In New York, it was forbidden to buy guinea pigs in pet stores, the relevant law was signed by Mayor Eric Adams, according to Arguments and Facts, citing The New York Post.
The guinea pig boom among New Yorkers came during the coronavirus lockdowns. Forced to stay at home for months, people felt lonely and decided to get some kind of pet. Not everyone dared to get a dog or a cat, and the choice was made in favor of guinea pigs, which eat little, are unpretentious and peaceful.
The pandemic ended and the owners, who went to work, began to urgently get rid of their pets, giving them to pet stores and shelters, or even throwing them out into the street. Shelters quickly overflowed, and it is much more difficult to attach adult animals than cubs.
Now guinea pigs are no longer sold in pet stores in New York, they can only be purchased at an animal shelter.