Salty Dawg Pet Salon + Bakery has experienced a fantastic start since launching in September, featuring an amazing team of groomers anchored by Shelby Huneycutt, WILMA magazine reported.
Growing Up in the Foothills
Shelby Huneycutt grew up in the foothills of North Carolina before relocating to Wilmington following the 2020 shutdown. While she spent years working as a bather, she transitioned into a professional pet stylist in 2024. Today, her credentials include both AKC Safe Certification and Fear Free Certification.
At home, Huneycutt manages a bustling household of animals that includes two Belgian Malinois mixes, a foster Great Pyrenees mix, five cats, a corn snake, and a leopard gecko. Her favorite local spots to take her dogs include Carolina Beach State Park, Brunswick Nature Preserve, Flying Machine Brewing Company, and Brunches.
Inside the Dog-Centric Salon
Unlike high-volume corporate shops, Salty Dawg operates without strict daily grooming quotas. For Huneycutt, that shift makes all the difference.
“The salon is top-of-the-line and dog-centric. Being able to focus more on the dog in my care rather than an expected quota is a total game changer,” Huneycutt told WILMA magazine.
That environment allows her to lean into creative styling requests. While one owner famously asked her to dye a poodle to look like a skeleton for Halloween—calling it the best day of her life—she also routinely tackles mullets, mohawks, and bell-bottom cuts.
Yet the job carries a heavy emotional toll. Building relationships with clients over the years means dealing with sickness, moving, and the eventual loss of beloved pets. Working on a dog after the loss of a companion is difficult, Huneycutt noted, but learning that a regular client has passed away remains the hardest part of the profession.
