Our Story
It all started with a picky puppy named Sawyer.
And the struggle of two pet parents who just wanted to feed him well.
Build my pet's plan
How it all started
Kristin and Peter were elated when they brought home their new puppy Sawyer in 2014. But alongside that new-found love grew a real concern — Sawyer was a very picky eater. Kibble. Canned. Raw. Nothing worked.
As a former forensic accountant, Kristin's instinct was to investigate. What she learned raised serious questions, the most concerning being: "If I wouldn't feel comfortable eating this myself, why should Sawyer?"
Our Solution
With the help of their vet, Kristin and Peter began making Sawyer's meals in their own kitchen — buying his ingredients at the grocery store alongside their own. The change was instant, and it became the foundation for everything Tom&Sawyer stands for today.
Human Grade. Real Food.
All of our recipes are human grade. Further to that, our dog meals are 98–99% whole food ingredients like muscle meats and leafy greens. And the remaining 1–2%? Omega oils and supplements to ensure they're always nutritionally complete and balanced, no matter the season.
Culinary-Inspired Recipes
Our recipes are crafted by culinary-trained chefs, and inspired by meals you'd enjoy with your own family. Think spaghetti bolognese — the inspiration behind our most popular recipe since 2015: Italian Beef Pasta Dinner, or Thai Coconut Chicken & Rice Recipe.
Backed by Science
Every recipe is developed by animal health experts like nutritionists and veterinarians, and either meets or exceeds the guidelines set by AAFCO and NRC. We also individually cook every ingredient, to kill harmful bacterias while preserving the nutritional contribution of each ingredient.
Meet Sawyer
At a perfect 10 lbs, Sawyer the Yorkie-Poo has some very big personality. He takes his role as Chief Tasting Officer (CTO) very seriously — his style is a simple pass/fail model: if he doesn't eat it, it doesn't make the menu.
The Tom&Sawyer Journey
2014
Sawyer joins the family — and refuses to eat kibble. A former forensic accountant, Kristin leans on her investigative skills, and the research begins.
2015
Tom&Sawyer is born. Working with chefs, nutritionists, vets and labs, we formulate nutritionally-balanced, delicious recipes for pets.
2016
We open our flagship storefront in Toronto, housing our state-of-the-art commercial kitchen — a first in the industry in Canada.
2019
Inundated with retailer requests across Canada, we launch our brand with hundreds of premium pet retailers across Canada.
2022
We launched our new online store enabling a new flexible subscription meal plan experience for customers.
2023
We became the first pet food brand in Canada to be 100% AAFCO Human Grade, by moving from our original kitchen to a Safe Food for Canadians licensed human food facility.
2024
The Tom&Sawyer VetChef product line launches, with our proprietary EHS Blend™ (everyday health supplement).
2026
Tom&Sawyer launches its human grade pet meals into the USA for home delivery.
How Sawyer Continues to Inspire Us Today
As Sawyer's needs have changed, so have our offerings. After his first bout with pancreatitis, we developed a line of low fat meals. And now, in his golden years, we've launched a senior support recipe too.
At 12 years young, Sawyer is still a playful pup who often gets mistaken for a puppy. To us, he's living proof of what a lifetime of supportive nutrition can achieve.
“We just wanted to do better for Sawyer — real food, gently cooked, made from ingredients we recognize. That's still the whole idea.”
What's for dinner tonight?
Italian Beef Pasta Dinner? Thai Coconut Chicken & Rice Recipe? Your pet's menu just got tastier than yours.