I'm very proactive when in a bad mood! - Page 2

WinnieTheHam · 03-25-2016, 09:04 AM

I've tried to inform people there's a certain minimum for cage size. But I always get asked ''well if that's the minimum why do pet shops sell smaller cages''... I don't think there's any way of getting it in their heads to be honest unless they truly loved their hamster.

Pet shops probably get small cages because they take up less storage space, less shelf space and are probably cheaper to bulk order, or make. They are also quite child like, little bit like a toy, with colourful tubes coming out of all places. This makes them get more profit because they're directed at children, and children will nag their parents for in until they get it. They don't care too much about the animals. I went on a trip to Pets at home with college to speak to their manager about pretty much everything about how they do things. They work closely with the RSPCA, and apparently go by their rules... This is a complete lie, because their cages don't fit the minimum, and they sell fluffy bedding, which the RSPCA recommend not to give. It's not just for the hamsters either. I didn't have the guts to say anything to him though.

When I'm in a bad mood I just don't want to do anything at all haha, when I'm in a good mood i'm much more proactive.

shawniyatwain · 03-25-2016, 09:34 AM

See I'm the opposite in a good mood I will chill out, in a bad mood I'm quite determined haha

There is no way They follow any of the RSPCA guidelines, it's just a title for them unfortunately

Kissa · 03-26-2016, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkneon

I wonder if pet shops sell cages that are too small because they know that most people will buy a cage at the same time as a hamster, especially if it is their first hamster, and most people are less likely to buy bigger cages for various reasons, such as if the hamster is for a child they might not be able to clean out a massive cage, big cages are more expensive - usually! - so many parents wouldn't buy it and neither would people who don't have much money, bigger cages are hard to lift or carry - so if someone doesn't drive and the shop don't deliver then they would have to carry it home, and a lot of people think hamsters are only small therefore don't need a lot of space ... Can't think of any other reasons, but I am sure there are more! So by selling smaller, cheaper cages, the pet shop makes more money that selling larger ones that most people are unlikely to buy maybe? Especially if people are buying ones that have tubes and extra attachments as each attachment usually costs a lot too ...

I think in most cases it's because smaller cages give them bigger profit, as they can fit more small cages on the shelves compared to big cages. They make their profit on the various accessories rather than the sale of the animals themselves, so they won't want to waste too much shelf space on huge cages when they can fit lots of smaller cages in the same space and potentially sell more and make more money. Especially because I strongly suspect the people that make the decisions about what the stores sell (in the cases of big chain pet stores, this is, not little independent places) have no idea about the needs of the animals they sell.

Pebbles82 · 03-26-2016, 06:17 AM

I think maybe writing to MP's to legislate on cage size might be better - pet shops will sell what they are allowed to sell. Not saying it will work, but you never know

I wrote to Savic and asked them to make a 100cm cage with a big front door - and now they are! I think they were going to anyway but I did stress there was a need for a 100cm cage with a large front door like the hamster heaven

shawniyatwain · 03-26-2016, 07:15 AM

Honestly I wouldn't know where to start with MP'S I know mine would make effort as he's great. It would be a very long letter, and I feel I should highlight the issues for there animals also. Maybe I should make it a project. I just want to get it right.

Pebbles82 · 03-26-2016, 07:48 AM

Just google him and see what his correspondence address is! Then edit and edit the letter until it makes all the good points without being too long. And ask him to bring it up in the house of commons, rather than just saying - this is bad - ask him to do something. You would probably need to cite official statistics and facts from reliable sources though, so it isn't just classed as your opinion. There was actually a new pet welfare law in the last couple of years I think, but it was too vague. It said something about must be housed in suitable environment or it's classed as cruelty but not specific about sizes.