So sad for pet shop hammies - Page 2

Piebald · 04-07-2016, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerfairy

I really must stop going into our local pet shop. The chocolate syrian girl whomi fell in love with just after Christmas is still there.

She is in a tiny tank with a ceramic bowl for water and one for food. Her bedding is so scarce that she cannot hide so sleeps in the open.

There is a black and white girl who has been there just as long in the tank next to chocolat girlie and now Arun's three brothers who all share a tank.

I know you cant save them all but i cannot get her out of my mind. I really hope she has been sold by the time i go there again. Oh dear.

No real point to this post. Just wanted to share how i feel to people who understand.

Get the ham.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-07-2016, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rsclio197

Cinnamon bear you should try and report them to your RSPCA animal standard equivalent. What's the worst that could happen

I'm going to call SPCA tomorrow & inquire about this situation

Rsclio197 · 04-07-2016, 02:43 PM

Let us know how it goes. Surely it's illegal. If they want 30 hamsters on display then they should have at LEAST 15 cages

Pebbles82 · 04-07-2016, 02:48 PM

Flower Fairy - you could ring the RSPCA and ask them what would be the best thing to do about it. It might be that they can't act with pet shops (I don't know) - because it's a business or because there are so many pet shops! But if they can't do anything they may be able to suggest something you can do, or someone you can contact. Is it worth asking to actually speak to the shop manager and requesting certain standards?

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-07-2016, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rsclio197

Let us know how it goes. Surely it's illegal. If they want 30 hamsters on display then they should have at LEAST 15 cages

Will do, that's definitely a problem, I took a picture of all of them sleeping together but never made much of it other than it seemed a little disheartening

pinkneon · 04-07-2016, 04:54 PM

I always feel sad when I see too many animals in one tiny cage. In my home town although the cages are small, hamsters are only kept in small groups for the babies, and the older ones are on their own for Syrians. There are a couple of decent shops that provide nice wheels and bedding and toys, which is a lot better than nothing at all. My friend got a hamster yesterday from one of the shops and he had a wheel and flying saucer all to himself! There are a couple - not chain ones - that also have them in cages which would still be too small for them to live in permenantly but are bigger than most you see in other shops. There is one shop that is my absolute favorite though and is run by a lovely couple. One is a vet and the other works for the RSPCA, so the hamsters (and all their animals) have decent living conditions, toys, food, wheels as well as plenty of interaction. People are allowed to play with the hamsters if they are in the shop when the hamsters are being cleaned out, so they are all tame when you get them. And they offer a free check up before taking any animal home. They try to encourage people to buy suitable items, and provide them with leaflets if they ask for it. Some people sadly will go against all advice and still buy things unsuitable, but usually that means they have to go to another shop. I have seen some pretty decent cages in there in the past too, though they don't sell a lot as most people don't want them because they are "too big" or "too expensive" ... If I'm near there I try to buy from there as much as possible. They know so much about all their animals, which I love because most pet shops don't!

WinnieTheHam · 04-07-2016, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkneon

People are allowed to play with the hamsters if they are in the shop when the hamsters are being cleaned out, so they are all tame when you get them.

That pet shop sounds great Pinkneon, although I'd say the handling is pretty dangerous, there's a serious risk of spreading zoonotic disease. Do they make you wash your hands before handling? Because I'd be worried that people are giving them colds.

pinkneon · 04-07-2016, 05:07 PM

They give you a little antibacterial wipe thing to clean your hands with. You don't usually get to play with them very long, just when they're being cleaned out, and supervised! They did allow me to play with one once before I took her home because I couldn't decide which I wanted! Children under 12 aren't allowed to hold them but are allowed to stroke them

To be honest most people prefer to cuddle the rabbits!

Pebbles82 · 04-07-2016, 11:23 PM

It sounds like such a great pet shop! Our local one isn't too bad. Each hamster has its own tank - with enough substrate and bedding and a cardboard tube - but that's about it and the tanks are probably only about 50cm. They also give them too many hamster chocolate drops.

flowerfairy · 04-08-2016, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

Going to visit her means...you know what

if she's not sold in the near future while you have her on your mind

Going to visit her is a form of pre-adoption if there is such a thing?

You are soooo right. Must stop going in. Its torture. Also it is very sad to see the hamsters in such inadequate conditions. All the other animals eg guinea pigs and rabbits have hiding places. Very odd.