How Sabrina Levenson and Jourdan Niemiec Built Coastal Outlaw K9 Around Trust, Nutrition, and Second Chances in Southwest Florida

Sitting down inside the MelloD Designs studio in North Fort Myers, Sabrina Levenson and Jourdan Niemiec shared the story behind Coastal Outlaw K9, a business built from lived experience, deep care for animals, and a shared belief that pet owners deserve honest, practical guidance.

it started with a dog

A Story That Starts With a Dog Named Willie Nelson

Some businesses begin with a business plan. Coastal Outlaw K9 began with a dog.

For Sabrina Levenson, that dog was Willie Nelson, a 15-year-old lab mix who became more than a pet. Willie was with her through life in the Coast Guard, through inspections, through transitions, and through the kind of personal seasons where a dog becomes a steady presence when everything else feels uncertain.

Willie’s early life was difficult. Sabrina shared that he had been abandoned in a trailer in Alabama, survived through hurricanes, and was later found in serious medical distress. When she adopted him, she committed to giving him a life that felt safe, loved, and full.

Years later, as Willie aged and his health declined, Sabrina met Jourdan. Their second date was not a typical dinner or movie. It was a trip to the pet store.

Jourdan, who had spent years learning about dog training, nutrition, and animal care, saw that Willie was still full of life but did not feel good. She wrote out a food plan, helped Sabrina rethink his nutrition, and that moment became a turning point not only for Willie, but for the relationship and the business that would eventually follow.

“He is the light of my life.”

Sabrina Levenson

That love is the foundation of Coastal Outlaw K9.

the people behind it

The People Behind the Business

Sabrina was brought to Florida by way of the United States Coast Guard in 2018. After serving, she stayed in Southwest Florida, working with the U.S. Geological Survey on sea floor mapping before continuing into entrepreneurship.

Her military experience shaped the way she approaches business today. She spoke openly about discipline, integrity, and learning how to hold herself to a higher standard.

For Sabrina, the Coast Guard gave her more than training. It gave her confidence. She described integrity as one of the biggest lessons she carried forward: doing the right thing even when no one is watching. That mindset now shows up in the way she and Jourdan think about customers, products, and the responsibility that comes with giving advice to pet owners.

Jourdan’s path began with animals long before Coastal Outlaw K9 existed. She grew up riding and showing horses, then later moved into dog sports, training, and nutrition. Over the years, she gained experience in pet dog training, dog sports, grooming, behavior modification, off-leash work, and raw dog food nutrition.

Her passion grew from a simple realization: not everyone has to train their dog, but everyone has to feed them. That idea stayed with her. Jourdan became fascinated with food quality, ingredient sourcing, and how nutrition could affect a dog’s daily life. She saw changes in her own dogs and began sharing what she learned with others. Over time, that passion became less like a hobby and more like a calling.

“Not everybody has to train their dog, but everybody has to feed them.”

Jourdan Niemiec

from landscaping to a new path

From Landscaping to a Pet Business With Purpose

Before Coastal Outlaw K9, Sabrina and Jourdan built and ran landscaping businesses. They understood hard work, client relationships, and what it meant to grow something quickly. But growth alone was not enough.

Sabrina shared that their landscaping work expanded fast, eventually reaching a point where they had to decide whether to double down, hire, invest in more equipment, and build that company long-term, or step back and reconsider what they actually wanted their life to look like.

An opportunity in Hawaii helped clarify that decision. They considered taking over a landscaping business in Kauai, but while standing in a beautiful place with ocean views and perfect weather, Sabrina realized she did not want to spend her future in that industry.

The dogs also played a major role in the decision. Moving their pets to Hawaii would have been complicated, especially with quarantine requirements and Willie’s age. The more they thought about it, the clearer it became that their next chapter needed to align with the animals who had shaped their lives so deeply.

That is when they returned to Jourdan’s long-standing dream of opening a pet-focused business. Coastal Outlaw K9 grew from that decision.

built on trust

Why Coastal Outlaw K9 Exists

At its heart, Coastal Outlaw K9 exists to be a trusted, approachable resource for pet owners. Sabrina and Jourdan are not trying to overwhelm people with judgment or pressure. They want to help owners make more informed decisions, whether that means exploring better food options, understanding training needs, choosing quality products, or simply having someone they can text with a question.

