Hi, I'm Desiree. I’m the co-owner and co-founder of The Piggy Place, but my journey here started a little differently, in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio.

Before guinea pigs completely took over my life, I was a full-time dance teacher and freelance photographer/videographer. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Film & Video and have always loved finding ways to combine my passion for photography and video with whatever I’m doing. In 2016, my husband and I moved to the City of Angels, and we’ve loved building our home and life here ever since.

With Los Angeles having so much to offer, I tried my hand at a few different things, including traveling the country photographing dance competitions and even doing some background acting in television and movies, when in Rome, right? 

Then COVID hit, and like so many people, my life was suddenly filled with uncertainty. I decided to look for something a little more stable and began working at a pet store. After working my way into a management position, my attention turned toward the pet care department - and more specifically, the guinea pigs.

That’s when my whole world changed.

Although I had a guinea pig as a child, I didn’t remember nearly as much about their care as I thought I did. I just knew that something didn’t feel quite right about the way they were being cared for. So, I started researching. Then I researched some more. And then somehow, I became the person teaching my coworkers about guinea pigs. Before long, I had earned the nickname “the crazy guinea pig lady”, all in good fun, of course!

And then there was Piggy Smalls.

A customer returned him because he was supposedly “TOO LOUD.” Naturally, it was love at first sight. That little guy was the beginning of my deep dive into guinea pig care.

I discovered my local guinea pig rescue and began learning even more through them. When a guinea pig arrived at the pet store in grave condition, I knew I couldn't just stand by and watch. I took him to the rescue, where they helped bring him back to health. That experience was a complete game changer for me.

One thing led to another, and I eventually became the Operations Manager of that same rescue. Between my time working in pet care and my experience with the rescue, I gained an incredible amount of hands-on knowledge about guinea pig health, nutrition, rehabilitation, medications, behavior, and everyday care.

I also started building my own little herd. Today, I have 11 guinea pigs of my own, and several of them have needed significant rehabilitation and extra medical care along the way. Helping them through those difficult periods and watching them become happy, healthy piggies has taught me more than I ever could have learned from a book.

And somehow, what started with one “TOO LOUD” little guinea pig turned into an entire life centered around these tiny potatoes. 

That journey eventually led to The Piggy Place.

Today, I get to combine everything I’ve learned with the things I’ve always loved, caring for animals, educating others, creating meaningful connections, and of course, taking approximately 4,000 photos and videos of guinea pigs. 

Through The Piggy Place, I’m able to provide personalized grooming, wellness care, pet sitting, and boarding for guinea pigs throughout our community. Our goal is to make every piggy feel safe, comfortable, and cared for while giving their humans the peace of mind that comes from knowing they’re in experienced hands.

I know firsthand that guinea pigs aren't “just pets.” They have personalities, routines, preferences, and very strong opinions about vegetables. They’re family.

And that’s exactly how we treat them here. 

Hi ya'll I'm Alison, the co-owner and co-founder of The Piggy Place. I grew up in Los Angeles, CA and spent some time in Lake Havasu, AZ. I have always been very drawn towards animals despite being raised in a Chilean household with my grandparents who didn't really care for them. Although I have a huge passion for animals, growing up my focus was on art and my education. At first I took some pre-vet classes but eventually decided to commit myself to one major, completely unrelated to animal care. I received a Bachelor's in Deaf Studies at CSUN and hope to go back to school become an interpreter, while working on animal rescue and care. I decided to pursue a job in animal rescue after hearing about my local guinea pig rescue needing help. I just showed up one day and asked for a job or to at least volunteer. Next thing I know I'm working with all kinds of animals, meeting amazing new people, and gaining so much knowledge and experience. 

I did not have much experience with guinea pigs until I started working at the guinea pig rescue. I learned SO much about so many different animals, including pigs, horses, and chickens! I quickly fell in love with guinea pigs and did everything I could to learn about their care and absorb as much information as possible. Having the opportunity to work so closely with other guinea pig experts and having access to hundreds of guinea pigs, I realized that there is so much misinformation out there and there is still so much to be learned about these little guys. I'm committed to researching more about guinea pigs and helping others learn about proper care. I'm grateful to now be a part of the guinea pig community and be a part of the much needed change!