Hedgehogs

Feb 20, 2009 11:24

I really really really want to get a hedgehog. But I can't. Why ( Read more... )

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Comments 11

littlelamb February 20 2009, 17:35:58 UTC
from what i knew, living in cali, it was because they were nervous about people abandoning small, exotic pets that specifically ate endangered insects and animals. in cali, there are a lot of small miro ecosystems with endangered insects.

might be the same for those other states.

so they tend not to let you have animals that people have a tendency to abandon that could destroy native endangered wildlife (exotics like ferrets and hedgehogs). that was cali, anyway. not sure how close the relationship is, though. i mean, i suppose it happens and i know cali's ecosystem is particularly fragile. guess they don't want situations like the jackson chameleon in hawaii.

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dedqgirl February 20 2009, 18:37:41 UTC
no, i understand that, and that's cool and everything, i don't live there, so I don't really care too much.

The thing is, PA winters rarely get about 50 degrees, and we usually hang out around 35 or less most of the time. There is no way that a hedgehog (or other small animals) could survive in the wild long enough to replicate (lol). They'd never make it to spring. So while that logic definitely applies to CA, AZ, HI, and GA, it most definitely does not apply to PA.

The other excuse I've heard is that hedgehogs can carry foot-and-mouth disease... except hedgehogs haven't been imported from African in 16 years. The disease is pretty much eradicated in the species. Besides, how many hedgehogs hang out with cows? Not to mention the legality of hedgehogs in, like almost every other state.

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littlelamb February 20 2009, 18:40:01 UTC
yeah, i have no idea then :(

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dedqgirl February 20 2009, 19:28:34 UTC
me either :( :(

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elandae February 20 2009, 18:49:53 UTC
I wonder if it's because they're more unusual pets and there might be a higher risk of them not being properly cared for? It always seems odd to me how these things vary so much from state to state. And it really does suck cause hedgehogs are such adorable little things! But hopefully you'll be able to find those forms and apply. *crosses fingers* (it's ridiculous how difficult they can make things like this, isn't it?)

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dedqgirl February 20 2009, 19:28:12 UTC
Well I don't think the Pa Game Commission really gives two squats about how well an animal is cared for - if you get caught your hedgie(s) can get confiscated and killed without warning. I think they mostly focus on breeders, though.

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elandae February 21 2009, 01:30:10 UTC
Unnecessarily putting animals to sleep infuriates me. So ignorant.

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tediousandbrief February 20 2009, 18:56:27 UTC
I've never heard of them being kept as pets at all! How common are they as pets?

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dedqgirl February 20 2009, 19:26:48 UTC
HAHA They're actually pretty common, you'd be surprised! go to www.cuteoverload.com and click the link on the right that says "hedgehogs" and you'll instantly understand.

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setkitten March 2 2009, 20:46:45 UTC
I didn't know you were thinking about getting one. my roommate has a hedgehog. I think they're legal in MD, if you ever move back or anything. My apt complex didn't even really care or make her pay an extra fee. It doesn't seem too hard to take care of, really, probably not harder than your average hamster. Sleeps all day and eats cat food and mealworms. Once I think she fed it a hot dog.

Not that I would condone illegal activity or anything...but I really doubt that if you were to have one, that it would be very noticeable. My roommate has a cage for it but other than that, it doesn't take up much room or make any noise. The only mess it makes is in the cage, and that's relatively easy to clean.

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dedqgirl March 2 2009, 21:30:53 UTC
Not that I would condone illegal activity either, but I have to agree with you. And you're right, they're legal in MD.

On a COMPLETELY unrelated note, my new bf and I took a road trip to Baltimore this weekend..... It was.... fun. ;)

And I didn't know I was thinking about getting one until a couple weeks ago. I was like "I need another animal!! What's a good, low-maintenance, adorable animal?!" They really are adorable...

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