72 replies to this topic

[Lilhamsterluver]

Thank you so much for that next time I want to adopt a pet from a store I will remember those questions!

[Padfoot&Moony]

I like this post a lot! I am lucky to live near a very well kept petco. While the tanks are not a great size for number of hams in a cage it still was well kept up and they had chew toys as well as food, millet, an igloo, and a wheel abd none of their animals seemed to fight which was impressive. They had a couple of older Syrians in separate habitats too! The petsmart I went to on the other hand looked nice and had nice staff bit when I was asking about a suction cup water bottle she tried tiki sell me on a small round cage because of the better airflow. I didn't want to explain the floor space issue and that I had driven an hour there to get a tank for a good price and my tank is even just enough room for the little thing!

[BlueberrySmoothie]

Well done!!This is helpful because I haven't got any shelters :(

[HyperHammy]

can hamsters have unsalted sunflower seeds?

[Padfoot&Moony]

can hamsters have unsalted sunflower seeds?

Yes! They love them! Just don't give them too many daily as they can be a little fatty if given in excess But then again everything should be given in moderation in general

[hammyheroes]

I know that this will be a controversial statement, but that is okay with me.

I believe that animals at low quality pet stores need a home just as badly as one at shelters. They don't get the love and care that they need, such as an adequate sized cage, clean water, enough food with decent nutrition, and enough toys and treats to entertain them. Some pet shops neglect their animals mor than shelters, where animals can be visited and played with. My local PetSmart minus we'll be a shelter with how much their animals need care. So if you do end up getting a hamster from a pet store, if you are prepared to have a couple of issues, go for one with lower amounts of animal care quality to save that poor hamster. Consider his or her price tag an adoption fee. Care more about the animal than the store.

What do you think about this?

[Padfoot&Moony]

I know that this will be a controversial statement, but that is okay with me.

I believe that animals at low quality pet stores need a home just as badly as one at shelters. They don't get the love and care that they need, such as an adequate sized cage, clean water, enough food with decent nutrition, and enough toys and treats to entertain them. Some pet shops neglect their animals mor than shelters, where animals can be visited and played with. My local PetSmart minus we'll be a shelter with how much their animals need care. So if you do end up getting a hamster from a pet store, if you are prepared to have a couple of issues, go for one with lower amounts of animal care quality to save that poor hamster. Consider his or her price tag an adoption fee. Care more about the animal than the store.

What do you think about this?

I don't think anyone here would disagree! I personally look at all the options first and if that means that their are no shelter hammies or the one at the store is in more need then the store one it is! 

[nebit]

I disagree actually- buy guying a hamster from a store with terrible care, you are subsidizing that terrible care and encouraging them to buy MORE hamsters who will be subjected to that terrible care. Say they have 5 hamsters- if they can't sell those 5 hamsters (or even some percentage of them- maybe 3 of the hamsters) then yes, those 3-5 hamsters a suffering. If people BUY those hamsters though, then the store will buy 5 more hamsters- if lots of people buy, maybe they'll even up their numbers and buy 10 hamsters because they're selling so fast. Now you have the original 5+5-10 more hamsters who are suffering- not counting all the hamsters who are being kept back at the mill and used to increase breeding stock to keep up with this demand.  So yes, in one scenario, 5 hamsters suffer, if people keep buying them, and that includes all of us, many, many more hamsters suffer.

[Padfoot&Moony]

I disagree actually- buy guying a hamster from a store with terrible care, you are subsidizing that terrible care and encouraging them to buy MORE hamsters who will be subjected to that terrible care. Say they have 5 hamsters- if they can't sell those 5 hamsters (or even some percentage of them- maybe 3 of the hamsters) then yes, those 3-5 hamsters a suffering. If people BUY those hamsters though, then the store will buy 5 more hamsters- if lots of people buy, maybe they'll even up their numbers and buy 10 hamsters because they're selling so fast. Now you have the original 5+5-10 more hamsters who are suffering- not counting all the hamsters who are being kept back at the mill and used to increase breeding stock to keep up with this demand.  So yes, in one scenario, 5 hamsters suffer, if people keep buying them, and that includes all of us, many, many more hamsters suffer.

But say those hamsters are all syrians and they live in one cage with no where else to be put. Then they have a large problem and maybe they then move all of those hamsters out because they are too old and then they get more hamsters. 

[nebit]

But say those hamsters are all syrians and they live in one cage with no where else to be put. Then they have a large problem and maybe they then move all of those hamsters out because they are too old and then they get more hamsters. 

If they didn't sell those 5 Syrians in the same cage for so long that they grew old, I don't see why they'd order MORE hamsters- clearly no one is buying them. Really bad petstores will house Syrians together for life- I've seen some truly bad stores.In any case, that's STILL fewer hamster suffering than if people bought them and they continued to buy more and more hamsters.

[Padfoot&Moony]

If they didn't sell those 5 Syrians in the same cage for so long that they grew old, I don't see why they'd order MORE hamsters- clearly no one is buying them. Really bad petstores will house Syrians together for life- I've seen some truly bad stores.In any case, that's STILL fewer hamster suffering than if people bought them and they continued to buy more and more hamsters.

I'm not saying you are wrong at all! I guess I have just never seen a truly horrible store. The stores I have been to all at least give a wheel and hide and decent food and aspen or carefresh. I will say that I check the adoption table when I go in but I also have no other place anywhere remotely near me that shelters hammies so I would have to go at least 2 hours for a shelter hamster :(

[hammyheroes]

I see the point of 'But what if they buy more?' but, typically bad stores don't have their hamsters purchased quickly, and sometimes they no matter what just buy more hamsters as a policy. My PetSmart is horrible! It has the worst animal care I have ever seen, including all of the animals in need of adoption near me. Yet, every PetSmart is required to sell animals, especially since the next closest PetSmart is 40 minutes away. So in my case, if I could not adopt one from my Petco, (that is our shelter as our shelter will not take any rodent smaller then a guinea pig) or Craiglist, I would got to my PetSmart, because it is going to get more hamsters anyway, and they are all going to go in the same cage unless their is an open one from one being purchase, and buy a hamster.

[Mermaid Nico]

Thanks for posting this I will make sure that next time I adopt a hamster I make sure that I come back to this list for information:)

[~Grammy♥2♥Hammies~]

That was a lot to read but so well worth it!! Going to print up a list of these questions to ask over the next few weeks as we search for our family newest members.

[Jacy]

Most of the local petstores seem to be ran by 20 something year old girls or guys and the shipment
Of animals they get have not seen a vet, so it's up to the petstore to decide what to do with the sick ones.
I got rainbow at petsmart at the last minute since I told my dad. I couldn't get there myself and it was humid that day.
After I found the pet I wanted, They had me sign a release paper that you have 14 days with the animal, so if the animal Gets sick or you don't like it the animal will be returned. Some of the local stores is a hit or miss and the employees are maybe trained on the job, with some experience with animals.

All the hamsters at petsmart were treated by a vet, my dad was surprised since I was 16 the first hamster I got Teddy A Syrian, only lived 18 months, and his health was due to the fact that he was shipped with other hamsters. My second one Only lived two months and I never knew what happened only he kept sneezing and had respiratory issues - that petsmart I went to Shipped a dozen hamsters in one crate. The cages of small animals now seem a lot more clean they use either aspen or Carefresh.

Edited by Jacy, 09 July 2015 - 08:12 AM.