There ought to be a law

[Lilafernim]

They definitely look like guinea pigs to me! I know what you are saying, maybe it’s just the angle of the photo. Just even long haired Syrians tend to be smaller before being sold or if they’ve grown to that size their fur will grow too and appear lighter in weight than a guinea pigs. Also hamsters eyes I always see as a triangle with the point up or occasionally like a pagani’s side mirror shape lol. Theirs is tear dropped shaped like a guinea pig but they can also be round.

Also the ears of a hamster tend to be slightly different in colour normally lighter, and round with pinkish tone. They look deep in colour and folded again like a guinea pig. Their face seems broader than a hamster as well. Like I said it could’ve just been how you caught the picture with the lighting but they do look like guinea pigs! And again, the reason it might just be the photo is because they look too small for a guinea pig to be sold at.

I just wanted to add that I’m in the uk and I think it’s wrong as well. I only have a couple of pictures from pet stores one saying to use a play ball and just some hamsters in their home.




I got a snapshot from someone else’s video to show our enclosures but I couldn’t find any at a distance



They have got better with their information, I’ve noticed they all mostly say now that they are solitary creatures. But they still have a lot wrong, mostly bedding, cages, exercise balls, advising a full enclosure clean out once a week. And of course keeping multiple together before being sold.

It’s sad and my previous hamster passed away suddenly, it could’ve been something I had done I don’t know. But it made me question if something was underlying as a lot of pet shops breed for looks rather than health. So the only place I’ll purchase a hamster from in pets at home now is in the adoption centre part, as I don’t want to encourage them breeding them in this way.

[Amethyst_ice]

The label hasn't been changed. Aside from shape, the colour marking and fur lay, especially the one with a ginger rump, is typical of a guinea pig. Guinea pig have coarser longer fur than hamsters who are flufflier generally

Standards have changed and are improving in the world. Unfortunately, as people keep "rescuing" pets from pet stores,this just keeps the cycle of supply and demand.

As suggested, contacting the store directly to voice your concerns and enquire about what measures they have around welfare standards is best

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

Unfortunately, as people keep "rescuing" pets from pet stores,this just keeps the cycle of supply and demand.

What do you mean by "rescuing" pets from pet stores? I can't see how buying a hamster from a pet shop adoption tank would keep up the cycle of supply and demand.

Some hamsters spent many month in an adoption tank and some have health and behaviour issues due to their unsuitable previous homes. To adopt one of those to give them a better life only works in favour of the hamster, in my opinion.

[Amethyst_ice]

The OP stated they saw the hamster and felt bad so went back to "rescue it", there wasn't a mention of an adoption area here.

By continuing to buy hamsters from the regular pet store area, the supply and demand will still remain

I didn't bring up any welfare or other issues, I was purely stating a fact- keep buying, the "stock" will remain to be restocked. Sad fact

[Chesterspal]

As the OP of this post, I feel you're making it sound as if I did something wrong by "rescuing" this animal. He was the only hamster left in the nine glass cages at the pet store (not the one in this post).

I'm sure you did not mean it this way, however.

Many years ago my father had to put his beloved dog down. It broke his heart. He ended up "rescuing" a Sheltie pup from a pet store. Some suggested he should have gone to a breeder or a rescue.

That dog had the best of care for some 13 years. The dog outlived him and then I took care of him until he had to be put down from heart failure due to Cushing's Disease.

Whether you "rescue" a pet from a store, a breeder, a shelter or off the street you have done more to help a fellow creature than anyone else who does not own a pet.

It my pets could talk I think they would say, "Thank you".



Bingo and Chester are both "rescues"

[Amethyst_ice]

That is not the point I was making nor was it the point of your thread.

Pet stores will continue to exist because people keep BUYING the animals from there (not a judgement statement). The cycle continues. Tanks and care is generally less than a home environment because the animals typically will not be there long, and whether ethically it is right or wrong, they are trying to make profit and market the animals in a way that is cost effective.

What you can do, as others have said, is raise awareness around reasonable welfare care such as appropriate bedding,food and information provided to potential owners

I foster for a large public charity and have also purchased from pet stores and rescues

[cloudy]

Bingo and Chester are so beautiful!