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Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon proposed an update to the city's existing humane pet shop ordinance on Wednesday, March 22 that would prohibits the sale guinea pigs in pet shops in addition to existent restrictions on the sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits.
The restriction is designed to improve animal welfare by reducing the number of guinea pig surrenders in the Boston area. MSPCA-Angell and Boston Animal Care and Control both reported a dramatic uptick in guinea pig intakes in recent years, the proposal said.
“I am proud to introduce this ordinance that will not only protect animals, but seeks to prevent financial and emotional costs to the city and its residents, and demonstrates that it is important for Boston to foster a more humane environment in the city," Councilor Breadon said.
MSPCA-Angell reported that it received more than 210 surrendered guinea pigs and rabbits in a three-month time frame. Over 60% of these animals were originally acquired at pet shops.
"We applaud this ordinance and urge the city to pass it without delay,” said Mike Keiley, MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs.
Most of the guinea pigs sold in pet shops come from large-scale, out-of-state commercial breeding facilities and brokers, the proposal said.
If the ordinance passes in City Council, pet shops would receive $300 fines for selling guinea pigs unless doing so in cooperation with an animal shelter or animal rescue organization.
Boston was the first city in Massachusetts to ban the sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. The ordinance was passed unanimously passed by city council in 2016, according to MSPCA-Angell.
Click here to see MSPCA-Angell Boston's online registry of adoptable pets.
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