Stephanie Boone, the founder & CEO of Wondercide, began her entrepreneurial days almost immediately after she bought her home in the Gulf Coast region. “Between the bugs and the humidity, it was overwhelming. The pest control company was spraying routinely for fleas, ants and roaches,” she says. “It was expensive, ineffective, and Luna, my 12 year old Akita, started getting severely ill.” Luna has been by Boone’s side since she was a puppy and Boone wasn’t going to rest until she found the cause and a cure.

Luna only got worse over time. The vet thought it was a reaction of the fipronil, the active ingredient in Frontline, and the pesticides being used around the property.  “It turned my world upside down,” says Boone. Like all pet owners, Boone was doing what she thought was right for Luna. She was using vet prescribed flea and tick control and products that the pest control company had promised were “safe and natural” but all of this was actually causing harm to her family and Luna.

Diagnosed with severe liver and kidney failure, the vet said the only option was putting Luna to sleep. There was no way Boone was going to give up that easily. There had to be another option.

Boone’s “ah-ha” moment came as she reflected on the cedar chest her grandmother left to her months before.  “A light bulb went off,” she says. “If cedar repels insects, I should figure out a practical way to use something like that instead of chemical pesticides.” Boone sought out scientists & professors who had experience working with bio-based ingredients like cedar oil extractions. Together, they worked to develop alternative pesticides that didn’t use harmful chemicals.  Eventually the formulations worked, solving both Boone’s pest problem and Luna’s health issues.

Wondercide was born.

Today, Wondercide offers a growing line of innovative holistic health products & natural pest control products for pets, people, and their property. Boone’s commitment to sustainability and all-natural products manifests in all levels of the company. ”We don’t print anything,” she says, emphasizing that keeping electronic records cuts down on wasted paper. “We use recycled boxes to ship. We use recycled paper for packing instead of packing peanuts. The bubble wrap is even biodegradable.”

The company has grown more than she imagined. Business is booming and retailers are picking up the Wondercide brand coast to coast. Boone attributes her success to her bond with Luna, having a great product that solves an unmet need, and a strong commitment to giving back. And as for Luna? “I’m happy to report Luna is still enjoying life! I guess it’s her way of showing me I can never give up.”