The city of San Francisco is considering a ban on all pet sales.  Why?  "The real problem, staff said, is hamsters." 

Originally the city was looking on a ban on the sale of puppies and kittens, in order to help put a stop to pet mills.  But apparently hamsters are such a problem at local animal shelters that the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare decided to extend the ban to everything but fish.  

San Francisco residents will still be allowed to keep pets.  But if the ban passes, San Francisco residents will have to seek their pets elsewhere.  This seems a little nonsensical, since the shelter staff say that most pocket pets that get dumped at the shelter weren't originally purchased at pet stores.  I guess these are gifts, or were the products of accidental breedings.

The article's distinctly anti-hamster slant describes hamsters as "high strung" as well as "prone to biting, gnawing through expensive wiring and maniacally racing on their exercise wheels at 2 a.m."  So let's take these charges one at a time!

1.    High Strung

Really?  Because every hamster I've ever had could better be described as "hilariously lazy."  The hamster's natural gait is a waddle, for pity's sake!  Nothing that waddles is naturally high strung.

Gerbils, now those are high strung.  But a hamster that has received the proper care and socialization is not high strung.

If your hamster is high strung, first be sure that it has enough room.  Most hamsters are kept in cages which are far too small.  Either buy a large aquarium (at least 20 gallons) or buy one of those extensible plastic cages and make a regular investment in more tubing.  This can become a fun family ritual, buying a new length of tube for the hamster every week.

Hamsters also need exercise wheels.  And regular trips outside in the exercise ball are also a great way for them to burn off extra energy and satisfy their natural urge to explore.

2.    Prone to Biting

Hamsters are no more "prone to biting" than a dog or cat.  Which is to say, they need regular loving handling and care in order to be socialized.  Adult hamsters fresh from the pet store may need extra care to be socialized into your family.  

Learn to pick up your hamster properly: gently scoop up its entire body gently in your hand as if you were picking up an egg.  If you squish or roughly handle any animal, it will bite, so don't do that!

3.    Gnawing through expensive wiring

Never let your hamster run loose on the floor.  Ever!  That is what the plastic play ball is for.  It's for your hamster's safety, as well as your own.

4.    Running on the exercise wheel in the wee hours

Well, yes.  They are nocturnal.  And they need exercise!  I imagine the hamster would complain about your use of the treadmill at 2PM if it could.

Solution: situate the hamster away from your sleeping area.  And don't buy a metal wheel - they not only squeak, they are unsafe for your hammie.  Buy a plastic wheel, and grease it with vegetable oil each time you give your hamster's cage its weekly cleaning.

Photo credit: Flickr/GOOD hamster owner sualk61