It started with a dog named Dexter.
Dexter was a Maltese-Poodle mix with a big personality and an even bigger place in our family. He was Andrea’s first baby, loyal, protective, and completely devoted to the people he loved.
When Dexter’s health declined, his veterinarian recommended transitioning him off traditional kibble and onto a real-food diet. It was the first time we truly understood what food could do. Not just fill a bowl, but support comfort, health, and quality of life in ways we hadn’t expected.
We believed in it so deeply that even after moving back to Michigan, we had his food shipped because we weren’t willing to compromise. Dexter lived to fifteen. When he passed, the lesson he left us with didn’t.
The Pack Grew.
Only months after losing Dexter, Abby came into our lives. A calm, gentle Labrador mix adopted from Almost Home Animal Rescue. A year later, Fitz followed from the same rescue, a Jack Russell Terrier-Chihuahua mix with endless energy and a need to be part of every single moment.
We kept feeding them the same way we’d fed Dexter. Real food. Whole ingredients. Made with intention. It was never about starting a business. It was just how we cared for our dogs.
From the Kitchen to Harris & Howl.
Over time, people started asking questions. What are you feeding them? Can I get some for my dog? We saw an industry full of heavily processed products, complicated ingredient panels, and marketing claims that made it hard to know what you were actually putting in your dog’s bowl.
We knew there was a better way because we’d been living it for years.
Harris & Howl was born from that. Harris represents the family name and the personal commitment behind every product we make. Howl reflects one of the most recognizable things a dog does and the bond between dogs and the people who love them.
What We Believe.
Dogs deserve the same level of care and ingredient quality that people expect for themselves. Pet owners deserve to know exactly what’s going into their dog’s bowl. And a company should earn trust before it chases growth.
Every product we make is small-batch, fresh, and refrigerated. Real ingredients you can read. No fillers. No shortcuts. Nothing you’d have to look up.
Harris & Howl is a Michigan family business. Founder-led, community-rooted, and driven by one goal: help dogs live healthier, happier, longer lives and give the people who love them confidence in every meal.
Made with love. For the dogs who deserve it.
Andrea & Joseph, Co-Founders