EmBark Animal Club

Truly Exceptional Pet Care & Dog Walking

312-661-6687
julicolon@embarkanimalclub.com

Who We Are

Take a look through our photo album above!

We’re a Family Business

We are Victor and Juli Colon, the co-founders and husband and wife team behind EmBark Animal Club. In 2017, while gathered around the family dinner table with our kids Sebastian and Lily, we drew up the plans for our pet sitting and dog walking business. EmBark isn’t just a business; it’s embedded in the fabric of our family and we treat our clients with the utmost respect, care, and attention — just like family.

We Have Impeccable Standards

Before starting our pet care business, we worked in the luxury hospitality industry. We have always loved animals and realized that the same five-star service we were providing to people could also be given to pets!

As our business has grown, we have added carefully vetted pet sitters to our team. We personally screen and train every EmBark specialist. All of our specialists are Pet CPR and First Aid Certified and have had background checks conducted by Acutraq.

Love & Respect for Animals is at the Heart of Our Business

Read our bios below to learn more about us. Our current four-legged family members include dogs Hollie & Nydri, (sadly, our dog Charlie passed away in 2019), ferrets Thor & Magic, and a Russian tortoise named Rupert.

Key Team Members

  • Juli Colon

    Co-Founder

    Juli grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland. She credits her Grandma Vera for giving her a lifelong love of animals. She’s an active supporter of the Anti-Cruelty Society, Community Animal Rescue Effort, and the Greek Dog Rescue.

    Animal Care Experience
    Five years of professional experience taking care of a variety of pets and walking dogs of all sizes, strengths, and temperaments
    Fear Free training certified
    Numerous, continuing education training courses in animal behavior, dog training, cat care, and animal welfare

    First Pets
    At age 10, she received a hamster named Hamlet, and at 11, a golden lab named Bracken.

    Education/Training
    Honors B.A. in Tourism and Business Management, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and worked in hotel management and guest services in the US from 2002-2019

    Fun Fact
    While on a family vacation in 2017, Juli worked with dog rescues in Greece to bring an abandoned and starved street dog home with their family to the U.S. — they named her Nydri after the town where they found her.

  • Victor Colon

    Co-Founder

    Victor is an animal lover who grew up in New York City. In his spare time, he loves cooking healthy meals for his two- and four-legged family members.

    Animal Care Experience
    Five years of professional experience taking care of a variety of pets and walking dogs of all sizes, strengths, and temperaments, as well as a lifetime of experience living with and caring for animals

    First Pet
    Princess, a wolf-dog hybrid that he begged his mother to buy for him. They hid the puppy in Victor’s room until they could think of a way to tell his father. Their worry was unfounded though, because when his father discovered Princess, he fell in love with her, too.

    Education/Training
    Victor holds a degree from the Spartan College of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma; he also obtained his private pilot’s license.

    Fancy Stuff
    After college, Victor returned to NYC and realized he wanted to work in hotel management. After training, however, he saw that his real passion was helping people create lasting memories in the role of concierge. Victor became a Chef Concierge at several luxury properties in NYC and Chicago and joined the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or; brandishing his gold keys proudly.

  • Sebastian & Liliana Colon

    Supporting Team Members

    Liliana
    Liliana is looking to make her mark upon the world; she wants to study language and loves art and music.

    Sebastian
    Sebastian is studying to be an Auto Technician and in his spare time loves to tinker with cars.

    Both have the “pet care gene” like their parents!

  • Lilly Perez

    Lilly Perez - EmBark Specialist

    Hi, I’m Lilly! I'm currently a sophomore at Drake University majoring in biology. I have always loved animals and have a lot of experience caring for cats and dogs between my own pets and volunteering at the animal shelter near my home for 4 years. In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to music, and watching tv with my dogs of course.

  • Gianna Agrelo

    EmBark Specialist

    Hola! My name is Gianna and am a fresh graduate from Bradley University with a degree in Early Childhood Development. I adore all animals as they remind me of working with little ones. I love to read ad write stories in my free time. My favorite story teller is my own pup, that loves to whine! I love all four legged creatures but birds hold a special place in my heart.