P @ H hamsters - Page 2

Jeir · 05-12-2017, 05:59 AM

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I've never really had issues with my hamsters from Pets at Home. They have all been tame-able (even my skittish robos and cage-aggressive hybrids, whether they were adopted or not), and other than one of my female hybrids who died due to post-surgery complications, they only ever started having issues when they were 'old'. My last Syrian lived until he was over 30 months, for instance, and he went from screaming baby to the neediest hamsters I've ever had (little buttfluff begged for cuddles).

So...other than knowing where they originally came from, I don't really have any issue with getting my pets from P@H, or at least from my one.

Plus I'm rather fussy about my hamsters (only long-haired males of a lighter colour e.g. cream, cinnamon, or similar) and as far as I'm aware, none of the breeders relatively close to me breed for that appearance.

lorrapaw · 05-13-2017, 02:34 AM

I cant find anyone in scotland on that list.

cypher · 05-13-2017, 02:37 AM

If you're in Scotland it could be difficult, I haven't checked myself but know other members in Scotland have often mentioned that there are few if any breeders near them.

Jeir I don't have a problem with P&H hams either.

DennisJones · 05-13-2017, 02:39 AM

Dennis-Sama is from Pets at Home and he is doing great!

Drago · 05-13-2017, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorrapaw

I cant find anyone in scotland on that list.

Have you checked a local rescue? Even larger places like the RSPCA will take in hamsters on occasion. I always try to encourage rescue before pet stores, but if you cannot find any and you're not willing to wait, pets at home can be just fine. Some people have problems there, some people don't. It's really just a 50/50 chance

Robolover21 · 05-14-2017, 03:14 AM

My robo lived completely healthy until she passed away in her sleep at 21month old

Jennie F · 05-14-2017, 05:04 AM

I got my girl from pets at home and, apart from being bonkers, I havent had any problems with her health so far.

I have heard bad things about pets at home rabbits and guinea pigs having problems with inbreeding and illness in the past. I'll be honest, I never even considered it with hamsters. I was looking in their adoption section initially in about 4 of their stores, but I was told by one staff member that they arent necessarily returned or hamsters that need rehoming, but more often than not ones they have moved in there from their own stock to make way for more.

I guess with adoption centres like the rspca and other places, you still dont know the history of the animals there or health problems they may have, so its just as much lucky dip as pet shops. That said, I think I would look for my next fuzzy friend from an adoption centre next time

Gemma_xo · 05-14-2017, 10:44 AM

I've got both Pixie and Tinkerbell from P@H.

Pixie was in a group but they all seemed pretty happy when I was there, she came home with me because she attempted to jump from the tank and that in itself told me she was a lively one so she came home with me.

Tinkerbell was on her own in a tank cause there was a bully somewhere, they had a number of hamsters out back when I went to get her due to the bully. Tinkerbell wasn't the bully, but she has had her ear chomped on and some of the tip is missing but they explained why to me when they showed me her.

I got Pixie in June 2015, she's still with me, and you'd never think she was 2+, call it good genes or well looked after, she still runs around as she did the day I got her!
I've heard some real horror stories about P@H, but I'm not in a situation where I can get to shows or travel to find a breeder and as far as I'm concerned, P@H do have vets, I've met one of them that work for my local P@H store, whilst the staff aren't 100% knowledgeable on the animals they cater for, they know the basics and as the owner I feel it's up to me to do the in depth research if I feel my question or query wasn't answered, which let me to Erins Animals then onto here.

The animals aren't mistreated they do get veterinary attention, whilst I can't comment on anything behind the scenes because I don't know any of it, if I need to I will continue to get my hamsters from there.

The way I see it, they're just as worthy of a loving home as the breeder pups are. Just because they were bred into a shop, doesn't make them less worthy. I love my floofs, hybrids or not, I made the choice of a P@H floof and I went in eyes wide open, knowing my choice was hybrid or robo, and I will cater to every single need they (hybrid or not) may face me with to the absolute best of my ability.

Store or breeder pet, I'm still their Mummy and I love them. Ailments and all!

The way I figure it is, any animal can become sick or have illnesses, genetic based, species based, illness doesn't discriminate, if they're gonna get ill, they're gonna get ill. Nothing's going to stop it.

I want to go the breeder route, but with that not being a feasible option, I'll take what I can get, a P@H (or any other store) pet is better then no pet.

Wisper · 05-14-2017, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemma_xo

I want to go the breeder route, but with that not being a feasible option, I'll take what I can get, a P@H (or any other store) pet is better then no pet.

Afraid I disagree, I would rather have no pet than support un-ethical breeding standards. Its no different than paying for a puppy from a puppy farm, you might think you are saving it but all you do is fund the cruelty. The only way standards will improve with pet breeding is if people stop buying from places where they don't know how the animals are being bred, such as P@H.
I have gotten rescues from P@H before but only because the donation goes to charity rather than the store.

Drago · 05-14-2017, 12:10 PM

I have to agree with wisper here, the reason P@H isn't the best place to buy from isn't because their hamsters aren't healthy/sweet as it's the same inherent risk with rescues. The reason is because most pet store hams come from BYB or pet mills. Buying from them supports the unethical breeding of more hamsters. It's the principle of supply and demand. If everyone buys cookies, then the store is going to ship in more cookies to meet this demand. However, the supply in this case is a living being and the way to get them "on shelves" is quite inhumane. Though the UK definitely isn't nearly as bad as the US in terms of mills due to stricter regulations.

Though I'm also a believer that one shouldn't scrutinize others for buying from a shop. Everyone is entitled to do what they wish and no matter what anyone says, they can choose to buy rather than adopt no problem. Plus, there's no need to hate for what has already been done and can't be changed. Rather, we can instead encourage people to adopt first, but respect their wishes not to. In the end, adoption and breeders are the best route to go, but I'd never judge anybody or look down upon them for not.