The journey to creating the popular organic dog food line Barks & Berries started with a pet dad trying to help his furry best friend to have a better quality of life.
“I have a background in human nutrition, endocrinology and human physiology,” says Barks & Berries founder and owner Jason Gardner. “My dog Dobbie started showing health problems that weren’t right for her age, so I took her to vet visit after vet visit. Each vet visit showed no official diagnosis but did suggest changing her food—always to something that required a prescription. I could tell something wasn’t quite right.”
What followed was extensive research into ingredients that go into dog food—this included consulting leading vets and animal nutritionists, and how specific ingredients impacted all aspects of dogs’ health. “Research and perseverance crafted an exclusive list of ingredients that made sure to include the nutrients she desperately needed from whole food sources and not chemically refined and processed supplements, while eliminating non-essential and toxic ones,” Gardner says. “The result is a blend of thoroughly studied, wholesome ingredients with meticulously researched proportions to satisfy the biological needs of dogs while satisfying even the most discerning of palates.”
After getting Dobbie and her pup siblings (all papillons) approved of their new meals—and Dobbie’s health got better—Gardner says that he had friends and family continuously coming to him for advice on how to improve their dogs’ health and diets. So, to help more pups and their families, in 2016, Barks & Berries was born.
“Barks & Berries is a line of fresh, organic dog food that contains 100% of the needed vitamins and minerals, and whole food ingredients,” Gardner explains. “All ingredients are locally sourced when possible and human grade; we ship it frozen and families can thaw out and prepare what they need for 3-5 days at a time.”
A Gilbert resident for 10 years, while they feed dogs nationwide, Barks & Berries is located in Gilbert. Gardner says that his business partner, Jody Finneman, is a long-time Chandler resident. Barks & Berries offers food, toppers and treats, and even a sampler pack on their website to help furry family members to figure out which flavors are their favorite (Gardner says that there’s a sale this month on sample packs).
Not only is Gardner grateful for his healthy pups and growing business, but in the name of a dog that recently passed away, he created a nonprofit arm called Sage’s Light. “I’d love to grow it to give back and help rescue dogs,” he says.
“I created Barks & Berries to deliver the absolute best in fresh, organic, and wholesome dog nutrition,” Gardner says. “I’m so grateful for the incredible growth. All ingredients are locally sourced or made in the U.S.A. Our customers love us and the pets we serve have their lives forever changed because you chose us.”