Their approach is personal because their work is personal. Jourdan explained that they only recommend products they have used, researched, or personally vetted. They are not interested in promoting something just because a brand asks. For them, trust comes first.

That philosophy carries into their grooming and training work, too. Jourdan described how she often goes directly to a client’s home, sets up in a garage, plays music, and creates a calm environment where dogs can stay comfortable in their own space.

That home-style approach has shaped the way clients relate to them. They are not just service providers showing up for an appointment. They are building relationships with people and their pets.

“We genuinely just want to help the pet owners.”

Jourdan Niemiec

rooted in the region

Building in Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida has become an important part of Sabrina and Jourdan’s business journey. They live locally, work locally, and have built relationships through the veteran entrepreneurship community, FGCU’s programs, and other small business networks. Sabrina and Lloyd first connected through the Florida Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at FGCU, and that shared veteran founder experience helped create the connection that brought this interview into the MelloD Designs studio.

Sabrina spoke about the value of being around other veteran business owners. For her, that environment created a sense of comfort, trust, and shared understanding. After military service, the transition into civilian life and entrepreneurship can be complex. Being surrounded by others who understood that journey helped her feel supported while building something new.

Jourdan, as a veteran spouse, also felt the impact of that community. She described the program as a place where people could bring ideas, receive feedback, adjust their direction, and grow.

The program helped Coastal Outlaw K9 sharpen its model. Their original idea leaned more toward brick and mortar, but through mentorship and feedback, they shifted toward e-commerce, markets, pop-ups, and a leaner launch strategy. With funding from the pitch competition, they began purchasing inventory, preparing for local markets, building an online store, and expanding their presence beyond word of mouth.

Southwest Florida, they said, is a place with potential. It is not Miami, Orlando, or St. Pete. It has its own character, its own needs, and its own community rhythm.

“There’s good people down here.”

Sabrina Levenson

behind the scenes

What Customers May Not See

Behind Coastal Outlaw K9 is a lot of research, testing, trial, and care. Customers may see a product recommendation, a grooming appointment, a market booth, or a conversation about dog food. What they may not see is the lived experience behind those recommendations.

They may not see the years Jourdan spent studying training, nutrition, dog sports, and behavior. They may not see Sabrina tracking Willie’s health, trying to understand what was helping, and learning how much diet, movement, and care can affect an aging dog’s quality of life. They may not see the decision-making behind every product they choose to carry.

Sabrina and Jourdan are currently building their online store, preparing for markets, and purchasing products they believe in. Their first wholesale partnership includes recycled climbing rope leashes from Mountain Dog Products, a company whose durability and lifetime guarantee stood out to them.

They also purchased equipment, including a Yeti cooler, so they can bring frozen and cold products to markets. For them, frozen food is not just inventory. It is part of the education-focused model they are trying to build.

That education matters because they know not every pet owner is starting from the same place. Some are curious. Some are overwhelmed. Some have never heard of raw or fresh feeding. Some simply want their dog to feel better and do not know where to begin. Sabrina and Jourdan want to be the friendly introduction.

“We really just want to help people in whatever capacity that we can.”

Jourdan Niemiec

the bigger vision

A Future Rooted in Education, Animals, and Land

Coastal Outlaw K9 is still growing, but Sabrina and Jourdan already have a larger vision. In the near term, they are focused on markets, e-commerce, education, consultations, training, and building relationships with organizations such as Gulf Coast Humane Society. They are also exploring ways to support veteran communities through education around service animals, training, and responsible ownership.

Long-term, their dream reaches beyond a traditional pet business. They talked about eventually owning land, creating a farm, building a training facility, hosting workshops, and incorporating agritourism. Jourdan described a vision where animal nutrition, regenerative agriculture, and education all connect.

That future may not happen overnight, but the direction is clear. Coastal Outlaw K9 is not just about selling dog food or leashes. It is about building a lifestyle rooted in care, integrity, education, and connection.

spotlighting local businesses that put people first

About the Business

Coastal Outlaw K9 is a Southwest Florida pet business offering pet nutrition consultations, grooming, training support, market products, and online pet product sales. The business focuses on education-driven, judgment-free guidance and carefully vetted products, helping pet owners make informed decisions for their animals.