Andrea Isom, an Emmy award-winning former TV news reporter at Fox 2 news, WXYZ in Detroit, and the nationally syndicated true crime show “Crime Watch Daily,” and her husband, Joe Harris, himself an Emmy award-winning videographer and editor, have launched Harris & Howl, a premium dog nutrition company inspired by the love and loss of their own pet, Dexter.
In 2011, Dexter, a Maltese-poodle mix, was diagnosed with kidney failure. That’s when the couple’s journey to create all-natural dog food with familiar store-bought ingredients began.
“Dexter was my first baby,” Isom says. “He was loyal, protective, and completely devoted to the people he loved. The diagnosis was devastating. And when his veterinarian recommended transitioning him off traditional kibble onto a real-food diet, it was the first time we understood what food could do.”
Under the guidance of their veterinarian, the couple created home-made dog food using chicken, beef, turkey, spinach, eggs, apples, carrots, sweet potatoes, and other grocery staples. It worked. Dexter’s health improved and he lived three years longer than medical experts anticipated.
“Dexter lived to 15,” Isom says. “When he passed, we kept making the food. It was our way of honoring what we had learned and what he had given us. 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.”
The duo launched Harris & Howl in May after having their food and treats analyzed by Midwest Laboratories in Nebraska, which provides third-party analytical testing, and receiving licensing from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the state agency responsible for protecting food safety, regulating the agriculture industry, and overseeing animal health and farmland conservation.
Today, their two rescue dogs, Abby, a black Labrador Retriever, and Fitz, a Jack Russell Terrier-Chihuahua mix, eat the food every day and serve as product testers.
“We are licensed in Michigan following standards from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a nonprofit that sets quality and safety standards for pet food in the United States,” Harris explained. “We are actively expanding our state registrations as we grow into new markets.”
Harris & Howl currently offers protein-boost chicken and beef toppers and turkey treats ranging in price from $8 to $17. They can be found at the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market (316 E. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak) every Friday. The company also offers online ordering and deliveries at harrishowl.com.
Through a partnership with Detroit Dog Rescue, Detroit’s first licensed no-kill, nonprofit dog shelter, each Harris & Howl purchase results in a donation of products to the rescue organization to provide nutritious food and treats for rescue dogs waiting their forever homes.
Name: Harris & Howl
Address: West Bloomfield Township
Email: info@harrishowl.com
Website: harrishowl.com
Phone Number: 248-996-2093
Category: Pet Food
Founded: 2026
Founders: Andrea Isom and Joseph Harris
Number of Employees: 2
Most Recent Annual Revenue: NA
Video Link: Click here
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