There’s one furry friend you won’t be able to purchase from a store in New York City: on Tuesday, the New York City Council banned the sale of guinea pigs.
The caveat is that the bill does not restrict the adoption of guinea pigs from local animal shelters and rescue groups, nor does it restrict ownership. So for those who want one or have one, no need to panic.
The move comes after animal shelters in the city have been overloaded with guinea pigs; though they might seem like a small responsibility, they require large amounts of care and attention.
Katy Hansen of the Animal Care Centers of NYC says this is great news.
“Pre-pandemic in 2019, we averaged a little under 400 guinea pigs a year coming in throughout the year. And in 2022, it was 825 guinea pigs coming in,” Hansen said.
Hansen says nearly 200 have already been surrendered in 2023 and that during the pandemic, people bought the animals as companions, but didn’t realize how much effort was needed to take care of them.
“They need fresh produce all the time. They need specialized hay called timothy hay and you cannot bring a guinea pig to your neighborhood [veterinarians]. They need specialized back care,” Hansen said. “Also spaying and neutering a guinea pig is a really delicate procedure that only like three or four can do in New York City.”
Guinea pigs can live up to a decade, so they can be a long-term commitment.
This bill now heads to Mayor Adams’ desk.
