Switzerland Made It Illegal to Own Just One Guinea Pig

Switzerland takes animal welfare seriously—so seriously that in 2008, the country made it illegal to own just one guinea pig. The reason? Guinea pigs are highly social animals, and keeping them in solitary confinement is considered a form of animal cruelty.

You can walk into a pet store and buy a single guinea pig—they don't come in multipacks—but Switzerland's Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office is clear: "Guinea pigs are very social animals and may not be kept on their own." If you want to keep these fluffy rodents as pets, you need at least two.

Why Guinea Pigs Need Companionship

In the wild, guinea pigs live in herds of 5 to 10 individuals. They're constantly communicating through chirps, purrs, and wheeks, grooming each other, and huddling together for warmth and security. Remove that social structure, and these animals suffer.

Isolated guinea pigs show clear signs of distress:

• Lethargy and depression
• Excessive hiding and fearfulness
• Altered eating patterns
• Repetitive, anxious behaviors
• Shortened lifespan

Switzerland's Animal Protection Ordinance recognizes that animal welfare isn't just about physical health—it includes emotional and social well-being too. A lonely guinea pig might have a clean cage and plenty of food, but without a companion, it's still suffering.

The Rent-a-Guinea-Pig Solution

Here's where Swiss pragmatism gets creative. What happens when one guinea pig dies and leaves its companion alone? Enter the guinea pig rental agencies.

These services allow owners to rent a companion guinea pig temporarily. This keeps the surviving pet from experiencing loneliness while the owner decides whether to commit to another permanent companion. It's a uniquely Swiss solution to an animal welfare challenge—bureaucratic, thoughtful, and just a little bit quirky.

Not Just Guinea Pigs

Switzerland's social animal laws don't stop with guinea pigs. The same principle applies to:

• Parrots and budgies (highly social birds)
• Goldfish (yes, even fish need friends)
• Certain livestock like goats and pigs

The Swiss philosophy is simple: if an animal is wired for social living, keeping it in isolation is inhumane, no matter how well you care for it otherwise.

This law remains in full effect today, part of Switzerland's reputation for having some of the world's strictest and most progressive animal welfare legislation. While it might seem unusual to outsiders, it reflects a culture that genuinely prioritizes the well-being of animals—even the small, squeaky ones.