Marc Matlin worked long hours in the finance industry within corporate America in the 1990s, and didn't truly love his work. He had a dog-walker stop by his home twice daily to care for his beloved, furry four-legged friend.
"Dogs are my passion, my absolute passion," said Matlin, who is gay and is the brother of deaf actress Marlee Matlin.
So Matlin traded in his suit and tie for shorts, T-shirts, flip-flops and a baseball hat—his standard business attire nowadays.
Matlin is the founder/owner of the award-winning Chicago Dog Walkers, which he operates from his home in Bucktown, with two full-time office employees and a roster of about 65 dog-walkers. They attend to the needs of pets from Rogers Park down to Streeterville and as far west as Cicero.
Chicago Dog Walkers was voted the Best Dog Walkers in the 2010 Best of Chicago awards in the Chicago Reader. Chicago Dog Walkers is also a four-time winner of the Best Dog Walking Service, a Readers Choice Award from Chicagoland Tails.
"I am grateful to have gotten through and adjusted to the economic issues that we're all dealing with," said Matlin, 54. "We weathered a bad economy over the past couple years, when people were regularly being laid off, thus, not needing a dog-walker anymore."
Matlin graduated from Maine East High School in 1975 and then Western Illinois University. He was a special education teacher before moving into the finance industry, working behind a desk in a windowless office.
Chicago Dog Walkers was, at first, a word-of-mouth business, but has since grown into a successful, profitable, elite dog-walking company.
"From my experience as a lifelong dog owner, I knew precisely what other pet owners were looking for and what I could provide: responsible, affectionate, active companionship," said Matlin, owner of two dogs and two cats—all rescues.
Matlin and his partner of 25 years, Jay Goldstein, a professor, also share their home with dogs Sugar and Gretchen, and cat Gracie. In addition, they have another cat that lives year-round in their heated and cooled garage because he has not wanted to come into their home, despite countless offers.
"It's a fun job," Matlin said. "I loved the [full-time] dog-walking days. My job now is more administrative, though I still work as a substitute walker at times, which I really enjoy.
"It's so wonderful not being familiar with department stores anymore because I don't have to worry about ties or dress shirts or any [traditional business attire]. In fact, for me to wear a pair of shoes now, it's odd.
"I'll admit, I never envisioned doing this, and yet I'm grateful for it. This job allows me to be with pets all the time, which I love."
However, the job isn't always warm, cuddly moments.
Customers have called late at night when they lock their keys in their home, or the time a client realized that a neighbor's home had been burglarized. He's had to drive clients to the vet. He's had to accommodate dogs who want a certain treat, perhaps yogurt or frozen peas. Or the dog who has to be blown dry after every walk. He's endured pooping dogs and so much more.
"Some dogs are just pure joy—others, well, not so much," Matlin said, laughing. "I keep saying that I should write stuff down that goes on here, because no one would believe it."
The walkers of Chicago Dog Walkers are a unique, eclectic mix, and all walkers are employed as full-time staff, not freelance or independent contractors. Walkers are, at heart, artists, writers, musicians and more, but truly dog lovers—and some have worked for Matlin for more than 10 years.
Matlin said that his sister wanted to produce a reality show about his business, but he rejected the idea because "it would be too distracting, would jeopardize the integrity of our service and logistically it just would not work."
Matlin said his sister calls him regularly, and always asks about his pets. After all, she was a dog owner, too.
"She is very supportive of the gay community; she's spoken at numerous AIDS-related benefits and other gay-related events/issues," Marc said of his deaf sister—and he does know sign language. "She's always been very supportive of me. … In fact, she helped me come out. She's always been encouraging, supporting."
Marlee now lives in Pasadena, and Marc said she's planning to get another dog soon. He also has an older brother, Eric, a lawyer who lives in Winnetka.
For more information about Chicago Dog Walkers, go to www.chicago-dogwalkers.com or call: 773-394-9961.
Chicago Dog Walkers gives a discount to those clients who have rescued dogs from animal shelters. In addition, Chicago Dog Walkers donates $100 to a local shelter or organization for every successful referral.
