--- title: "The Lodge — Chicago, IL" url: "https://dogsaway.co/chicago-il/the-lodge/" updated: "2026-08-20" data_pulled: "2026-07-07" census_at: "2026-08-20" source: "Dogs Away — public Google Business profile (identity, rating) + Dogs Away disclosure census of the facility's own website" license: "All rights reserved. Read and cite freely. No bulk copying. (https://dogsaway.co/terms/)" attribution: "Source: Dogs Away (dogsaway.co)" --- # The Lodge Pet boarding service in Valparaiso, IL — part of the Dogs Away index of dog boarding and daycare in Chicago, IL (https://dogsaway.co/chicago-il/). **★5.0 from 1 Google reviews, Dogs Away score 9.4/10.** The Dogs Away score is a Bayesian-adjusted Google rating on a 0–10 scale (prior weight 25 reviews at the 4.669 network mean). ## Facts - **Services:** boarding - **Address:** 3515 Lake Meade Circle, Valparaiso, IN 46383 - **Phone:** (219) 462-5785 - **Website:** http://www.valeparkah.com/ - **Google Maps profile (verify):** https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=The%20Lodge&query_place_id=ChIJZZw-4raZEYgRPbJ0MxDOTRg ## Hours | Day | Hours | | --- | --- | | Monday | 7 AM–6 PM | | Tuesday | 7 AM–6 PM | | Wednesday | 7 AM–6 PM | | Thursday | 7 AM–6 PM | | Friday | 7 AM–6 PM | | Saturday | 7 AM–1 PM | | Sunday | Closed | ## Booking terms, safety and care - **Collars:** Collars are removed during play — facility's words: "Collars will be removed during play for safety precaution." (https://valeparkah.com/the-lodge/new-clients-of-the-lodge/) - **Vet costs during a stay:** Owner pays for any treatment or medication given during the stay — facility's words: "administer medication, which expenses thereof shall be paid by owner." (https://valeparkah.com/the-lodge/new-clients-of-the-lodge/) ## For travelers - **MDW** (Chicago Midway): 43.1 miles, straight line - **ORD** (Chicago O'Hare): 56.8 miles, straight line - **Weekday hours span:** 7 AM to 6 PM - **Open Sunday:** no Hours from the public business profile; drop-off and pick-up windows can be narrower. ## Published rates No rate published on their website as of July 7, 2026. ## Disclosure record Publishes 4 of 27 checked policies on its own website (census August 20, 2026). "Not published" is a fact about the website on that date, not a claim about the facility's practice. ### Admission requirements - **Vaccinations required:** Required: rabies, DHPP, Bordetella · Not mentioned: canine influenza, leptospirosis > “All dogs must be current on all vaccinations including for: Distemper/Parvo, Rabies, & Bordetella (kennel cough) each year.” — https://valeparkah.com/the-lodge/new-clients-of-the-lodge/ - **Bordetella lead time:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Fecal / parasite test:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Spay / neuter:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Temperament evaluation:** Required for some dogs > “I understand that if my dog does not participate in the temperament/Assessment test prior to boarding, my dog may not interact with any other dogs during its stay.” — https://valeparkah.com/the-lodge/new-clients-of-the-lodge/ - **Vaccination records:** Proof checked, not taken on word > “Proof of vaccinations will be required every year.” — https://valeparkah.com/the-lodge/new-clients-of-the-lodge/ ### Operations - **Staff on site overnight:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Staff-to-dog ratio:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Maximum playgroup size:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Staff certification:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Play model:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Groups separated by:** Size, age and energy > “We will group your dog based on activity level, size, and age.” — https://valeparkah.com/the-lodge/new-clients-of-the-lodge/ - **Time out of their room:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Solo care for dogs who skip group play:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Housing:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Outdoor access:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Capacity:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Climate control:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Live cameras for owners:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Photo / report-card updates:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Tours:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Injury / fight policy:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Veterinary access:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Administers medication:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Feeding:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Availability:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Online booking:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 ## Licensing Illinois licenses and inspects dog boarding and daycare facilities. The Animal Welfare Act (225 ILCS 605) makes it unlawful to operate as a kennel operator without a license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Department's Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare licenses and inspects kennel operators, day care operators, breeders, dealers, pet shops, shelters and animal control facilities. The application fee is $350 per license type, licenses expire annually on 30 June, and a preliminary Department inspection is a prerequisite to issuance. Minimum standards for boarding are set in rules, not left to the operator. This is the first market in the index outside Colorado with a genuine state regime — Texas has none at all. Market licensing detail: https://dogsaway.co/chicago-il/ ## How to cite The Lodge, Valparaiso, IL. Dogs Away, https://dogsaway.co/chicago-il/the-lodge/ (census August 20, 2026; listing data July 7, 2026). Source: Dogs Away (dogsaway.co). Read or cite this one record with a link. Do not bulk copy, scrape or rebuild the directory. Terms: https://dogsaway.co/terms/ Structured data: https://dogsaway.co/api/v1/facilities/chicago-il/the-lodge.json