h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

After all the fashionable pet disasters, such as the Ninja Turtle craze, it seems people have learnt nothing:

http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/4773039.This_season_s__must_have__is_a_pygmy_hedgehog/

This is not a suitable Christmas present no matter how cute they are


Websailor

If you scroll down the page you will see some eminently sensible comments from other people.

Thanks LadyDig for bringing it to my attention

Websailor

I'm surprised it's not forbidden to breed and sell them. We have so called 'Rotwangenschildkröten' (apparently translates as red-eared-turtle) here which were bought, then got rid off, and our own turtles are nearly extinct as a consequence!

Some of the little turtles that were dumped here in pools in parks etc. in the 80s are now as big as dinner plates and affecting local wildlife!

I can't imagine why they are allowed to import or breed them. I think this will cause a bit of a rumpus which might put a stop to it. I hope so.

Websailor

I have just googled African pygmy hedgehogs and there are sales adverts galore for them.



Websailor

£250 quid???

That's £50 an inch, she says flippantly.

And for what? to have the dubious privelidge of treating a rare animal as a ruddy fashion accessory. For fashion. For fun. To be "in"

It's NOT an accessory, it's a living creature forced to exist in an alien environment.


(And naturally, the thought of making a massive profit didn't occur to the seller... of course not, oh deary me, how very unbelievably twee to even consider that possiblity he's a venal sick, greedy whateveyou)



Honestly, I could chew iron and spit rust at the sheer obsenity of it. I really do hope the rumpus you've drawn attention to *does put a stop to it WS.


Stomps off soapbox , quite surprised how outraged and miffed finding out about this has made me feel. These people call themselves human???? Don't get me started!

Woah, calm down dear After I searched I was shocked at how long it had been going on for, and that there are eight breeders in this country already. It is a cross between two animals so it has been meddled with already

Websailor

Sorry Webbie...but stuff like that really *really gets me all full of righteous indignation. I could *still* crush a grape and rant a bit more, but I won't.. for (e)sure!

Especially the genetically modified stuff...

I wonder what the breeders definition of "civilized" is?

Purely out of academic interest, obviously

Thanks, Webbie, for posting this. I can't tell you how delighted I am that there's such anger on the subject. What really bugs me, as I said to you, is that these are the sort of fickle wesin(anag) who'll want rid as soon as the novelty wears off, and the poor little SandSs will be put out to compete with the natives, and will assuredly come off worst.

On a happier note, can I tell the world that Bristle, my over-wintering hoglet, who came in at 120gm now weighs 565gm. He will stay until the Spring and will go to join his brethren without a backward glance, as he has NEVER been a pet, hard though that has been for me!!!

Dig

Thanks Ev

LadyDig, that is lovely news about your hoglet. What a wonderful, rewarding and patient thing to do Please let us know what happens when you release it. Perhaps it will come and visit

Reading up on the other poor things, they sleep during the day, and race round a wheel all night. Now that's not much fun for kids, and some people would find the wheel a right pain, so leading to the release of the poor confused little animal in to who knows what dangers. It certainly couldn't survive have been 'spoonfed' minced meat of all sorts!

I wonder if any hoo tooers happen to have one already

Websailor

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Garden-makeovers-threaten-hedgehogs/article-1491342-detail/article.html

we need help with our own

in winter, a hedgehog needs to be no less than 1.5lb in weight to survive through a winter period and with the warmer climate, they are having 2 breeding times now and the late ones born, haven't the time to get that amount of fat taken on

in line with the prof post.
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i saw on a programme the other day, that the hedgehogs in britain, becuase of the new motorways and more cars on the road where being decimated.
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websailor, if you lok at the way, paris hilton takes her small dog to even places like night clubs, even at £250 it will be im sad to say, the "in thing" till people that get the "socalled"accsesory get bored with them, and could be stupid to let then loose in the garden. jimbob

People have been selling these hedgehogs in the States for years!

solution, let them keep them in the states, the hedgehog is in the garden, not as a pet as such, or "an acsesory" what will it be next,a live scarab beettle, with diamonds on the shell, on a glod chain. the mind boggles. jimbob

ggrr k/board glitched again, beatle, and gold.

A friend of mine met a woman who had a live beetle brooch, on a gold chain. It walked all over her lapel and shoulder.

i beleive at one time there was a few that mimiced a film,"valley of the dolls" in it a woman had a beatle on a chain, but luckely it didnt catch on, and the film i think didnt do to well at the box office,"might have the wrong film" could be the followup"return to the valley of the dolls", jimbob

I agree, this is insane! That people cannot think beyond 'cuteness'!!!

look at it this way

you can play darts with one and get 180 every throw