If youre unable to find a new home for your hamster through a shelter or rescue organization, your next best option is to return it to the store where you bought it. Sign up for our newsletter. When your hamster has lost interest and does not have the strength to move, self-groom, or engage in healthy daily activities. We often link to other websites, but we can't be responsible for their content. After safely putting down 3 sick hamsters in the last 5 years, our personal experiences show that theres no easy way to get the deed done even if you know how to go about it. Studies have shown that rodents put down through this method showed no signs of stress after post-humous blood tests for ACTH, corticosterone, and glucose. Thats because they dont want to be responsible to a future owner if a hamster dies soon after it leaves the store or for any health conditions that occur once the hamster goes to its new home. Hamsters can be returned to Petco without being euthanized. From my personal experience, Petco has been better than petsmart. This piece of advice might seem a bit strange. A stressed hamster is more likely to get ill. A hamsters teeth dont stop growing. They're small, adorable, and relatively easy to care for. Of course, youll not be restricted to selling your hamster to somebody within a five-block radius. If you live near an independent pet store that prides itself on animal care, it may take the hamster from you to find a new, loving home. Additional methods include cervical dislocation and even Tylenol overdose. Amazon sells aquarium life, but not hamsters or other small animals. Petting the hamster gently and whispering sweet words to him during your playtimes can be very comforting in his last days. If you need to be gone longer than 48 hours, you should make arrangements for someone to check your hamsters food and water levels and be prepared to refill any empty parts. It is best to keep the temperature between 68 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity between 30 and 70%. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to return one of these animals you have 14 days from date of purchase to do so. Hamsters come in a variety of colors and breeds, and different breeds are known for distinctive traits. Can Pets at Home refuse me back my hamster? - MoneySavingExpert Forum However, pet stores must sell hamsters old enough to go to a new home., Due to an average lifespan of around two years and a low asking price at nationwide pet stores, the demand for rescue hamsters is limited, especially as they age. Arrange a Pet Sitter Just like your hamster needs plenty of food, they also will need water while you are away. No money, refund, or other compensation will be given if you bring the animal to one of the companys locations to find a new home. Can I Return Live Animals? Returning Products Purchased at a PetSmart Store If youre not satisfied with a product purchased in the store, simply bring the product in its original packaging and in new or salable condition to any PetSmart store to be returned. If you cannot care for the hamster or find it a new home, your last resort should be euthanasia by a veterinarian. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See also How To Introduce Formula To Breastfed Baby [Normal vs. Abnormal]. Try not to wake it up, and instead entice it to climb onto your hand on its own using a tasty treat. Also, no DIY euthanasia method can be as pain-free as getting the procedure done by a vet. Once the final decision is made to euthanize your hamster, it is time to say a proper goodbye. If theres no such program at your local shelter, see if they have any recommendations for other shelters or rescue organizations in the area that might be able to help. If you are returning a sick hamster, you may also need to provide a vets note. [Hamster Always Burrowing]. Besides they sometimes can climb stairs and often can squeeze under doors! In these instances, youll need to look into rehoming the hamster. If you bought the hamster from a breeder or another source, returning it to them may be an option. Respiratory infections for hamsters are very hard on their small airways and lungs. Also, you may want to wrap up the corpse in several layers of plastic before dumping the body. If you return it dead within 30 days well give you a refund or exchange and dispose of it for you. Do hamsters get sick? A high metabolism releases free radicals,, In total, there are at least 20 species of hamsters. While healthy treats such as Chia seeds are usually recommended, you can throw caution to the wind by offering sweets like Plain Cheerios or Marshmallows. A hamster can learn to enjoy being gently held and interacted with, but if it is left unhandled for long periods of time, it may be more likely to bite the next time you want to play. PETCO does not currently accept returned hamsters, however, we are happy to help you find a new home for your pet. After 30 days, call your local store and ask if they have room to take the pet. [Old Enough + Too Old], 4 Different Types of Small Pet Hamster Species (with Pictures), What To Look Out for When Buying A Hamster, Why Is My Hamster's Fur Changing Color? Some pet stores will accept unwanted hamsters back with a valid receipt within 14 days of the sale. If their cages arent properly secured, they can scale the walls of their enclosure and find a way out. Petco will offer the hamster for adoption if it is returned after 30 days. The average hamster lifespan is relatively short, around 1-2 years, but they can live up to 5 years. