Does PetSmart Sell Hedgehogs in 2024? (Try This Instead)
Hedgehogs win hearts with their inquisitive snouts and prickly allure, but major pet retailer PetSmart refuses to tap into the demand. Despite over 5.7 million U.S. households welcoming exotic pets like hedgehogs, PetSmart adheres to wreckless policies that ignore consumer trends and specialized market standards. If you seek a hedgehog friend, you’ll need to find an ethical, qualified breeder online or locally. Then utilize PetSmart to spoil your neue companion with proper supplies.
PetSmart’s Outdated Exotics Policy Denies Hedgehog Lovers
While competitors like Petco adapt to surging exotic pet ownership, PetSmart’s restrictions stubbornly label hedgehogs “non-traditional” and unsellable based on unfounded concerns over domestication. This forces aspiring owners to unreliable sources.
Exotic companion stats show massive opportunity and consumer responsibility being ignored:
| 5.7 million | U.S. households own an exotic pet currently |
| 80% | Of prospective first-time exotic owners consider hedgehogs |
| 15-30% | Annual growth of hedgehog breeders to meet demands |
Meanwhile, most U.S. states now allow hedgehog ownership without permits. And qualified breeders have appropriate licensing from USDA, IHA and HBA associations to ethically raise hedgehogs.
So lobbyists must convince PetSmart that supporting hedgehog ownership safely aligns with their companion pet mission.
Finding Reputable Hedgehog Breeders Online
Without PetSmart’s help, searching online is your best bet for adopting a healthy hedgehog into a prepared home. Prioritize breeders displaying certifications and memberships backing their qualifications, while outlining temperament and genetic histories.
Compassionate, USDA-approved breeders may price juveniles from $150-$350 depending on:
- Age
- Color/Pattern morph
- Health guarantees
- Pedigree lineage
- Shiping expenses
Utilize review sites, Facebook groups and small mammal forums to verify quality before purchasing. This ensures you don’t enable unethical mills or “backyard” breeders looking to exploit exotic pet trends.
Caring For Hedgehogs Using PetSmart’s Specialty Supplies
While PetSmart drops the ball providing hedgehogs, they at least supply various housing, feeding, handling and temperature regulation products to support ownership. You’ll find all the essentials from leading small animal brands to give hedgehogs an ideal home replicating their natural habitat.
Monitor PetSmart’s specialty offerings as new exotic companion research emerges. With some gentle education efforts from wildlife advocates, perhaps we’ll even see live hedgehogs residing at PetSmart someday soon. But the choice comes down to policymakers prioritizing consumer voices over outdated stigma.
