As an ethical breeder, I:
- Prioritize Health: I will breed only healthy hedgehogs and never sell animals with significant health issues. If minor issues arise, such as a healing scab, I will disclose them fully and, furthermore, provide follow-up assistance.
- Focus on Genetic Integrity: I will actively identify and eliminate inherited health problems. Additionally, I will avoid line breeding without careful consideration of the potential risks and will not breed first-degree relatives unless absolutely necessary, after consulting with experienced breeders.
- Maintain Integrity: I will uphold the highest standards of honesty and transparency, ensuring I never falsify records, pedigrees, or registrations.
- Support New Owners: I will represent my hedgehogs truthfully to prospective buyers and, as needed, guide novices in proper care. Moreover, I will ensure buyers are well-informed and capable of providing long-term, appropriate care.
- Provide Knowledge and Guidance: I will seek mentorship when starting my breeding project and, in addition, will continue to expand my knowledge while sharing it with others.
- Ensure Proper Care and Environment: I will provide clean food and water, maintain a clean living space, and ensure a temperature-controlled environment. Furthermore, I will offer adequately sized cages with proper ventilation and perform regular health checks.
- Commit to Ethical Practices: I will share my policies, including replacement guarantees, with all customers. In addition, I will ensure no hedgehog leaves my care until fully weaned, typically at 6 weeks old, unless under special circumstances.
- Uphold Legal and Safe Sales: I will not sell hedgehogs to areas where they are illegal or place them in unsafe environments. Finally, I will ensure all animals in my breeding program are pedigreed, maintaining transparency and traceability.
Questions to Ask your Breeder
When choosing a breeder, it’s crucial to question their breeding practices to ensure the health and well-being of the animals they produce. First and foremost, ethical breeders prioritize the welfare of their animals and follow responsible breeding standards. By asking the right questions, you can avoid supporting breeders who focus more on profit than on proper care. As a result, you help ensure that the hedgehog or pet you bring into your home has been raised in a healthy environment, free from genetic issues or unnecessary stress. Ultimately, always seek breeders who are transparent and committed to ethical practices.
Pedigreed Hedgehog Breeders by State – Google Docs
- Health and Care:
- Can you provide a health guarantee for the hedgehog?
- What steps do you take to ensure the health and well-being of your hedgehogs?
- Breeding Practices:
- How do you ensure that you are not breeding unhealthy or genetically predisposed hedgehogs?
- How many litters do you breed per year? (Ethical breeders typically breed sparingly to prevent overbreeding and ensure the health of the mother and babies.)
- What age do you start breeding your females?
- How much time do you allow in between litters for the mother to rest and recover? (Responsible breeders ensure that mothers have adequate recovery time.)
- When do you retire a female hedgehog from breeding? (Most ethical breeders retire females from breeding after a few years to ensure their health and well-being.)
- Environment:
- What kind of environment do your hedgehogs live in? Can I see pictures or details of their living conditions?
- How do you ensure the hedgehogs have proper space, temperature control, and enrichment in their enclosures?
- Socialization and Handling:
- How are your hedgehogs socialized and handled during their early development stages?
- At what age do you allow hedgehogs to leave your care?
- Sales and Responsibility:
- What kind of support do you offer new hedgehog owners, especially for beginners?
- Do you require any kind of agreement or follow-up with buyers to ensure proper long-term care?
- Will you sell hedgehogs only to people who have the knowledge and means to care for them?
- Rehoming and Rescue:
- Do you ever take back or rehome hedgehogs if necessary?
- Are you involved in rescue or offering sanctuary for hedgehogs in need?
Asking these questions will give you a comprehensive understanding of the breeder’s practices. In doing so, you can ensure that they follow ethical breeding standards that prioritize the health, well-being, and longevity of their hedgehogs.
