When Mark Diner’s pet hamster Poppy died aged just six months, he was sad and confused, and requested a post-mortem.
Vets retrieved a 1-2cm impacted sample of fibre she had ingested, which ruptured her colon, causing a long and painful death.
Further tests confirmed the sample was from the fluffy bedding Mark had been using in Poppy’s cage.
Instead of getting another pet, Mark, 40, of Bournemouth in Dorset, set up a campaign to raise awareness of fluffy bedding and to highlight “the injustices hamsters face” to stop more dying unnecessarily.
Mark said: “Consumers may not know about the risks of fluffy bedding, and getting the products removed from sale is the most effective measure. Consumers will have no choice but to purchase the more recommended types of bedding, such as paper bedding.”
Hamsters are a popular pet, with an estimated 600,000 in the UK.
The RSPCA also warns: “Don’t give hamsters nesting materials that separate into thin strands, such as cotton wool or similar ‘fluffy’ bedding products.
“They can be seriously injured if this gets tangled around their limbs or swallowed.”
The Royal Veterinary College gives similar advice.
Since Mark and Tiffany Key launched hamsterwelfare.com, major retailers including Asda, B&M, Sainsbury’s and pet- store chain Jollyes have removed fluffy bedding from their shelves.
But others, including Pets at Home, Morrisons, The Range and Wilko, continue to sell it.
Edie Bowles, solicitor at legal firm Advocates for Animals, said: “In addition to the responsibility not to sell faulty goods, manufacturers and retailers should not forget everyone has a duty under the Animal Welfare Act not to cause unnecessary suffering to protected animals, which includes hamsters.”
Wilko said it had no plans to withdraw the product but that it did offer alternatives, adding: “This item is extensively tested and we will continually monitor its performance and safety”.
Morrisons said: “We take complaints regarding product safety extremely seriously”.
Pets at Home said it does not sell any bedding made from synthetic fibres.
The Range didn’t respond.
