Can a guinea pig live alone in Switzerland?
No. When one of two guinea pigs dies, the other may not stay alone under Swiss animal welfare rules. Near Zurich, a woman became known for renting out guinea pigs for exactly this.
Ep. 11 · This is Ueli · 49 seconds. Watch
The real rule
Why the Swiss laugh, and what it means if you're new here.
Swiss animal welfare rules say a guinea pig may not live alone, and that applies even when its companion dies. Near Zurich, a woman became known for renting out guinea pigs for exactly this, reported from 2011 to 2022. For a newcomer family, it means planning ahead: when one guinea pig dies, the other needs a new companion.
Blüemli's verdict: Ding. True. A guinea pig may not be kept alone. It needs another guinea pig.
GSPÄNLI: literally: “little companion”; really: a buddy Ueli's Word
Be like Ueli. Nobody is left alone.
Learn more: Swiss Mythos
The rule, explained
The rule from episode 4 has a sad sequel. Guinea pigs may not be kept alone (BLV), and that does not pause when a companion dies. In 2011 Der Spiegel, republished by ABC News, reported on Priska Küng in Hadlikon, about 30 km from Zurich, who rented out guinea pigs to keep a widowed one company; some stayed for years. The World reported on it in 2013 and The Local in 2022. No report from 2024 to 2026 confirms the service still runs, so we say she became known for it.
Sources: BLV, Meerschweinchen; Der Spiegel, 21 September 2011, republished by ABC News; The World, 14 August 2013; The Local Switzerland, 2 June 2022
Questions people ask
Can you rent a guinea pig in Switzerland?
A rental near Zurich was widely reported from 2011 to 2022; no recent report confirms it still runs.
More episodes
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