Hedgies!

[AnimalsR4Me]

I saw my first hedgehog today! They look different tahn I thought they would. I've seen pictures, but theyre much smaller. I didn't realize they were so little! I went to visit my college in Stevens Point today, and I stopped by the mall, and theres a little petstore in there and they had a little hedgie, and he was sleeping! I felt bad, cuz I hear you guys talking about how they love to wheel all the time, but there was nothing in his poor little cage except his food and water :(. He was curled up in the corner sleeping. He sure was cute though! lol. ;) Just thought I'd share :) Maybe I'll get a job there when I go to point and I can see one of them annoint haha. I've always wanted to see a hedgie do that lol. I imagine it's funny! lol. Plus, I'll know more than the average petstore worker, or I can find out more ;) That'd be a good job for me!

[j4782]

You should try talking to the owner, manager, or employees about giving the hedgie in the store a wheel. Education is a good thing! :) You can go to the Hedgehog Welfare Society (http://www.hedgehogwelfare.org) page, download and print out their HH Care brochure to leave with them. :)

[AnimalsR4Me]

Maybe I'll do that. I gotta go down there again sometime this summer, and if theres a hedgie in there, I'll tell them. Stevens Point is a 2 hour drive from me right now, so I can't just go down there to tell them, but I'll deffinately stop and talk to them next time I go down :)

[razzle]

The poor little thing didn't even have a hidey spot or anything? I can call them and talk to the manager and let them know about the wheel and hidey spot issue. I have had success in the past doing this! :winkgrin: Do you have the name of the mall and pet store?

[AnimalsR4Me]

lol. that would be cool. Just tell them that a concerned customer...They have one in the front in the window and then another one in observation in the back, but I dont know if he had a hidey house or anything, i couldnt go back to see him, but i know the one in the front didnt have anything. poor lil guy. he was just sleeping out in the open. :( I felt bad, he was so little...Hmm the name of the mall was Centerpoint Marketplace I think...and the name of the store was One Stop Pet Shop --715-341-7570. Don't tell them that it's me though, I may want a job there and I dont want that jeopardized lol. I know petstores aren't good but it's little, and I think I can bring something to it :) especially since I'm smart with animals. plus I cant have my animals at college, and that'll help me cope. hehe

[razzle]

Oh I won't say it was you! :) I'm just going to say "I understand that you have some hedgehogs there that don't have the necessary supplies that they require." For all they will know, it was ME that was in their store! I'll let you know what happens!!

[razzle]

Ok - spoke to the manager. I just said that I was a member of the IHA and that I had received an email from a concerned customer about their hedgehogs. Just told her that the hedgies really need a little place to sleep - a plastic igloo or *something* to hide in. I said I realize that pet stores want their hedgehogs out in the open so customers can see them, but for the health of the hedgehog, they really NEED a hidey spot. If a customer requests to see the hedgie, you can take him out. Also a wheel is a must for their health and happiness, and asked if they had any solid surface wheels (she said they did). She said they will get both hedgehogs a hidey house and a wheel. I also asked her for an email address to where I can send them a basic care sheet for their employees as well as customers. So now I'm going to type up a care sheet and email to them. YAY!! We'll protect these little guys one pet shop at a time!

[treva.]

razzle, you're wolfgang's new personal hero. :)

[AnimalsR4Me]

Thats awesome Razzle! Thank you so much! I feel so much better! You're so wonderful! I think I'm going to get a job down there and at least make an attempt at educating the new owners. Maybe I can take that caresheet that you have and print some off and give them to people when they buy the hedgies. At least they'd know then where to start....Yay! Thanks so much! :)

[razzle]

I hope you do get the job down there and then you can personally watch over the hedgies!!! YOu can be their guardian angel! :angel:

I sent them a copy of the Care Sheet, so hopefully they will pass it out to customers. If you'd like a copy, I can email it to you.