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Old 11-09-2018, 04:29 AM   #1
syrianmango
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Exclamation Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

I have heard mixed reviews about pets at home and I know they are good for buying products etc but I'm not sure whether they are a suitable place to adopt a hamster and I'm not sure if anywhere else in Milton Keynes has pets for sale.
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Old 11-09-2018, 01:53 PM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

Adopting them from the p@h adoption centre would be great, the stands are next to the main animals for sale so you could check there. Every time I've been to my local one there's been a couple but it'll vary. Adopting doesn't support p@h I think the money goes to a charity but I'm not too sure where.

Otherwise you could look to find a breeder or attend a hamster show, although not sure if there's any that close to you. Generally by checking the RSPCA/local rescues, gumtree, pets for homes etc you can find one. I would just be wary of some of those breeders you find on there as not all do so with good reason.
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Old 11-09-2018, 02:03 PM   #3
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

I'd suggest not buying a hamster from P@H but getting one from their adoption section (Support Adoption for Pets). It is set up by Pets at Home but it is a charity to help rehome animals.
The reasons animals end up in the adoption section are from being in the shop for months, needing rehoming and needing extra care for a medical condition or something.

If you haven't already I'd check out the rescue and adoption board on here to see if anyone is near you that has a hamster to home.
Maybe checkout RSPCA website. They might have animals to rehome near you.

Good luck
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Old 11-09-2018, 02:10 PM   #4
pebblethehamster
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

the rspca website usually has hamsters!! id check there if the adoption bit of pets at home doesn’t have anything
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Old 11-09-2018, 03:06 PM   #5
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

If you can adopt, that's certainly the best route to go down.

As Other people have said, try the adoption section at Pets At Home. If you have no luck there, try the RSPCA website and see if there's any local shelters with any.

If you're still struggling, try Gumtree, Preloved and Pets4Homes - mostly it's just people posting tiny cages... but sometimes you'll find people that unfortunately don't want their hamster or can't look after them any more - if you're younger make sure you meet up with anyone with your parents and even if you're not young there's no harm in having a friend with you.

You can always also try breeders that you know are good quality even if it does mean travelling a bit!

To me buying from P@H is a last resort!
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Old 11-09-2018, 05:56 PM   #6
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

The reason people are suggesting adopting or hamster shows or breeders is because large pet stores usually have hamsters that have come from bad breeding practices. As in the hamsters aren't always bred in the best conditions or with any thought for genetics. It's pot luck as to whether you get a hamster with good healthy genes or one who may have some genetic disposition to some kind of organ failure or heart condition. Many people have also found hamsters they've bought to have been sexed wrongly (boy not girl or vice versa) and pregnant and having a litter on their hands. That can happen with many pet stores, not any one in particular. It's also very sad when people come on here and have only had a hamster 3 months and they just die one day.

It can be hard to find a breeder with baby hamsters available at the right time and there aren't that many NHC registered breeders with hamsters available at any one time. Going to a hamster show is your best bet for getting one from a breeder as they tend to breed for their lines rather than for sale but may have some at a hamster show that are available.

I've found the RSPCA doesn't seem to have hamsters very often these days - virtually never in our area but maybe depends on the region. I think they pass on to pet rescues these days.

If adoption appeals to you then as well as pet rescues and the RSPCA there is the pets at home adoption centre as well, as mentioned. If the hamsters have survived that long, I always reckon they must be fairly healthy! And they need a home.

It's a difficult one though because if it's your first hamster you may want one from being a baby that you can "bring up" and bond with and have as much time as possible. And older hamster for adoption would have a shorter time with you. Pet rescues do have baby hamsters (they often take in whole litters) but often they are older hamsters who need rehoming.

So if adoption appeals you could google pet rescues in your area and there are often people selling unwanted hamsters on gumtree who are only a few months old because they've lost interest etc.

If you feel you want a baby hamster you can nurture as a first hamster then maybe think about checking out breeders (and being prepared to wait a bit - I'm not sure if there is a particular time of year also - maybe spring and one other time of year). Or go to one of the hamster shows.

The breeders lists for various regions is on this link

https://hamsters-uk.org/joomla30/ind...nding-breeders

The list of hamster shows in various locations in 2018 is on this link - still three to go this year - one in the south, one in the midlands, one in the north.

https://hamsters-uk.org/joomla30/ind...tes/2018-shows

There's also the convenience factor of just buying locally which is why many people go to pet stores. The large chains like Pets at Home vary with individual stores. Some of us on here don't like the idea of encouraging bad breeding practices by buying from large stores. But there are people who just see a hamster in the store and want to take them home

As the others say, if you do go there, have a look at the adoption section first - the hammies there probably need love and a home the most if they've been there a long time.

You could also google to see if there are any local pet shops in your region. Our first syrian came from a local pet shop and he was huge and very healthy - I think they bred their own. And although the breeding would not be as genetically good as from an NHC breeder, it wasn't as bad as factory breeding (which is illegal but goes on and the hamsters are then shipped in crates - not a nice start). He was quite neurotic but they all have their own personalities and I had a lovely bond with him.

What region are you in? This site lists rodent rescues throughout the uk. You need to click on the individual rescues to find out whether they include hamsters.

SmallPetsMatter.co.uk - Find A Rodent Rescue
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Old 11-09-2018, 08:32 PM   #7
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

I agree with everyone. Do try to adopt. Serendipity gave great advice on why NOT to.
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Old 11-09-2018, 11:16 PM   #8
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

I do think it's inevitable that you will hear mixed reviews about hamsters from P@H simply because they are the biggest chain selling them, while they wouldn't be my first choice if I had an alternative & going to a reputable breeder is always the ideal choice if you want the best chance of a healthy hamster I think we hear a lot from people who have sick hams from P@H but not so much from the many other people who have healthy hams from there.
While I'm in favour of adopting if you possibly can, not always an option I know depending on where you live, there's never anything anywhere near me, bear in mind that hams up for adoption in store or elsewhere . probably came from P@H in the first place!
It's worth having a good hunt around for smaller pet shops in your area that might sell hamsters & they do sometimes have healthier hamsters but there's no guarantees really.
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Old 11-10-2018, 05:22 PM   #9
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

My little guy was an adoption from P@H and I'm so pleased I found him. Aparently he was surrendered by a family that had lots of animals and could no longer look after them all, but he seems to have been looked after well. The best thing? He was already tame and perfectly content to be handled from the first day I had him.

He's pretty tiny for an adult syrian so probably originally was a badly bred pet shop hamster, but he seems healthy. Just dinky!

My local store always has hamsters for adoption every time I go in. I don't have room for another so I have to steer clear of them whenever I go in to buy supplies. It makes me too sad I can't take them all home!
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Old 11-10-2018, 06:14 PM   #10
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Default Re: Is Pets AT Home UK good for buying hamsters?

I currently 5 hammies from P@H (2 from the adoption centre, and 3 that I bought). They’re all very healthy and happy hamsters. As others have said, it is always better to adopt rather than buy your hammie but don’t feel bad if there’s no hamsters for adoption in your area
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