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. Of course, some issues arent possible to overcome. Handling a hamster correctly is crucial to both your safety and the safety of your pet. Items purchased in-store can be returned with a receipt within 60 days for a full refund in the original form of tender. Hamsters and children. link to Can Bearded Dragons Learn Their Name? Pet hamsters should be kept in a clean cage with adequate space. Hamster breeding is not something the casual hamster owner should do. It is best left to hamster breeders who are breeding for specific qualities and temperaments but accidents do happen. Unfortunately, not all owners have sufficient time to meet these needs. Our return policy is simple if you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return it to any of our Petco or Unleashed by Petco stores or to one of our petco.com warehouses. I've looked after adorable hamsters for more than 10 years. Ive raised several lovely creatures from childhood with the aim of being the best pet parent I can be. Before leaving, clean out the corner of the cage where your hamster typically uses the bathroom and leave the rest of the bedding for a clean-out when you return. What to do with a hamster when you dont want it? Some pet stores will take back recently sold hamsters if the owner has changed their mind and can no longer care for them. The price may depend on factors such as location, vets skill level, and the type of service but the range can start from as low as $40 to over $500. How To Care For A Hamster Pet At Home - CelestialPets This info does not constitute financial advice, always do your own research on top to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances and remember we focus on rates not service. By Now youre stuck with a fuzzy little creature that youre not sure what to do with. They come from the subfamily of Cricetinae and are split into 7 different genera. Return to a store (Its Free!). PetSmart doesnt accept surrendered hamsters because they have hamsters to sell and lack the capacity to care for unwanted animals. If you paid with a credit card, the refund will be credited back to your account. Some hamsters are more like little Houdini escape artists than others. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. The cover cloth should feature two holes i.e. What happens if I buy a puppy and it dies? In 2022, what will Petcos return policy be for Hamsters? How do you humanely euthanize a pet hamster at home? Make sure your hamster's water bottle is full of fresh water. Hamsters generally eat grains, seeds, vegetables, and fruits like apples. There are many hamster cage options available both online and at pet stores but some cages are definitely better than others. Charitable donations to shelters may be made in exchange for surrendering your pet. Your hamster may have a full bottle of water and plenty of food, but you need to be checking these items regularly for unblocked access and freshness. Hamsters are small, curious, cage-living pets that can thrive in a variety of home environments. Hamsters fetch low prices in pet stores, and their value depreciates with age. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. It will only be possible to leave your hamster alone for a month if you have somebody come and check up on your hamster, replace their food, clean their cage and provide access to fresh water. If you gain interest in your hamster from a stranger, ask some questions to the potential buyer. Does Petco accept sick hamsters for return? Letting your furball go through additional excruciating pain because of indecision can be a disservice to him. Alternatively, dispose of the hamster in the garbage. These conditions can be fatal to them. Hamsters are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. Hamsters can be legally euthanized in most states but it is always a great idea to check local animal cruelty laws before going ahead. Unfortunately, not all vets offer at-home euthanasia services. Petsmart will either put the hamster back up for sale after a short quarantine period and vet visit if necessary or adopt them out if they were brought back for a behavioral or health reason. Double-check your hamster's cage for escape routes Leave Your Hamster Dry Food Things like sudden movements and loud noises can cause them distress. Use a seed mix that contains a mixture of seeds, pellets, grain, and dried vegetables. This price is low because hamsters have short lives, usually around two years. Both eyes should be open and, ideally, the hamster will be eating or running around the cage. 1. Do note, while we always aim to give you accurate product info at the point of publication, unfortunately price and terms of products and deals can always be changed by the provider afterwards, so double