Jogging ball
A jogging ball (also hamster ball , hamster ball or jogging ball ) is a so-called animal toy for hamsters and other small animals.
nature
A jogging ball is a semi-closed plastic ball in which the hamster is locked. If the hamster runs inside the ball, the ball moves in the direction of the hamster's run. Especially among children and pet owners who can not make hamster sure their homes or want these balls are popular because a hamster, unlike in a in them wheel , running around "free", however, can not hide in small corners and not the Danger to your home or yourself (e.g. by nibbling on power cables).
Criticism from animal welfare organizations
Jogging balls are sold as an alternative outlet form, although animal welfare organizations, among others, report on the hamster ball as a source of danger. The hamster ball is also classified as a violation of animal welfare by the Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare . The German Animal Welfare Association describes hamster balls as "not animal-friendly" toys that "pose a significant risk of injury". The Central Association of German Zoological Associations gives a similar assessment. V. from.
The following is particularly criticized:
- The hamster is trapped in these balls and could easily panic . His response to this is to run faster. If the ball is made of colored plastic, it is hardly possible to correctly recognize any panic reactions that may occur.
- Since the hamster gets the ball rolling by moving forward and it is a foreign body, the hamster cannot stop abruptly because the ball is still moving forward. As a result, it is not uncommon for the hamster to be thrown around the ball.
- Especially when the hamster panics, the air that only penetrates through small slits can quickly become scarce in the ball. The hamster then panics even more, which creates a vicious circle .
- Hamsters cannot see through the wall of the ball, especially since they are nearsighted anyway. It can therefore easily happen that you run into an obstacle at high speed and injure yourself.
- In addition, the hamster cannot use its sense of touch to explore its surroundings.
Variants that emphasize the toy character are particularly criticized. These colorfully designed balls make it even harder for the hamsters to orientate themselves and encourage the children who hold them to let the hamsters act diurnally against their natural daily rhythm.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare: Accessories that do not protect animals in pet keeping (Leaflet 62)
- ↑ Deutscher Tierschutzbund: The keeping of golden hamsters ( Memento of the original from January 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ Central Association of German Zoological Associations: Dangerous accessories for pets .
