Coastal Kennels Pet Boarding opens in Rehoboth
Coastal Kennels Pet Boarding officially opened to the public Dec. 15 off Wolfe Neck Road near Rehoboth Beach.
Coastal Kennels primarily offers overnight boarding utilizing custom indoor–outdoor suites, daytime boarding, grooming services and personalized care. Boarding packages range from standard stays with daily meals and potty breaks to upgraded options that include playtime, nature walks, treats, one-on-one play sessions and photo updates. Grooming services include nail trims, bath-and-brush packages, and various full grooming (with haircuts) packages. Prices are determined by the weight of the dog. The facility also features security systems including cameras, and door and window sensors, to ensure extra safety precautions for the boarded dogs.
“One thing we really wanted to highlight here, and it was a non-negotiable for me, are the indoor-outdoor suites,” said owner Melony Messina. “So when it’s really nice outside we can just leave them open. They’re all custom made. They’re all different sizes based on what we needed.”
The Messina family has resided in Rehoboth Beach for more than 200 years. Their roots in the local community run very deep. The idea for Coastal Kennels naturally stemmed from Melony’s love for animals and her past experience in the industry. When the opportunity to build a facility on historic family land came about, the vision for Coastal Kennels started to take form.
“My family has been here for 250 years,” said Melony. “They used to be farmers. My great-great-grandparents lived at the Wolfe House.”
She said she used to work at Canine Cabin in Milton. That experience led her to want to do it herself.
Coastal Kennels is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays. The business operates by appointment, with preferred hours designed to function similarly to a hotel check-in and check-out system. The business also utilizes a two-way communication system called Gingr for Pet Parents that allows pet owners to receive updates and photos throughout their dog’s stay.
“I just want to provide a safe, reliable place for dog owners,” said Melony.
