Meet Pam Shaia | Owner, Tails at the Barkery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pam Shaia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pam, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Tails at the Barkery may be a small shop, but we have an outsized impact on our community. As an anchor store in Cocoa Village, our involvement with the dog and cat community brings customers not only through our doors, but into the heart of the Village itself—supporting local restaurants, shops, and events.

Even during COVID, we remained committed to hosting safe, meaningful events for rescue organizations. This year alone, we’ll surpass 24 events and nearly $50,000 raised—every penny going directly to the rescues. Tails never takes a cut; we cover all expenses through the shop, private donors, or co-hosting businesses.

We proudly support an incredible list of organizations, including Mid-Florida Sheltie Rescue (a cause close to my heart as a Sheltie rescuer for over 20 years), Space Coast K9 Foundation, Great Dane Love, Schnauzer Love, Rescue Rebels, Florida Wildlife Hospital, and many more. Whether it’s a greyhound in need or a golden in search of a home, we show up.

But giving back doesn’t stop with animals. We also support the youth of Cocoa Village, believing they will one day shape the kind of community we call home. We partner with Cocoa High School Foundation and Cocoa PALS to ensure that same spirit of compassion lives on.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We opened our doors in 2016 with a mission: to offer only the best for our furry friends—locally made, high-quality treats for dogs and cats, thoughtful products, and personal service. The community embraced us wholeheartedly. Over the years, we’ve not only maintained steady growth but also weathered challenges like COVID and rising costs. We’ve done everything we can to hold prices steady so that our customers can continue to treat their pets without compromise.

Tails at the Barkery didn’t just set up shop in Cocoa Village—we helped transform it into the most pet-friendly destination in Brevard County.

In collaboration with the City of Cocoa and Mainstreet, we led the charge to make pet-friendliness a defining feature of our community. We educated over 100 local businesses on the benefits of welcoming pets and supported the city’s “pet-friendly” initiative, which allowed restaurants to expand with outdoor dining. Today, visitors see pet-friendly decals on storefronts—a movement we proudly sponsor—along with every pet relief area in town.

Thanks to these efforts, Cocoa Village has become a true destination. Pet lovers travel from hours away to “shop, play, eat, and explore” with their furry companions by their side.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Let’s take a day trip to historic Cocoa Village, Florida! Cocoa Village is pet friendly destination for both human and furry friends. We would meet up at Ossorio Bakery & Cafe for a hot latte and a delicious breakfast pastry. Then stroll to Tails at the Barkery for homemade dog and cat treats. We would also peruse the unique shops in Cocoa Village, including From Olive and Grapes. It’s our favorite place to try new flavors of olive oils and balsamic vinegars, and they make great gifts. Before heading home, we’d stop at Milpa Tacos and Tortillas. It’s my favorite place to sip a margarita while catching up with friends.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We’d like to shout out the friends, family, and supporters that have made Tails at the Barkery possible. I had help from family and friends to build this business. They rolled up their sleeves with me—from designing the space and painting walls to creating our logo. One nephew ran our website, while another laid flooring and worked with contractors. The Barkery was created with love, collaboration, and a whole lot of heart.
We’d also like to shout out our friends at the Dirty Oar Brewing Company. They co-host and sponsor events with Tails at the Barkery and we are proud to partner with them.

Website: https://www.tailsatthebarkery.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barkery2016

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsatTheBarkery/

Image Credits
Timothy Shortt