July 16th marks Guinea Pig Appreciation Day, a day dedicated to celebrating one of America’s most beloved furry companions.
Guinea pigs are one of the most popular pets for children in the United States due to their calm disposition and cute appearance. However, guinea pigs are more than just a fluffy face. According to National Today, these rodents have played an important role in human history.
Guinea pigs were worshipped by early civilizations, such as the Inca Empire. People made folk art depicting the fluffy rodents and even sacrificed guinea pigs to their gods.
The rodents were imported to Europe during the 16th century where they quickly earned the reputation of being an exotic commodity. Wealthy people, most notably Queen Elizabeth I of England, owned and were fascinated by guinea pigs.
The guinea pigs’ status had a slight demotion during the 17th century as they started being used for scientific experimentation on account of their biological similarities to humans. Before rats and mice, guinea pigs were the primary species for scientific testing. This is why the term “guinea pig” is often used to refer to the test subject in an experiment.
In today’s culture, guinea pigs are widely considered to be domesticated pets, although some cultures still keep them as livestock. Guinea pigs and other small mammals are extremely popular household pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association says there are around 1.3 million households in the United States that own small mammals.
You can celebrate Guinea Pig Appreciation Day by visiting your local animal shelter to play with the guinea pigs or just to learn more about these incredible rodents.
