Why it’s illegal to own only one guinea pig in Switzerland

为什么在瑞士只养一只豚鼠是违法的

Switzerland has a series of laws in place to protect animals but the most peculiar legislation is related to guinea pigs — and why it’s illegal to own just one, reports said.

报道称，瑞士有一系列保护动物的法律，但最奇特的立法与豚鼠有关——只拥有一只豚鼠是违法的。

Guinea pigs are social creatures who need interaction with their species in order to be happy so the European country has made it illegal to own just one and considers it to be animal abuse, ZME Science reported.

据ZME Science报道，豚鼠是一种群居动物，它们需要与同类互动来获得快乐。因此，欧洲国家将只养一只豚鼠定为非法，并认为这是虐待动物。

The furry, hamster-like pets get very attached to their owners and partners so when something does happen to their cage-mate, Swiss guinea pig owners need to immediately find another to take its place, the outlet said.

据报道，这些毛茸茸的、仓鼠般的宠物非常依恋它们的主人和伴侣，因此当它们的笼友发生了什么的话，豚鼠主人需要立即找到另一只来替补。

Priska Küng, who runs a sort of matchmaking agency for lonely guinea pigs, is often called in to help.

Priska Kung经营着一家为孤独的豚鼠牵线搭桥的机构，她经常被叫去帮忙。

“They hardly ever die at the same time, even if they are exactly the same age, people who don’t want a new guinea pig and lose one of their two animals need an interim solution,” Küng explained to the outlet, which called her service “high demand.”

“豚鼠和笼友几乎不会同时死亡，即使它们的年龄完全一样，那些不想要一只新豚鼠并失去两只动物之一的人需要一个临时的解决方案。”Kung向该网站解释道，该网站称她的服务“需求量很大”。

Even though guinea pigs are loath to be alone, they’re a bit picky when it comes to friends, Küng said.

Küng说，尽管豚鼠不喜欢独处，但它们在朋友面前还是有点挑剔。

“A young animal can annoy a four or five-year-old guinea pig by being too temperamental and active,” the guinea pig cupid said.

(豚鼠丘比特)该机构称：“一只小豚鼠会因为过于喜怒无常和活跃，而惹恼四五岁的豚鼠。”。

Aside from Switzerland’s strict guinea pig rules, they also have a series of other animal rights legislation in place, the outlet said.

报道称，除了瑞士严格的豚鼠规定外，他们还有一系列其他动物权利立法。