PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Make it illegal to keep or sell social animals like guinea pigs alone
We call on the government to introduce legislation preventing pet shops and breeders from rehoming social animals, such as guinea pigs or rabbits, without a suitable companion. Owners must keep these species in compatible pairs or groups, with exceptions only for bereavement or planned re-pairing.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
190
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 190/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 190/100,000
Background
Guinea pigs and other social species need companionship to express natural behaviours and avoid stress or loneliness. In countries like Switzerland and Austria, keeping them alone is illegal. We should follow this example to uphold animal welfare standards and stop the sale of solitary animals. Limited exceptions could apply when an animal is adopted as a companion replacement or where the adopter commits to pairing within a set time frame.