William Lipovsky
Saying goodbye to a pet can be difficult, but, luckily, many places are willing to take in guinea pigs, making the process a little smoother.
For example, PetSmart will take your guinea pig if you purchased it from a PetSmart location within the last 14 days.
If you purchased your guinea pig elsewhere or have had it longer than 14 days, we have the list of places that take in pets below, including humane societies and animal shelters.
If none of these work for you, we’ve also listed several websites that might be able to help you find your guinea pig a new home.
Will PetSmart Take Your Guinea Pig?
PetSmart will take your guinea pig if you bought it from a PetSmart store — though restrictions apply.
If you purchased a guinea pig from PetSmart, you have 14 days to return it, according to our communications with the company.
To return the guinea pig, take the animal and your receipt to your nearest PetSmart location.
Live pet returns more than 14 days from the purchase date may not be allowed or will be subject to a store manager’s approval.
Where Else Can You Take Your Unwanted Guinea Pig?
If you didn’t recently purchase your guinea pig from PetSmart, you’re probably still unsure of your options.
Below, we’ve detailed the process of surrendering your pet to a pet store, animal shelter, or humane society.
Keep in mind, these places might not be able to take your animal, but they should be able to provide more information and resources on rehoming your pet.
Pet Stores
Whether your local pet store accepts surrendered animals will vary depending on which stores are in your area and the discretion of the store managers.
We contacted Petco, Petland, Pet Supplies Plus, and Pet Valu stores in several states, with mixed results. Most of the stores we called did not accept surrendered pets, though some Petco stores will take healthy guinea pigs for their adoption centers.
It’s important to note that pet surrenders are often decided on a case-by-case basis where available and that some pet stores (including Pet Supplies Plus) are franchised, meaning that the policy will vary by location.
Call pet stores in your area to see if any are willing to accept your pet. To locate a nearby pet store, do a quick online search for “pet store near me.” Of the pet store chains, Petco is most likely to assist you, so you may also want to check its store locator and contact your nearest Petco.
Calling can be helpful even if the pet store won’t accept your guinea pig. All of the customer service representatives we spoke with were able to offer information about other local places that do take pet surrenders.
Petco also provides an online re-homing guide, while Petland has Pet Counselors available to help you through the re-homing process by finding potential adopters for your pet.
Humane Societies
Animal humane societies take your pets, no questions asked. In most cases, you’ll need to bring your driver’s license and your guinea pig’s veterinarian records, if you have any.
Some humane societies also request a surrender fee.
To locate a nearby humane society, do a quick online search for “humane society near me.”
Animal Shelters
We recommend calling ahead to make sure the shelter is equipped to take care of a guinea pig. And of course it’s best to find one that will not put your guinea pig down.
Websites to Help Rehome a Guinea Pig
- Whether you need to rehome a cat, dog, guinea pig, or another small animal, ReHome Your Pets is a great resource. For a $3 fee, you can also post your pet on the website for 60 days.
- The Humane Society of the United States has plenty of information on the rehoming process, including a step-by-step plan to help you find a loving new home for your pet.
Note: Craigslist and Facebook both prohibit the sale of animals on their sites; however, you can list your guinea pig for free or for a rehoming fee. Look for Facebook groups created specifically for rehoming pets.
