where to buy a hamster in southampton?

mumto2loves

Hi
we have decided to get a hamster as a pet for my 8 year old. I've been reading lots and it seems that it is better not to get one from a big chain pet shop. i've tried googling but can't find anywhere else locally that sells them.

does anyone know of anywhere?

tealady

Hi
Have you tried local animal rescues. I am sure they would be able to help you find one and would be able to give you correct advice re feeding, handling etc. All that for a donation. Great value I think, thats why all my pets have come from sanctuaries instead of pet shops.

hethmar

Id say the same, a rescue probably has lots of them!

This site is for guinea pigs but also rabbits, hamsters and other small animals and lists those in Hampshire if you scroll through the counties


http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp

chocdonuty

you could try searching for breeders, maybe ones that show hamsters too. Only the small hobby ones who would handle the hammies everyday, those ones make the best pets, unlike the shop bought ones who are not used to human contact and so bite and are an absolute nightmare to catch when they escape!

Sowfie

I've had 3 hamsters from big chain pet shops, and all 3 have been lovely, friendly and healthy.
I have one that is currently one year old, and the previous two I had lived for 3 & 4 years.
Unfortunately, I seem to be in a minority! Most of my family & friends that buy from the same shop seem to end up with vicious, scared little things
We got our cat from our local RSPCA, and they usually have 4 or 5 hamsters at any one time, so I'd suggest trying any local shelters
In my experience, I find Syrian hamsters to be a lot more friendly and easier to handle. Russian/dwarf hamsters seem to spend their whole lives trying to escape :rotfl:

Person_one

I know this isn't what you asked, but I've never thought that hamsters make particularly good pets for children. They're nocturnal, so the child hardly ever gets to see them when they're awake and active, they don't really seem to enjoy being handled or interacting with humans very much, and they don't seem happy being confined to the size of cage they usually end up in.

Have you thought about guinea pigs or rats? Much more friendly and interactive.

Whatever you get, don't get it from a pet shop. Google 'rodent farms' as to why, but beware its pretty upsetting stuff.

hethmar

We knew a chap who was involved with accounting for a company that bred small animals for pet shop chains. I was absolutely sickened when he told me about the conditons the animals were bred and kept in and what happened to any that were injured or deformed. I hope hell waits for all the pet farmers who only see animals as commodoties.

I agree with Person One - cant see why people buy hamsters for kids really, they sleep all day and wont be happy with kids playing with them during day light.

Rats are much more suitable really. And more intelligent. Plenty in rescues.

mumto2loves

thanks for all of your suggestions:)

i have phoned a couple of local(ish) animal shelters and they said they don't really get involved with hamsters apparently!? (but one did take my phone number)

we already have rabbits and my parents have guinea pigs (which supposedly are my childrens i think they (the guinea pigs are more like subsitute children for my mum;)) we also have a dog and fish!! my daughter wants something that is really her own. she has wanted a hamster for 2 years now so i don't think it'll be a whim, IF it turns out it is, I will take responsibility for it.

i just couldn't have rats mainly because my parents have a huge rat problem in their garden atm due to their next door neighbours having doves so my children have heard them talking about rat traps/poison and next door neighbour shooting them, that would be just too mean, atm my children think of rats as pests it would be to hard to have them as pets at the same time!:o

i was in a largish pet shop (not sure if its a chain or not but its not a corner shop type one and its not pets at home type big)yesterday looking at cages and the manager said - if she was to have a hamster she would have (this one) but since she gets to play with them everynight before she goes home she doesn't need to. Then i went back today and spoke to a younger girl (while i was measuring cages) and she was saying things like they need to be handled/tamed from a young age, and also that the babies there atm come from a friend of hers so she knows they haven't been overbred. i just got a good feeling about them - the staff (i didn't look at the hamsters, or mention that i needed to buy one) she also told me more about the cages i shouldn't buy than ones that i shouldn't buy, which also gave her brownie points in my eyes.

i've ordered a cage after reading lots of reviews on hamster central and i've got a week ish to have a good think about where to get a hamster.

Person_one

http://www.stubbingtonark.org.uk/animals-for-adoption/small-animals--birds

Supernatural

Try contacting The National Hamster Council, they can put you in contact with a reputable breeder in your area

http://www.hamsters-uk.org/

Dave_Harris_2

I love hamsters.. I have 3 pairs of siberian in my aquarium.