Sign Our Petition

These jails are sold daily to buyers who provide a living space for their animals! These small cages pose many health risks including obesity, pododermatitis (bumblefoot), behavior issues like bloody fights and bond fallouts, and much more! Let us stop pet stores from selling a cage smaller than the minimum of 7.5 square feet, we can drastically improve the well-being of our furry friends! This is immensely unfair and considered animal abuse by many! How would you like to live in a closet for the rest of your life?

According to the Humanes Society of the United States, the bare minimum of a guinea pig cage should be no smaller than 7.5 square feet (0.696773 square meters) for one or two guinea pigs living in a cage (some cages aren't even half this size). 

This petition will ban the sale of cages that meet less than this minimum sizing as follows:

• A single guinea pig needs a minimum cage size of 7.5 square feet
• Two guinea pigs need a minimum cage size of 7.5 square feet
• Three guinea pigs need a minimum cage size of 10.5 square feet
• Four guinea pigs need a minimum cage size of 13 square feet
• Five guinea pigs need a minimum cage size of 16 square feet
• An additional .5 square feet will be added per guinea pig
   

Rules They Should Follow:

• Cages that are the sizing listed above will be only recommended for the amount of guinea pigs they can house with the minimum sizing
• The cages will be measured from the inside length from the bottom of the cage to exclude any space that may be present due to the base of the cage slanting inwards
• Square footage should comprise uninterrupted floor space, not multiple areas that are added to one
• Cages smaller than the minimum must be advertised only as traveler or carrier enclosures that can only be used for 30 days or less for the transportation of the guinea pig. 
  
  

Health Risks:

Obesity:  Due to a lack of area to use and act in normal ways guinea pigs do, this includes running, hiding, and foraging for food. 

Pododermatitis: Also known as the nasty bumblefoot, is caused when a guinea pig's feet are constantly stressed by their environment. Things like moist substrate on the bottom of the cage or wire flooring can be a part of these cages. When the cage is under the minimum sizing the cage will become soiled with feces and urine quicker than a properly sized one.

Behavioral Issues: These are commonly seen in guinea pigs who live in a cage smaller than the minimum. Due to the lack of space, they can show aggressive behaviors towards each other and fight each other leading to bloody and immensely hurt guinea pigs.

Death: These cages are a large cause of death in guinea pigs which have been seen repeatedly and must stop!

Better replacements for these cages may be like the popular C & C cage, cubes, and coroplast. They are light, fold nicely, take up little shelf space, and are easy to ship. They are made from coroplast, lightweight, and durable plastic. The second part is simple metal grids and plastic connectors. 

I urge you to sign this petition, there are much better replacements for these cages. Pet stores know they can do better! With your help, we can make the change!