Looking for a hamster?

Tucson AZ

Description

When you adopt a hamster you will be making a difference in 2 lives, the life of the one you adopt as well as the life of the one who will be admitted into a rescue or shelter next. Adoption frees up space. Look for a rescue or check out a shelter before heading to the store! When you buy a hamster you support rodent mills. As animal lovers we believe fully educated owners offer the best life for their pets, weather you buy or adopt. We have a passion to see small companion pets treated better! Read on for an example of what you need to know about pet hamsters BEFORE adopting or buying. #1. In the wild hamsters are ground dwelling animals that burrow and forage for food. So why are we still putting them in tiny cages? They don't need tall cages with levels either, but they do need longer cages with deep bedding. See pictures for examples. #2. Many items sold in petstores marketed for a hamster are NOT safe. Some of these are hamster balls, cedar and pine bedding, cotton fluff nesting material, bathing dust, salt licks and chews, snack shacks and edible logs or houses, hay based diets like oxbow brand hamster food, wire or mesh wheels, and the rodent harness with leash attached. Don't buy these things. They are a waste of money and UNSAFE too! #3. Wheels are necessary for a hamster's health and well being. They HAVE to be appropriately sized so the hamster can run with a straight back. The wheel also needs to have a SOLID running surface to avoid bumble foot or mangled limbs. In the wild hamsters run 8 miles or more. Wheels satisfy this need to run and should not be removed or excluded from the habitat. Ask us which brands are 100 percent silent and last for years. Lastly but so very important: Syrian hamsters are solitary animals. They WILL fight if housed together, don't risk it. Keep males and females separated. DON'T intentionally breed hamsters from petstores. Why? They come from rodent mills whose only goal is making money. They care nothing about health or genetics. Many hamsters arrive in pet stores sick or become sick soon after. When you breed these hamsters you are spreading poor genetics and increasing health risks over and over. The offspring are often unhealthy and unhappy and don't live as long. Still want to breed? Do it right then. Look up ethical hamster breeding. Yes there is such a thing! Visit the California Hamster Association for details. This post was written by Tucson's only hamster rescue and meant to help anyone who already has, or is thinking about getting, a hamster. Would you like more information? Reply with your email address and we'll send you educational resources in the form of videos, PDF files and websites so you can gain valuable knowledge and give your companion a great life!