Public demand for guinea pigs after the recent release of the animated motion picture G-Force starring the animals hasn't approached the amount predicted by analysts.
Parents may be thinking twice about purchasing the animals after media campaigns warned of the difficulty raising such creatures.
Proper guinea pig care is not a simple task for a child. Exercise is also essential to the rodents' well being, but commonly used exercise balls are not recommended.
"A mature guinea pig may reach nearly a foot long," according to Pacific Northwest activist Ashley White.
"And they're not exactly the quietest pet," she added.
Guinea pigs that are adopted often get returned to the retailer later once the initial thrill has passed.
Niger has offered to purchase any unwanted guinea pigs to supplement the starving nation's current diet often consisting of caterpillars, beetles and termites.
Guinea pigs purchased by the African government will first be raised to maturity on ranches in the U.S. before being slaughtered and shipped frozen overseas.
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