Hound and Howl which supplies locally produced dog - and cat - food, treats and grooming products, has been ’crazy busy’ since the pandemic began.

Richard Cryer, whose girlfriend Sarah Jewell owns the business, said: ’People used to come in and collect from our unit on South Quay, Douglas, but we decided very early on, even before the lockdown, to switch to delivery only.

’We used to have a £20 minimum order but now we just deliver what people want and delivery is free.

’We’re just doing it to help everyone, so that they don’t have to come out.’

The new service caused an immediate spike in growth in the business.

Richard said: ’We were constantly out of stock of products: we couldn’t keep up with demand.’

They had already looked into the possibility of asking for a grant from DEFA to buy another, larger mixer and mincing machine but weren’t sure if they would still be doing grants during the crisis. Turns out they are, as they are very aware that businesses might be in a similar position to Hound and Howl.

Richard said: ’I called Adrian Moore [head of food and drink development] at DEFA and he couldn’t have been more helpful.

’They couldn’t have been better or quicker and the machine is already here now and working.

’It’s the Isle of Man’s biggest mixing and mincing machine - it’s enormous.

’It weighs around three quarters of a ton and we can put 100kgs of raw meat in at a time.

’On a good day we can produce one ton of finished product: it’s unbelievable.’

Apart from the chicken and duck which they buy from a free range farm in the UK, all of their meat comes from Isle of Man Meats.

Richard said: ’We worked out the other day that we are buying half a ton a week from them.

’Some people think the meat used for dog food is just scraps and offcuts but it’s not.

’It’s all human grade meat and has to be passed for human consumption.

’The minced beef that we sell is identical to what you would buy in Shoprite, it’s just that we can buy it cheaper because we buy in such large quantities.

’Although it’s branded as dog food it’s suitable for cats and we have lots of cat-owning customers.

’Our biggest seller by far is the Beef Tripe and Chicken.’

Their meat is sold raw and frozen so you just defrost it to serve.

Their website also features such doggy delights as chicken necks, tripe sticks and ox liver, all dried to make the perfect treats.

And it’s all been quality tested by two ’real customers’, Richard and Sarah’s two French bulldogs, Stanley and Enzo.

’They’re very particular - only the best for them’, said Richard.

See www.houndandhowl.com