A large, unassuming building in the Ravenswood neighborhood conceals an oasis of luxury for Chicago’s “well-heeled” canine set.

This dog hotel, Stay, was founded by Parker parent Michael Heltzer. In 2006, he completely transformed a 30,000 square foot riverside boatyard into the contemporary dog kennel. “When my dad opened Stay, I was so excited,” sophomore Estelle Heltzer said. “I’m a huge dog person.”

According to Michael Heltzer’s personal webpage, “his goal was to create a facility that would share the beauty of this riverfront setting while offering the highest standard of care.”

Although there are many dog kennels in and around Chicago, Stay is a popular option. “We’re much cleaner and more organized than a lot of other dog facilities,” Stay employee Alex Villegas said, “and much more professional.”

When dogs board at Stay, they live in luxury. Owners can choose one of three boarding options: a Standard Kennel, a Deluxe Kennel, or a Suite. At $50 a night, a Standard Kennel provides a 24-40 square feet living space featuring multi-colored walls, an elevated resting platform, a fluffy bed and a comforting blanket for the nighttime. For an additional $10 per night, owners can upgrade their dogs to a 48 square foot Deluxe Kennel, featuring bouncy, bright red cots, blankets and a view of a nature trail along the Chicago river.

For maximum comfort, owners may choose to upgrade their dogs to a 160 square foot glass-enclosed suite for $85 a night. Inside, framed paintings and photographs of dogs, artificial plants, and a webcam for owners to check on their dogs adorn the back wall. A Suite also includes multiple blankets, a toy chest, and a designer dog bed. “My favorite feature of Stay is definitely the Suites,” Villegas said. “They’re very nice, and the dogs love them.”

On busy days, Villegas sits behind the black desk in the lobby, serving a line of dog owners while a landline telephone rings. “It can be kind of busy sometimes, but I love what I do, so it never gets too stressful for me,” Villegas said.

Another employee at Stay agrees. Ashley Reyes grew up on a farm where she gained a passion for animal care. “I love to take care of the dogs at Stay, interact with them, feed themm and get to know their personalities,” Reyes said.

According to the ASPCA, around 44 percent of U.S. households own at least one dog. Juniors Lauryn and Noah Rauschenberger are one of those families. “I love my dog Chestnut,” Noah Rauchenberger said, “Stay is a great place to send her when we can’t be with her.”

Like the Rauschenbergers, the Koltuns (Anita ‘14 and junior Lily) also choose Stay as the boarding facility for their dog Piper. “We’ve sent our dogs to Stay for over a dozen years now,” mother Susan Koltun said. “It’s the best in the city.”

In the back corner, behind a staircase outside of the doggie play area, lays a unique room. A multi-sized array of doggie life jackets are lined up against the corrugated tin wall, perpendicular to a sign that reads “no diving allowed.”

A 4 foot, custom-designed doggie lap pool is situated to the right of this wall, complete with easy entry steps, gel coated fiberglass lining, and “currents to effectively increase strength and endurance.” The pool is surrounded by a glossy, lightly tinted wood deck. At $30 for 20 minutes, dogs can exercise with “low impact” and “maximum results.”

Features like these attract dog owners to Stay. “One of the great things about Stay is their fancy facilities and treatments,” Lauryn Rauchenberger said, “it makes me feel less guilty about leaving Chestnut.”

Stay offers additional exercise options. Dogs have the option to take one-on-one walks with employees through their lush nature trail, play fetch or take a run on a doggie treadmill in their 2,000 square foot fitness center. “We always pay for Chestnut go on the nature walks,” Lauryn Rauchenberger said. “She likes the fresh air.”

After a long day, if in need for a pamper, and for an additional fee, dogs have the option to have a full groom, bath, teeth brushing, nail clipping, Moroccan oil treatment or mud bath at the spa. “Piper usually ends the stay with a nice grooming,” Koltun said. “She always comes home clean and happy.”

Whether dogs are searching for single-breed parties, Halloween parades or the royal treatment, Stay provides it all. “No matter what, Stay never loses its character,” Estelle Heltzer said.