Welcome to the Herd!

I'm Isabelle—a 21-year-old animal lover, proud piggie mama, and creator based in Northern Illinois.

I have been a massive animal lover for as long as I can remember. Growing up here in Illinois, I actually had guinea pigs as a kid and completely fell in love with their quirky personalities. But as life got busy, I went a long time without them.

Then, four years ago, everything changed. I welcomed my very first guinea pig as an adult—a beautiful little soul named Maple.

The Story of Maple Sticks 

Maple wasn't just a pet; she was my absolute best friend. I used to call her "Maple Sticks," and she brought a level of joy into my life that I didn't even know was possible. Tragically, in 2025, Maple passed away. The heartbreak of losing her was heavy, but instead of letting the grief take over, her death sparked something powerful inside me. That lifelong passion for animals became an absolute fire.

Because of Maple, I realized I wanted to do more than just love these animals in private—I wanted to take my passion a step further and protect them. Today, my herd has grown to nine beautiful guinea pigs, and our online community has grown to over 10,000 amazing followers!

In Loving Memory of My Best Friend

This store and this entire platform are dedicated to the loving memory of Maple Sticks. I want to be reminded of her every single day, and the best way I know how to honor her legacy is by helping other piggie parents.

Because of Maple, I dedicate every single day to educating, advocating, and sourcing healthy, 100% safe items for small animals. The pet market is flooded with products that are actually dangerous for guinea pigs, and I refuse to let our fur babies suffer from bad products. If it's not safe enough for my nine babies, it will never be found on this site.

Thank you for being here, for supporting my dream, and for helping me keep Maple's beautiful spirit alive!