NYC saved hundreds of guinea pigs with one smart law. Learn how surrenders fell 69%—and how you can help bring this success to every city.
Just a few years ago, New York City was facing a crisis most people never expected: hundreds of abandoned guinea pigs turning up across parks, apartment building lobbies, and sidewalks, left outside with no chance of surviving New York’s harsh winters or the urban predators waiting in the trees and bushes.
Families who bought guinea pigs on impulse quickly learned what animal advocates have been saying for years: guinea pigs are not “starter pets” (honestly, no animals are “starter pets,” but that’s a different topic for another day…). They need specialized food, daily care, veterinary access, enrichment, and socialization with other guinea pigs to live healthy lives. When people realized they couldn’t meet those needs—or that the cute baby they bought from a pet shop would soon become a five-to-seven-year commitment—many simply walked away.
And New York City Animal Care Centers (ACC) was left to clean up the heartbreak.
Overwhelmed Shelters and Animals in Need
In 2023, NYC ACC took in more than 600 guinea pigs in a single year. The surge became so severe that the shelter had to purchase specialized equipment—everything from species-appropriate housing to medical supplies—to make sure each guinea pig received the proper care they deserve.
But here’s the bigger challenge: ACC is an open-admissions shelter. That means they legally cannot turn away any animal who needs to be surrendered. Every guinea pig abandoned in a park, dropped off at a shelter, or found on the street was their responsibility. As intake numbers climbed, limited space and resources were stretched thinner every day. Adoption teams worked overtime to match guinea pigs with loving homes, but there were just too many animals, too fast.
It was a cycle no one could sustain—not the shelters, not the rescuers, and certainly not the animals.
Sales Bans Work—and NYC Just Proved It
In 2023, the City Council took action. A retail sales ban on guinea pigs passed—making it illegal for pet stores to sell the animals. The goal was simple: stop impulse purchases, remove NYC’s support from cruel guinea pig mills, reduce abandonment, and ease the pressure on shelters.
And it worked.
NYC ACC reports a 69% drop in guinea pig relinquishments since the sales ban took effect. That is a massive victory for animal rights and a powerful signal to cities everywhere: when you remove profit from the pipeline, fewer animals end up abandoned.
This is the kind of change that creates real, measurable impact:
- Fewer guinea pigs entering overburdened shelters
- More animals adopted into loving, prepared homes
- More resources available for every animal who walks through the door
These are the outcomes every shelter dreams of, achieved through smart, compassionate policy.
A Movement Spreading Through the Country
What happened in New York City wasn’t a fluke. It was an early step in a growing national movement.
Across the United States, retail sales bans are gaining momentum. City councils and advocates are recognizing that the pet shop pipeline fuels impulse buying and neglect, especially for small animals who are marketed as “easy pets” when they are anything but. Guinea pig bans have now rippled across the country, including in Allentown, PA, West Hollywood, CA and most recently Las Vegas, NV, with World Animal Protection proudly supporting each step toward progress.
These victories are proof of what happens when local organizers, national advocates, and lawmakers work together to protect animals instead of treating them like disposable products.
Powerhouse Partnerships Creating Change
World Animal Protection has been honored to work alongside Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR)—the powerhouse behind NYC’s original guinea pig sales ban—to create the next wave of protection for vulnerable animals.
Now, we’re working together again, this time to pass a citywide retail sales ban on birds in New York City.
Just like guinea pigs, birds are often sold impulsively: bright colors in a storefront, a low price tag, and misleading claims that they’re “low maintenance.” But the truth is the opposite—birds have complex needs, deep social bonds, and can live for decades. When those realities collide with consumer expectations, it’s the animals who pay the price.
A retail sales ban would prevent that cycle before it starts.
Take Action: Help Animals in NYC and Beyond
If you live in New York City:
👉 Urge your Council Member to support the retail bird sales ban. Your voice matters, and local leadership needs to hear from their constituents.
If you don’t live in NYC:
👉 Download our Retail Sales Ban Toolkit to help protect animals in your community. The guide walks you through everything you need—from building a coalition to speaking with lawmakers—to bring a compassionate law to your city.