Policy Statement on the Use of Live Guinea Pigs in Public Engagement

As a welfare-focused organisation, we are guided by the principles of the Three R’s — Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement and in ensuring that the welfare needs of Guinea Pigs are met. In principle, we do not support the use of live animals for public display or entertainment. We would encourage the use of alternatives such realistic toy guinea pigs, educational videos or lectures, interactive displays, photos or storyboards, or even Virtual Reality. 

However, we acknowledge that some organisations or individuals will want to have the presence of live guinea pigs to encourage public engagement and education. If organisations choose to use live guinea pigs in public settings, we expect the following minimum welfare standards to be upheld, with the caveat that they should only ever be used to promote better standards of welfare for guinea pigs and not for advertising, marketing or entertainment purposes. 

• Travel time must be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes in total (see below)
• Use of Guinea pigs to be approved by an Ethics committee, not just the owner or handler, and this should include an Exotic Vet. (See below)
• Guinea pigs must be kept in their usual social groups to avoid stress
• Guinea pigs must not be handled by the general public
• There must be a quite area available that the Guinea Pigs can be moved to if they show signs of fear or stress
• The setup must meet contemporary housing guidelines, including:
  • Adequate space
  • Hiding places
  • Access to a proper, species-appropriate diet

These standards are designed to refine the experience for the animals and minimise stress and disruption to their welfare.

This policy does not apply to the use of guinea pigs in formal educational settings, such as animal care colleges and veterinary schools, where animals are used under structured, conditions to support student learning.

We hope this guidance supports organisations, individuals and events in making informed, ethical decisions that prioritise the welfare of guinea pigs while still enabling meaningful public education.

Ethical Oversight

To ensure that all public engagement activities involving guinea pigs are conducted responsibly and with the highest regard for animal welfare, we recommend that organisations establish an Ethics Committee to oversee planning and implementation.

This committee should include:

• At least one exotic species veterinary professional, ideally with experience in small mammal welfare
• A representative with expertise in animal behaviour or welfare science
• A member responsible for public engagement or education
• A layperson or community representative to provide an external perspective

Importantly, if the owner or handler of the animals is not the event organiser, we expect both parties to work together to assemble the Ethics Committee. This ensures that decisions about animal welfare are not made solely by the owner or handler, and that there is independent oversight of how animals are used and cared for during public engagement.

This expectation applies to all animals used in public-facing settings, not just guinea pigs. It reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and the principles of the Three R’s — Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement.

The Ethics Committee should:

• Review proposed activities involving live animals
• Ensure the animals to be used have been properly habituated and trained to deal with such events
• Ensure compliance with welfare standards and relevant legislation
• Advise on alternatives to live animal use where appropriate
• Monitor outcomes and recommend improvements

Evidence Supporting Limited Travel Time

1. EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) recommends that journey duration should be kept to a minimum for all animals to reduce exposure to stress, fear, and distress during transport. While their guidance focuses on farm animals, the principles apply broadly to small mammals like guinea pigs, who are particularly sensitive to environmental changes. [Animal wel...als | EFSA]

2. A study on guinea pigs used as ambassador animals in zoos found that moving between habitats did not elicit a significant hormone response, but individual variation was high, and females showed greater stress sensitivity. This suggests that even short relocations can affect welfare depending on the animal’s temperament and sex. [Physical a...uinea Pigs]

3. Guinea pigs are prey animals with a strong flight response and are known to be highly sensitive to noise, temperature changes, and unfamiliar environments. Prolonged travel can exacerbate these stressors, leading to elevated cortisol levels, reduced appetite, and increased risk of illness. [What To Kn...ansportati]

4. Welfare guidance from organisations like Kind to Cavies and the RWAF emphasises the importance of minimising disruption, maintaining social groups, and providing familiar environments — all of which are harder to achieve during extended travel

Why 30 Minutes?

While not a hard scientific threshold, 30 minutes is a reasonable welfare-based guideline that:

4. Limits exposure to stressors
5. Reduces the risk of overheating or dehydration
6. Allows animals to remain within their familiar social and environmental context
7. Avoids the need for additional welfare interventions (e.g. hydration breaks, temperature control)

It’s a refinement measure aligned with the Three R’s model, helping organisations avoid the need for more invasive or costly welfare checks while still enabling public engagement.