Nearly a dozen of them were brought into the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley. 

"People brought them in saying they had house guests who left and forgot their guinea pigs, and then we had someone bring in a guinea pig because they thought she was pregnant and they couldn't keep her," said Sophia Baca, an employee at the shelter who helps care for the guinea pigs. 

Animal experts said guinea pigs can be friendly pets. 

These cute pigs are available for $5.

There is no requirement to have a guinea pig spayed or neutered, and the animals do not need annual vaccinations. 

For more information on adopting a guinea pig, you can contact the shelter directly at 575-382-0018 or visit their website at www.ascmv.org.