Marsh Dog

“No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” —Edmund Burke

Marsh Dog was founded in 2012 by siblings Hansel Harlan and Veni Harlan. A third sibling Gretel Kelly, along with her husband Bob, came on board in 2018. All are avid dog lovers, rooted in south Louisiana, and witnesses to its sheer beauty, unique culture, and heart-breaking vulnerability. The siblings didn’t arbitrarily decide to enter the pet food industry. They saw a problem and wanted to contribute to a solution.  

So what’s the problem? Destruction of Louisiana wetlands by Nutria. This invasive species destroyed 100,000 acres prior to institution of the Federal/State Nutria Control Program. The program incentivizes the removal of Nutria from wetlands to stop further land loss by providing a bounty at taxpayer expense. The fur and the highly nutritious lean meat of Nutria were not being utilized. 

Hansel had studied in South America and knew Nutria were a delicacy in their native country. He had followed the state’s promotion of “Ragodin” for the human market. There was little interest or profit in the orange-toothed swamp rabbit but Hansel mused that dogs would be more than happy to partake of this eco-sustainable, nutrient-rich protein.

At the same time, the Harlans had become increasingly concerned about food ingredients and the environment for both themselves and their dogs. Hansel felt that with constant food recalls and harmful foreign ingredients, he didn’t always trust what was available. He had a dog that suffered from chronic allergies and explored treatments and dietary solutions. Veni treatment for cancer shaped her perspective on both the environment and food production. Her work for the Louisiana Black Bear Coalition and the state’s Seafood Promotion Board greatly increased her awareness of habitat issues. Like everyone, the Harlans felt powerless when Hurricanes Katrina/Rita and the Macondo oil disasters ravaged the region. All they could do as concerned citizens was foster domestic animals, triage wild ones, reunite owners with their pets, and adopt out those that couldn’t go home. These public and personal experiences made an indelible impression.

The Harlans were guided by the belief that every small act has the power to make a big difference. This was the genesis of Marsh Dog. And who better to engage in environmental stewardship than man’s best friend? 

In 2012, the Harlans launched their idea of using eco-sustainable wild nutria in dog treats with a grant from the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program. Marsh Dog’s first products, handmade biscuits and jerky, quickly found an enthusiastic audience of dog owners as well as acclaim from conservationists across the country. After proving their concept and conducting extensive research, the company found the right manufacturing parter to scale production. In July of 2019 Marsh Dog introduced the next generation of wild nutria dog treats. Owners across the USA were able to offer their dogs a healthy alternative treat while supporting science-based wetland conservation. 

The advent of Covid interfered with the goals of Marsh Dog. In June of 2021, the owners sold to a national pet food company, Chasing Our Tails. As of January 2025, the new company has not advanced our mission. We hope this changes in the near future.

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