Keeping Pets We Know Nothing About!

The other day at work, I was approached by a colleague while in the kitchen preparing my daily cup of coffee. She asked about my hamster “Casper”, then started telling me about her hamsters. From the story she was telling, I concluded the fact that she keeps all of her hamsters (males and females) in one huge cage, and that they have been, of course, mating and reproducing (natural cycle of life). Well, as much as I found that disturbing, it wasn’t the real issue there. The lady moved on to telling me about how her hamsters have been growing more and more violent towards each other, fighting hard and injuring each other. And then it hit me: SHE HAS SYRIAN HAMSTERS, some of which are adults, and they are all being kept in the same cage.

I couldn’t keep quiet, and told her how wrong she was keeping all of them together. Syrian hamsters are solitary animals; they don’t live with each other. And no, one should not feel bad for keeping each of their adults individually, as they won’t feel lonely on their own, it is their nature; a good human is their best friend, another hamster is not.

Around the age of 6 months, Syrian hamsters are officially considered as adults, and that is when they start fighting for their territories, and when they fight, they might fight till death.

I told the lady that she should keep them apart without feeling bad for them. This is what is supposed to happen at this time of age, and this is how she might keep them alive.

The lady left with a surprise on her face, and I was left with so many thoughts running through my head: How could someone possibly own pets and not know these basic information about them. Shouldn’t one research such information before owning one? How bad is it for those poor little animals who have to take our ignorant behaviours simply because we are too lazy to read and research.

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A photo of my beloved Casper, back when he was younger:)

I really wish there was a way of making sure those animals leave the pet-shops to owners who know how, and have the capacity, to take care of them. I wish pet-shop workers themselves are not people who could not get any better jobs, but ones who do this because they love animals and have enough information about the pets they are selling. I wish there was an understanding among people that animals are a responsibility, and wanting to own one is not enough for someone to succeed in owning one, and keeping it healthy, happy, and alive.

There is definitely so much to be done in this area, in Jordan, as well as other places…