It’s Illegal To Own One Guinea Pig In Switzerland Because They're Prone To Loneliness

If you've ever owned a pet, you'll know it's not dissimilar to raising a child.

Are they fed? Have they slept? Are they happy? These questions constantly weigh on the mind of any animal parent.

So, when we learnt that Switzerland had put laws in place to stop animals getting lonely, we were frankly all for it.

Yep, as part of animal rights legislation launched in 2008, you can't own one solitary guinea pig in case it gets lonely.

Unsplash/ Bonnie Kittle

This is due to the fact that the furry creatures are highly social animals, and are proven to need company to live happily.

And they take the laws so seriously that the Swiss even have companies to pair guinea pigs together should one die and the other is unexpectedly left alone.

Our hearts!

Guinea pigs aren't the only creatures to get a special mention in the legislation, as Switzerland take the social rights of their animals so seriously that even fish are protected.

Unsplash/ Sanjiv Nayak

According to their laws, fish must also have a buddy in their tanks, because they're used to swimming in shoals in the sea.

Plus, owners are required to use lighting to produce full day/ night cycles for them to emulate their natural environment.

The laws also state that you can't boil a lobster alive, and a single cat must be allowed outside or able to see other cats from the windows at all times.

They extend to dogs too, stating that owners must have practical training before they're allowed to own a pooch.

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Meanwhile, it is considered animal abuse if a parrot doesn't interact regularly with other birds.

The laws in Switzerland might sound whacky to some, but other countries like Sweden actually have similar rules in place.

They don't just extend to pet owners, as last year they also joined Germany in announcing they're looking for alternative means of medical testing that doesn't involve animals.

Switzerland's current laws mean that any labs that do test on animals must have an animal welfare officer to ensure they're being treated fairly.

If we were an animal, we know where we'd want to live!

Topics: Life News, Real, Animal Welfare, Animals

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Pretty 52 who loves writing about all things food, fashion, beauty and lifestyle. She also has a particular interest in women's issues.

@joannafreedman