—There is an advanced air purification system that provides the healthiest indoor environment available.
—There are multiple varieties of massages are available for the dogs.
—He gives back to the community, including donating the play space to various groups and hosting a pet food pantry drive. They are planning to host remote adoption events, too. They also have helped the arts community and neighborhood groups through financial sponsorship support.
"We knew this [ facility ] was it, and it's in a great, great neighborhood," Gaughan said. "I think it was meant to be. Something in my gut told me this was the place.
"Many times during this [ planning ] process, we were ready to shelve the idea, and just try it another time. Thankfully, we didn't."
Urban Pooch celebrates its one-year anniversary in early December.
"You lose track of time because of how busy it is, and the fact you're working seven days a week," Gaughan said. "We tried to do things to differentiate ourselves from the competition, such as, cage-free boarding and more."
Urban Pooch has welcomed 200-pound Great Danes and 8-pound schnauzers—and they all get along, Gaughan said.
THE STATS
Name: Dan Gaughan
Age: 46
Resides in: Edgewater
Relationship status: Partners with Ed Kaczmarek, 46—and they will celebrate their seventh anniversary Nov. 5
Schooling: St. Patrick's High School, class of 1984; Eastern Illinois University, class of 1988
Hobbies: Exercising, bicycling, sports, cooking
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Calo's
Family affair: Dan is the youngest of six. His brother Marty, 55, who lives in the Rogers Park neighborhood, also is gay. Marty and his partner Drew, together for 32 years, will be getting married next spring in New York.
Cubs or White Sox: "I'm a White Sox fan who lives on the North Side."
Photos for Windy City Times by Ross Forman
