Why Brockton has a guinea pig glut and what can be done

BROCKTON — On a hot June day, someone left three guinea pigs in a cage on the side of Ithica Road.

But Tomato, Shelby and Emmy didn't die. They had the good fortune to be rescued and taken to the Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts in Brockton. Those three little heartbeats are part of a much bigger story: Families who adopted guinea pigs during the pandemic are abandoning them.

"They're such a deceptively easy little pet to just go buy at the store for $30 or so," said Erin MacLeod, a volunteer at the shelter. "And then when you get them, they require so much more care than you might have thought and they live longer than you might have thought and then they they do multiply if you have a male and female."

Abandoned and stray guinea pigs on the rise

Take Tomato. She sports a white blaze along her nose and she's under pregnancy watch. When you pick her up for a snuggle, you can feel the baby bump. She'll likely have two to four pups and could have as many as eight. Female guinea pigs — sows — can have five litters a year, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. They can even get pregnant again within hours of giving birth, thanks to the "postpartum estrus" ability they share with several other rodents.

Why is there a guinea pig glut?

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says its shelters have seen a 56% increase in abandoned and stray guinea pigs from 2021 to 2022, said Director of Advocacy Kara Holmquist. Surrenders of guinea pigs are up 37% since the pandemic began.

"People are leaving these animals at a great rate," Holmquist said.

In addition to Tomato and her littermates being left on a South Side street, recent arrivals at the Animal Protection Center include Wally, found in the Walmart parking lot and Parsley, who was discovered in D.W. Field Park.

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Advocates push cities and towns to ban guinea pig sales

What to do about the guinea pig glut? One strategy might be to spay the sows and neuter the boars. But while that tactic has had some limited success among feral cats, it's not viable for guinea pigs. That's owing both to the high cost of the surgery and relatively small number of vets who specialize in it.

MacLeod and other animal advocates urge cities and towns to ban the sale of guinea pigs. The efforts have already succeeded in Attleboro, Cambridge, North Andover and ten other Bay State municipalities, the MSPCA said. The Boston City Council plans to hold hearings this summer about adding guinea pigs to the existing no-buy list of dogs, cats and rabbits. NYC has already passed a ban.

The new laws aren't meant to put pet shops out of business, but to change the way they do business, Holmquist said. Animal sales for most pet shops, she said, account for a single-digit percent of their incomes.

"Pet supplies and services is still where they make their money," she said.

MacLeod and others at Brockton's private, non-profit Animal Protection Center aim to convince the city to join the growing group of cities who say "no" to the commercial sale of guinea pigs.

In Brockton, Pet Supplies Plus at the mall sells guinea pigs. On a recent Thursday, they were selling for $47.98 each.

"Our biggest push right now would be trying to get the attention of Brockton city government to follow these other towns and cities and just consider banning the sale of them," MacLeod said.

Winthrop Farwell, a Brockton City Councilor and former mayor, is the first and, so far, only city councilor to respond to the Animal Protection Center's calls and emails. He said he'd consider sponsoring a local law modeled on Attleboro's.

"How well we treat animals and pets reflects upon the character of our community," Farwell said.

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Parents urged to choose pets wisely

The Animal Protection Center on the west side serves about 65 cities and towns on the South Shore. They've stopped taking new guinea pig surrenders until adoptions open up space in their clean, well-lit small-animal room.

For instance, when the Enterprise visited the shelter one recent Thursday, three guinea pigs were on the verge of being adopted. The pending adoption of Strawberry, Melon and Blueberry — collectively known as the "guinea pig fruit basket" — will make room for the shelter to care for a few new arrivals.

The up-front cost can seem attractive. The Animal Protection Center often waives the $40 adoption fee. The fee for cats runs about $250, for instance. Then there's providing a habitat, food.

What do guinea pigs eat?

Guinea pigs can be good first pets for children. But parents need to know they are bringing highly social animals who live for six or eight years into the home. And the furry little creatures need care and feeding every single day.

Guinea pigs are prey animals who eat a vegetarian diet that should include fresh veggies like lettuce and carrots and grasses such as Timothy hay. Compressed plant pellets can also keep them alive, but shouldn't be their sole source of food. They poop a lot, so their habitats need regular cleaning.

Many families get rid of their guinea pigs when children stop caring for them, MacLeod said.

"As a parent, you want to make sure if you are getting a pet for your child, ultimately you're the one who's responsible for it," she said. "Regardless of how old the children are, guinea pigs are a long commitment."

Adopt!

The Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts has guinea pigs for adoption. Visit their shelter at 1300 West Elm St. Extension in Brockton or browse guinea pigs (and other animals) available for adoption.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on Twitter at @HelmsNews.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton animal shelter grapples with guinea pig surplus