2019
The Inspiration
We adopted Ruby and Lily. Years of muddy paws and freezing dog park trips convinced us that Chicago dogs deserved a better winter and their owners deserved their time back.
Chicago is a world-class city with unforgiving weather. We built Zoomies because your dog shouldn’t have to choose between a cramped apartment and a muddy public park.
We exist to remove the barriers to responsible urban dog ownership. By providing a climate controlled space for exercise and free play, we ensure dogs stay mentally sharp and physically tired. We believe that a tired dog is a well behaved dog, and a well behaved dog stays in its forever home. From supporting rescues to providing year round socialization, we are building a new way to live with your dog in the city.
We believe that a tired dog is a happy, well-behaved companion. By providing the infrastructure for year-round socialization and behavioral support, we empower city-dwellers to adopt confidently, knowing they have the space and community to help their dogs thrive.
How We Play
Every operational decision starts with the well-being of the dog. We treat every dog in our care exactly like our own, dedicating ourselves to an experience built entirely around safety, impeccable hygiene, and comfort.
Zoomies is a social club designed to build genuine relationships. We provide a space that helps you connect deeply with your own dog, build friendships with fellow owners, and create opportunities for dogs to socialize safely together.
We believe in leaving things better than we found them. Our mission extends far beyond our four walls, from investing in our team's career growth to partnering with local rescues to make a lasting, positive impact on the broader Chicago community.
Stop settling for wet paws and shivering walks. Join a community that values your time and your dog’s health.
The idea for Zoomies started in 2019 after we adopted our first dog, Ruby, and spent years navigating slushy February afternoons in Chicago dog parks. We realized the city’s infrastructure was broken and urban owners were being underserved. What started as a sketch on a napkin turned into a 24,000-square-foot mission to change how Chicagoans live with their dogs.
We aren’t just business owners; we are Chicago dog parents who were tired of the status quo. We built Zoomies for every owner who has ever stood in a freezing sleet storm waiting for a bathroom break to end.
Devon is the Founder and CEO of Zoomies. As a former corporate program manager, she spent a decade leading enterprise-wide technology and continuous improvement initiatives. She eventually shifted her focus from corporate systems to the 24,000 square foot facility on Elston Avenue, solving a problem she lived every day as a dog mom. Driven, slightly stubborn, and dog-obsessed, Devon didn’t stop until she found a way to turn an industrial warehouse into a sanctuary.
Matt is the Co-Founder of Zoomies. A big-picture thinker with a sharp eye for what makes businesses run smoothly, he has spent his career growing companies from the inside out. While Devon handles the day-to-day grit of the build-out, Matt focuses on the systems and team culture that make the member experience seamless. He believes that caring for a dog in a city should be a joy, not a chore, and he’s dedicated to building a world-class team that delivers on that promise every single day.
