hamsters

Bad Hamster Owners Ruin It For Everyone

By erika on 7/9/10 10:18am
Add Comment

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.


Read more >

Hamsters: A Great First Pet

By sarajean on 5/24/09 10:49pm
Add Comment

A Fun First PetA Fun First PetSoft, adorable, and typically active enough to be entertaining but not annoying (with the exception of some late-night wheel riders), hamsters make an excellent first pet. They are simple to care for, and can provide a child with some important lessons about life, as well as prepare him or her for caring for a larger pet down the road.

“Fancy” or “teddy bear” hamsters, which are actually Syrian or Golden Hamsters, are the most common variety kept as pets. Though usually brown, the Syrian hamster can be a variety of colors, and some have long hair that needs to be cared for. Generally very gentle and curious, they are quite hardy animals who can eat a variety of foods. Syrian hamsters need larger cages, as they are a good-sized species that need room to run and play. They live up to three years.

Read more >