Canadian Hamster Associations?

Hekomi · 04-10-2014, 08:05 AM

I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a Canadian, or Ontario Hamster Association? I googled but couldn't find anything. :/

I'm interested, eventually (like in a few years down the road) in becoming a reputable Canadian/Ontario breeder. We have very few and the genes present in our stock is extremely limited. I'd like to expand the quality of hamsters in Ontario, as we don't have a ton of breeders (I know of one on the forum) but most stock is from pet stores. It would be nice to see the introduction of new, healthy genes into our population, but eventually new species as well.

We don't really have robos, and barely have Chinese. I've seen only solids, bandeds, and maybe dom. spots in Syrians. Cinnamon, BEC, Golden, Black, Sable are usually what you find (cinnamon is the most common, then golden). So I'd love to bring in genes which are not found up here.

We also have a severe lack of purebred dwarfs. Almost all our stock is hybrids.

While I don't have the space for this now, I'm hoping once we move to a bigger house I can do some breeding, but I'd really like to be involved in some sort of association and not just be a "back yard breeder".

Any ideas on if Canada/Ontario even has something like a club or something to this nature?

BrainGirl · 04-10-2014, 06:42 PM

I think we had a thread about this and the nearest I could find was in California

Maybe you can be the first?

Hekomi · 04-10-2014, 07:05 PM

California... Wow that's not close at all! I honestly wouldn't know how to start it, I'd definitely want some help and guidance. I guess as it's a project I don't intend to embark upon for a few years that gives me some time to plan! Wondering now if I should have done an MBA lo!

BrainGirl · 04-10-2014, 07:14 PM

You need an MBA to start a hamster association? LOL it would definitely be a lot of work but if you got enough people together it wouldn't be so bad

Hekomi · 04-10-2014, 07:20 PM

Nah, but business skills suddenly sound handy. Thankfully my masters of museum studies is fairly applicable (it would take too long to explain). My SO is already looking at domain names, lol! But I think it would be a good thing to make and if I could get enough interest it could be a collective thing. And since there isn't one nation wide starting larger then moving into smaller zones might be better... I dunno. I need to sleep on it! And research! LOts and lots and research!!!

BrainGirl · 04-10-2014, 07:52 PM

That sounds like an awesome area of study!