Photo: Courtesy of The Animal Rescue League of Boston
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A guinea pig adopt-a-thon is coming to Boston this weekend.
The Animal Rescue League of Boston and several other animal rescue organizations are hosting the fee-waived guinea pig adoption event to find homes for more than 100 guinea pigs.
All guinea pig adoption fees will be waived during the event running from Friday, January 5 to Sunday, January 7.
In the past few years, adoption shelters around Massachusetts have had an influx of guinea pigs. Last week, the ARL took on 55 guinea pigs from one home.
"The guinea pigs were very well cared for, but the owners purchased the animals from pet stores where they were incorrectly sexed, resulting in many litters," ARL Boston said.
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The Boston City Council voted to ban the sale of guinea pigs in pet stores last month. Only pet stores that partner with a rescue organization can now sell them.
"With many pet stores acquiring guinea pigs from out-of-state breeding facilities, the ban will help promote the large numbers of guinea pigs available for adoption in surrounding animal shelters and cut down on the rising numbers of abandoned and stray guinea pigs being found in the city," ARL Boston said.
City officials started to ban dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores in 2016.
Anyone interested in adopting a guinea pig is encouraged to visit ARL, MSPCA, ASPCM, Dakin Humane, and Lowell Humane over the weekend.
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