The Sparky Steps Story

Hey friend, this is Michael Jaurigue here, and I want to share my story. It all started right here in Chicago. I’m a true native! Born at Swedish Covenant Hospital, and coincidentally, our current Sparky Steps headquarters on Sunnyside is right next to the apartment building where I lived as a kid. My family's roots in this city run deep, and so does my family’s connection to pets

Growing up in a hardworking, first-generation half-immigrant household, my dad worked two jobs to provide for us. Watching him instilled a fierce work ethic in me, but I also knew I wanted to build something of my own. I didn't just want to work for someone else; I wanted to create a community and give back to the world in a positive way. I grew up around all types of animals, from dogs like Dopey, my Tito's old pup, or Jack or Shorty, and cats like our first cat Delia, or Max, or Gizmo, they've always been around, and ever since I was young, I was fascinated by them.

The Dog Who Changed Everything

When I was 13, I finally convinced my parents to adopt a dog. We named him Sparky.

Sparky was the ultimate family dog. Thanks to my dad—who bought me my very first dog training book and intensely held me accountable for raising him right—Sparky grew up to be an incredibly well-trained, steady, and loving companion. He was always by our side, from playing soccer in the backyard, to all the games of fetch we played, to braving Chicago snowball fights. It was a beautiful time.

When I was 15, my grandmother passed away. The loss hit our family hard, particularly my mom, Laurie, who fell into a deep depression. It was a confusing time, but through all the grief, Sparky was our steady presence. He was always right by my mom's feet during her hardest moments, bringing a quiet comfort that only a dog can provide.

A Business Born Out of Love

Years later, I graduated from Roosevelt University with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Social Entrepreneurship. I was highly motivated, but my mom was still struggling to find work that made her happy.

I asked her a simple question: "Why not do something you truly love? Something that sparks joy, where it doesn't feel like work, but a gift that keeps you in the present?"

We took a hard look inward and realized the being that brought us the most happiness in life was Sparky. I realized that an amazing job for my mom might be dog walking—sharing the joy we found with Sparky with other pets across the city. Using the knowledge I’d acquired from my business studies, working various jobs across Chicago, and helping friends with pet sitting, I decided to build a business specifically for her.

We let my mom name it, and we settled on Sparky Steps. "Sparky" in honor of our best buddy, and "Steps" because that is exactly what we were doing: taking steps toward joy and happiness through all the seasons of life.

Meet the Founder

While my mom eventually stepped away from the business—we quickly learned that working with family has its own unique challenges!—building Sparky Steps allowed me to turn my academic business education into a real-world reality.

I dove in headfirst. I spent years gaining hands-on experience in pet sitting, learning about different animal behaviors, mastering safety protocols, earning certifications, and connecting with the amazing resident pet parents of Chicago. Being out on the daily walks gave me time to think philosophically, to watch the seasons change, and to practice being truly present with animals that bring so much joy to our human world.

Our Philosophy & Gratitude

Today, Sparky Steps is more than just a business. It is a tribute to the pursuit of happiness.

To my teachers who guided me, to my mom for believing in me and taking a chance to build something great, to my dad for pushing me to be responsible with bits of dark-humour threats (he always told me.. "Ipagluluto ko ang asong iyon kung hindi mo siya inaalagaan" 😅), to all the people who had a hand in helping me with building the business, and to Maaya, my business and life-partner whom I met back at Truman College, thank you.

And most importantly, thank you to the Chicago community for trusting me with your dogs, your cats, and your little critters. Now you'll find me walking dogs in Chicago with my new pup, Tokio! No matter how much time we have with our loved ones, let's live well, with wisdom, and with love. Cheers to the pursuit of happiness, and let's see where the steps take us next!