No More Kennels Founder Rebeckah Vaughan Hands Over Liverpool Dog Hotel After 18 Years
The Liverpool entrepreneur who grew No More Kennels from caring for five dogs at home into a luxury dog hotel has handed over the business as she prepares for a new chapter – becoming a mum.
After 18 years at the helm of No More Kennels, founder Rebeckah Vaughan is stepping away from the business she built from scratch, with her first baby due in December.
The Liverpool-born canine behaviourist and entrepreneur launched No More Kennels in 2008, initially looking after just five dogs from her own home.
Her idea was simple: offer dog owners a more personal, home-from-home alternative to traditional boarding kennels, treating dogs as part of the family even while their owners were away. It proved to be an idea with plenty of demand.
Over the following 18 years, No More Kennels grew into a luxury dog hotel licensed to care for up to 90 dogs, with an approach that looked very different from conventional kennelling.
Instead of traditional kennel accommodation, dogs could enjoy proper bedrooms, human-sized beds, heating, TVs and other home comforts, alongside play, enrichment, grooming, pampering and plenty of attention.
The team even made sure its four-legged guests didn’t miss out on special occasions, with everything from Paws the Parcel and Easter egg hunts to birthday celebrations and Christmas dinners becoming part of life at No More Kennels.
Demand increased further following the pandemic, as the rise in dog ownership during lockdown was followed by people returning to workplaces, travelling and taking holidays again.
Now, after almost two decades, Rebeckah has sold No More Kennels to Amanda Eley-Rixson, who had already been part of the business for more than a year and now owns and operates it independently.
For Rebeckah, the sale marks the end of a huge chapter in her life – and the beginning of a very different one.
She and her partner Jamie are expecting their first baby in December, fulfilling Rebeckah’s long-held ambition of becoming a mum.
Rebeckah said: “I was born and bred in Dingle and started out as a girl who simply loved dogs and wanted to give them the best possible care. I could never have imagined that looking after five dogs in my home would eventually become a luxury dog hotel caring for up to 90.
“When I started, I wanted to do things differently. I wanted dogs to have a holiday too – proper bedrooms and beds, home comforts, playtime, pampering and lots of love. We even had Paws the Parcel and Christmas dinner!
“I’m incredibly proud that we helped change people’s expectations of dog boarding. Some of the things we were doing 18 years ago seemed unusual at the time, but today home-from-home care and luxury dog hotels are much more familiar.”
Reflecting on her decision to step away, Rebeckah added: “No More Kennels has been a huge part of my life and I’m immensely proud of what I created, but I knew the time was right to pass the reins to Amanda and begin a completely different chapter.
“Jamie and I are expecting our first baby in December. For years I joked that the dogs were my babies and now I finally get to have my own real-life baby. Becoming a mum is what I want my life to centre around now and I couldn’t be happier.”
Rebeckah also credits Liverpool’s dog-loving community with helping turn her original idea into a successful business.
“Liverpool really got behind me,” she said. “The local press followed our journey and dog owners recommended us to their friends and families. There is something very special about Scousers – we really do support our own – and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Although she is leaving No More Kennels behind, Rebeckah says dogs will remain an important part of her life and she plans to continue supporting rescue dogs whenever she can.
She added: “I’m incredibly proud of the paw print No More Kennels has left on the dog boarding industry. Now it’s time for my next adventure – and this time there’ll be two tiny feet rather than four paws keeping me busy.”
