Worried about a Local petshop

mollldoll · 11-18-2008, 06:34 PM

Today while I was in the petstore I noticed they were selling robos on the snake food shelf complete with 'home and water bowl' for £20 the home they were in was a critter carrier

one of these

http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_ ... 62t400.jpg

Way too small for even a clean out cage, I want to complain and stop this but i want to have my facts correct. Does anyone know if there is a law for cage sizes in england, and if this effects robos?

I really want to stop this from happening, but i know facts will outweigh a general complaint (they have listned to me before about not using fluffy bedding). I have thought about bringing in care sheets for them to hopefully hand out.

It makes me sick to the stomach that these hamsters might live out their lives in these tiny hell holes, just down to uninformed owners and bad petshop adive.

haziebabie · 11-19-2008, 02:45 AM

What about ringing the RSPCA, they will be able to advise you even if they can't do anything themselves.... That is way too small a cage for anything to live in...

souffle · 11-19-2008, 04:27 AM

I am sure the animal welfare bill must cover minimum cage size. Perhaps the shop should be advised that they should display a notice stating that this tank is simply a travel box and the hamster should be moved into a suitable sized cage as its permanent residence. That is the sort of box that rehomed hamsters are supplied with at Northern Hamster Club shows but it is made clear it is a transport box only. Often youngsters will ask if they can keep the hamster in this box but they are advised otherwise! I would take the friendly approach first and ask them to ensure the public know it is not a cage for keeps and if they say it is refer them to the RSPCA guidelines about minimum cage sizes. If they pay no heed then contact your local council animal welfare officer and the RSPCA.
Here is a link to the rspca guidelines for hamsters which states a minimum cage size of 75x40x40cm.
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satelli ... cation/pdf

Are the robos being sold for snake food? Surely not.

mollldoll · 11-19-2008, 04:42 AM

They aren't being sold as snake food (expensive food at 20 pounds a hammy) but they were on the shelf lined up with all the tubs of live reptile food even though the rodent bit with tanks of more robos and syrians was upstaires. I will go back and talk to them about it, surely its just not healthy for them to be in there till they sell.

Nicolapompicola · 11-19-2008, 10:50 AM

Poor litle mites.. Report them to your local council..

leejarratt · 12-29-2008, 04:16 PM

£20 for a hamster? I bought mine for £7.39.. (maybe I misread).

j-alexandria · 12-29-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejarratt

£20 for a hamster? I bought mine for £7.39.. (maybe I misread).

It was £20 for the hamster and a little pet carrier. Here in the US they are around $20, so that looked normal in my eyes.
That is so cruel though!! I would most definitely speak to the manager about that.

mollldoll · 12-30-2008, 03:52 PM

I forgot about this post - It wasnt about the price

robos are usually around £10-12 in england (last time i checked) , I went back a few days later and they were all gone - i asked about them and they had only 2 upstaires in tank - havent been back in since