Sanity Files

Life Is a Beach for the ‘Gangsta Dog’ Family

Their oceanside setting helps Laura and Gary Hughes unwind after busy days at their brick-and-mortar and e-commerce pet stores.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 5, 2025

PETS+ Staff PETS+ September-October 2025

Laura & Gary Hughes
GANGSTA DOG, NORFOLK & YORKTOWN, VA

Two brick-and-mortar Gangsta Dog locations and robust e-commerce keep Laura and Gary Hughes quite busy, as does managing the more than 200 private-label products they carry to stay competitive with online-only and big-box stores. When it’s time to unwind, the couple share their love of Virginia beaches and rescue dogs. Continuing the “gangsta” theme, the Hughes named their pups (from left) Pretty Boy Copper, Eliza Scarface Doolittle, Bruiser the Teflon Dog (also the trademarked face of Gangsta Dog) and Machine Gun Daisy. About them, Gary says, “They all escaped the big house!” Up next in business, additional locations and even franchising.

Related Topics:Featured pet businesses in Virginia

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