Mountain Dog Turns Salmon Belly Trim into Freeze-Dried Pet Treats, Products Reach 46 U.S. States

On November 13, 2026, North American seafood industry media outlet SeafoodSource reported that Mountain Dog, an Alaska-based pet treat and wellness company, is producing freeze-dried pet treats from salmon belly trim. The company was co-founded by Kevin Thompson and his wife Hannah, and focuses on freeze-dried salmon treats free of artificial preservatives and added sugar.

Thompson was impressed by working dogs during his service in the U.S. Army. After contracting COVID-19 and spending nine days on a ventilator, he had a near-death experience and ended his active duty early, which also gave him the time to become a small business owner. He said that while serving overseas, he was always amazed by the abilities of military working dogs: "That dog will lay down its life for you without hesitation." He and Hannah have two German Shepherd dogs, and they want pets like these to be able to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

The product idea came from a suggestion by a veterinarian friend. Thompson recalled that the friend asked whether he could make a truly healthy dog treat, because most dog treats on the market are high in salt and sugar, causing dogs to develop gout, digestive problems and obesity. He had originally planned to enter the supplements market, but ultimately turned to pet treats.

For raw material, Mountain Dog uses the belly portion of salmon that processing plants typically discard, making a light, crispy, almost weightless treat through freeze-drying. The company explains on its website that pet treats generally fall into two categories, freeze-dried and dehydrated; dehydration bakes out moisture and takes away many essential nutrients in the product, while freeze-drying preserves nutrients and enzymes, and the finished product is high in fat while looking neat and having a stable shelf life. A 30-piece pack of Mountain Dog mini treats sells for $9.99 (€9.00). Thompson says good businesspeople have a responsibility to make products affordable for everyone.

Thompson also mentioned that he grew up on a farm, an experience that made him value using every part of a crop or livestock product to improve efficiency and reduce waste. He said that turning what an industry typically regards as waste into a profitable product leaves him "completely fascinated."

On the distribution side, Mountain Dog currently ships to 46 U.S. states, has active retail partnerships in 15 states, and has three partnerships in the United Kingdom. In just four years since founding, the company has won three awards, including the 2025 Alaska Manufacturer of the Year award.

However, Thompson says the cost of doing business in Alaska is becoming increasingly unaffordable, mainly due to rising fuel prices, high freight costs and power grid problems, and he is therefore considering relocating to another state to continue the business.

While still in Alaska, Thompson's goal is to jointly promote Alaska-made products alongside national products and his own, because he sees all competition as a positive factor. He names one of his closest partners as AlaSkins, a freeze-dried pet treat company based in Sitka, Alaska.

Thompson cited a set of industry figures: the U.S. pet food industry is worth $54 billion (€49 billion), and the segment for specialty proteins such as salmon still accounts for about $16 billion (€14.5 billion), growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5%. He said there is no industry in the United States that would not want that kind of growth rate, which shows there is ample room for competition; many people in Alaska are working desperately to make a living for their families, and if the state government won't promote them, he is willing to do so. He believes the advantage of a small community is that, as long as people are willing, they can lift each other up, but the narrative must shift from cutthroat competition to healthy competition.

Thompson has also set a longer-term goal: to work with domestic and foreign governments to get products into the hands of military working dogs.