It was a hot summer day on Cape Cod when a pair of guinea pigs were found as strays on the side of the road in Centerville, MA. Recognizing that the guinea pigs would not be able to fend for themselves, a concerned citizen brought them to the MSPCA-Angell: Cape Cod in the hopes that they could receive care and find new homes.
As they were named upon arrival, Bill Cipher and Dipper Pines are part of a concerning trend seen across the MSPCA-Angell adoption centers — a substantial increase in the intake of guinea pigs. Over the last decade, the number of homeless guinea pigs in our shelters has increased from 314 in 2012 to 478 in 2022, an increase of over 50 percent. To complicate the increase in intake, adoption interest for guinea pigs is significantly lower than interest for their canine and feline friends, which results in a much longer length of stay for guinea pigs, with an average of 29 days spent at the adoption centers compared to 13 and 18 days for cats and dogs, respectively.
Guinea pigs are relatively easy and inexpensive to acquire from pet stores and other sources, yet the level of daily care needed is often more than caretakers anticipate.
Innovation was required from adoption centers to keep up with the increased intake of guinea pigs. Over the past year, the MSPCA-Angell adoption centers promoted multiple fee-waived guinea pig adoption events to increase interest and awareness. The events garnered media attention and resulted in a desperately needed adoption increase.
While the adoption centers are providing care and finding homes for an increased number of guinea pigs, the MSPCA-Angell’s Advocacy team is working to address the issue with a potential long-term solution — a ban on the sale of guinea pigs in pet stores. Humane Pet Shop Ordinances have been successful in Attleboro, Cambridge, North Andover, and ten other municipalities. At the same time, the City of Boston plans to hold hearings about adding guinea pigs to an existing ordinance.
And Bill Cipher and Dipper Pines? After 83 days in the care of the MSPCA-Angell, they were finally adopted together during one of our fee-waived adoption events!
Learn how you can help pass Humane Pet Shop Ordinances at mspca.org/advocacy.
