Pet Services in Lockport

Set on 40 acres of rolling hills, Creekside Acres hosts lessons in a 30,000-square-foot outdoor arena. On wintry or rainy days, the groundskeepers heat up the stables, tack room, and new indoor arena for temperate riding.

During private lessons, instructors guide equestrians of all skill levels in English-style riding, with each session tailored to the rider’s background, skills, and ability to recite the names of all the Triple Crown winners in pig Latin. The stable houses six lesson horses that range from seasoned jumpers to trail riders.

When dogs need a break from burying bones, chasing mailmen, and playing professional basketball, Go Doggie Home Doggie provides overnight respite in airy single- and double-occupancy cottages. Owners can leave their dogs with all their personal effects from home—such as blankets, beds, and toys—to help them sleep soundly at night. During the day the pet-loving staff takes canines for refreshing walks and supervises their socializing during indoor play sessions, along with showering them with affectionate ear scratches. Meanwhile, at the onsite grooming-and-bathing salon, groomers treat dog care as an art form as revered as that of a cappella howling.

Go Doggie's facilities also include kitty condos—private boarding rooms where cats can sink their claws into scratching posts and philosophize about the virtues of shoeboxes as they gaze through ample windows. The premises are located a frisbee's throw away from O'Hare International Airport to enable speedy pickup and drop-off of furry comrades.

At The Original K-9 Cafe, chefs mold fresh, natural ingredients into dishes fit for humans, but specifically crafted for their canine friends. With an eye on nutrition, they whip up tasty Muttloaf, stuffed manicotti, and even “Yappy Hour” drinks such as the Muttini, which boosts digestive health. The menu also includes fresh marrow bones and other deli eats, desserts such as mini peanut-butter bars, and Bowser Beer, a brew concocted from beef broth. Pups can chow down on healthful meals every day thanks to weekly meal plans, or unwind after frustrating weeks of building oubliettes for mailmen with brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

At the spa, relaxation comes in the form of paw massages, nail clipping, and conditioning fur butter treatments that undo damage done to pooches’ coats. The boutique also helps owners dote on doggies with gifts including college jerseys, toys, and treats.

At Follow Your Nose, pets experience the equivalent of a combination department store, upscale eatery, and spa made just for them. When it comes to snack time, the crew that runs the shop bakes housemade, gluten-free cookies for pets and stocks savory treats made with free-range, grass-fed, and hormone-free meats. As customers shop, they encounter useful pet wares that include gentle, coconut-based shampoos, hand-knit sweaters, and memory-foam beds that combine stain-resistant fabrics with fashionable patterns. Sitters are also available to come to pets' homes to care for them while their owners are away. As a mark of their dedication, Follow Your Nose provides services every day of the year, even when their storefront is closed on major holidays such as Pet Thanksgiving.

Paramount Grove’s head trainer Molly McAdow welcomes eager horseback riders to her 30-acre countryside headquarters, where they’ll find two outdoor arenas, one indoor arena, and a hunt field ready for trotting and galloping. McAdow has honed her expertise throughout a lifetime of horseback riding—a career that includes numerous salt-lick tastings and medals in both the equitation and hunter rings as a junior. Riders learn from her wisdom during lessons, in which she sheds light on proper technique and helps students achieve their goals.

Steeds’ safety is also of high importance to McAdow. Fire-safety sprinklers protect every private stall, and the barn and indoor arena are heated during the winter. This prevents horses from getting cold and snowmen from wandering inside to taunt the animals with their noses.

Since 1988, Pet Supplies Plus has welcomed millions of furry critters of every stripe—from llamas and monkeys to potbellied pigs—into their animal-friendly stores. The shop is designed so that both pets and their owners can easily navigate the inventory of more than 10,000 items. Wide aisles give leashed pups enough room to roam, colorful signage keeps shoppers moving in the right direction, and low shelves allow dogs to sniff out their preferred brand of rawhide chew. A self-serve dog wash enables guests to scrub their canine companions' coats to a youthful, puppy-like shine, whereas grooming services enlist professionals to tackle tougher jobs, such as brushing out matted fur or convincing dalmatians to stop mixing white and black after Labor Day.