check first. This can be a solid alternative if you want to use the dead rodents body for another purpose. If keeping your pet is no longer viable, you should consider rehoming the hamster. They are small rodents that typically live about two years, and are usually best housed alone. If your hamster is older than 8 weeks, you'll need to reduce your asking price from what a pet store would expect. Releasing a hamster into the wild isnt an option, as domesticated hamsters lack survival instincts. Hamsters eat vegetables like lettuce, carrots, and spinach. Putting down a beloved hamster may seem inconceivable but there may come a point in the little guys life when every inch of breath can seem torturous. Your hamster also could need medical care or get itself into an unsafe situation in its cage and need your assistance. The bar spacing on the cage should be no more than 1/2 inch, to prevent the hamster from escaping. Many Pets at Home stores have adoption centers (run by the Pets at Home Foundation), which is a charity that finds suitable homes for animals that can no longer be cared for. Checking your hamsters food and water at least every other day for freshness as well as signs of being eaten is ideal. Find a new home for your hamster with a friend or family member. If your hamster squeals or becomes anxious, return them to their safe space. Im Chuck and I love pets. Encounters between hamsters that don't know each other can result in violent fights. Never give them human or another animals medicine as they are dangerous to hamsters. Vets offer the quickest and most pain-free ways to put down sick pets but be prepared to sign a form of consent and pay the necessary charges before the procedure starts. Leave your hamster's current bedding in the cage until you return. Petstant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, chewy.com, and and other Affiliate programs. Self-easing may become labored with strange scents. Provide them with dust-extracted bedding. There are a variety of hamster toys that are designed to be chewed so your hamster's teeth can be properly cared for, and an exercise wheel will allow a hamster to run as much as they want. For young children, this can be problematic, especially if the hamster bites their sensitive fingers. This should reduce the whole familys grief and speed up closure when the pet rodent is finally gone. He's a lifelong expat who has lived in the Philippines, Mexico, Thailand, and Colombia. This involves care in how you market your hamster and which website you use. Sick or injured we will still refund you (within the 30 days) but it will go in the Wellness Room. Need a new start..wheres good to live in the UK?! The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents, At What Age Do Pet Stores Sell Hamsters? People blame Petco for fish deaths because they cant accept the responsibility of killing an animal. The best course of action is to take the hamster to a veterinarian to determine the cause of the illness and to get proper treatment. If the teeth are left to continue growing they will eventually start causing pain and other health issues. If behavior is not an issue, and you are simply no longer able to keep your pet, contact the pet store where you purchased it. Pets at Home will rehome unwanted hamsters. They are usually between six and eight weeks if you bought them from the normal area rather than adoption. Getting a Pet Hamster: What You Need to Know - WebMD Hamsters can be unfriendly if theyre not tamed properly. To safely leave your hamster alone, you can do a few things: When you are home with your hamster, they may often enjoy fresh green treats, small bits of fruits and veggies, and even live mealworms. Always remember anyone can post on the MSE forums, so it can be very different from our opinion. The most common hamster species is the Syrian, also known as the golden hamster. Petco re-sells the hamster once it has recovered its health and is ready to go home with a new owner. Males tend to outlive females, but their lifespan remains short. As you can see, owning a hamster is not a cheap undertaking. You can feed your pet hamster combinations of rat blocks (rodent chow) and seed mix or hamster pellets. The previous section covered ways to keep your hamster safe when you need to leave it alone. Please bring your hamster to the store and speak with a team member about finding a new home. That way, you can ensure the home has a suitable setup and good intentions. As popular as hamsters are, theyre not adopted as often as cats, dogs, or rabbits. one for the hose and the other to whip out air as the carbon dioxide enters the jar serving as the euthanasia chamber. When your hamster does not have the strength to pee or poop like normal. Whatever the reason, Petco has a policy in place to make returning your hamster as easy as possible. It may mean looking at our personal lifestyles and schedules; it may even mean adapting them a little too. Prescription medication items and special orders cannot be returned in our stores. Most items can be returned through any one of these options: 1. Here are a couple of scenarios where euthanasia may be the most sensible option for hamsters.