While for animal lovers, it seems like it is only obvious that animals have feelings, there is a lot of people out there who get pets without considering this. Guinea pigs are one of these overlooked animals.
Just like other rodent species like rats, guinea pigs need friends. And in 2008 Switzerland made it illegal to own a guinea pig all on its own.
Guinea pigs, being herd animals, so they do need at least one companion. The law was part of a legislative push to grant “social rights” to pets that tend to get lonely. Having a cage mate boots their quality of life. If one guinea pig dies before the other, you'd need to get it another to replace it, or you could face a legal situation.
Guinea Pigs are not the only animals in Switzerland that are protected from living in isolation, Goldfish need to be in a minimum of pairs and parrots as well, or they need the chance to socialize regularly. And while cat’s do not seem to need friends, the law in Switzerland requires that they can at least see other cats out the window or in the garden, if you do not own more than one.
COMMENTS