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The
Basics
Articles on basic care and considerations for new or prospective owners. Articles pertaining to health, nutrition, and veterinary care. Articles and pictures about hedgehog breeding, growth, and development. Articles for people who already own a hedgehog or want to know more than just the basics. Learn more about hedgehog colors! Wondering where to buy a hedgehog? Start here! Where to purchase hedgehog supplies and collectibles. Meet the hedgehogs of Hedgehog Valley! Meet the other critters that call
or have called Hedgehog Valley
their home! |
USDA Licensure For Breeding Hedgehogs
Breeding animals is a very serious responsibility. In the US, breeding of hedgehogs is regulated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) division of the USDA, under the 1998 Pocket Pets law. If you have three or more females and you breed, you must be USDA licensed. You must have inspection and approval prior to selling animals if you have more than 3 breeding females of any covered species. You have to submit renewal paperwork and be inspected every three years, prior to your license expiring. Surprise inspections occur about once a year. USDA licensure is not as scary as it sounds because the intent of the law is to ensure a basic level of care for the animals. Based on my reading of the Animal Welfare Act (available in print by request to the USDA, at the addresses given later, or online; click here) and my experiences with the five inspectors that I have worked with, some of the things that they look for include: Cages big enough for normal movement: Hedgehogs need to be able to sit down, stand up, stretch, walk back and forth, and so on. They would probably accept cages with over about two square feet of floor space for a single hedgehog, though I recommend at least three to four square feet. Cleanliness: There should be no accumulation of feces in the cage or on the wheels. Cleaning once a week is usually enough for cages, but wheels might need to be cleaned more often. The USDA inspector will look to see that food is in an sealed container and that bedding is closed. This prevents contaminations by bugs, mold, rodents, and so on. If you use wet foods at all, they should be removed as soon as they start to go bad. A solution of 9 parts water and 1 part bleach is good for cleaning cages, dishes, and water bottles, as it is cheap, dries nontoxic, and kills pretty much all nasty bacteria. White vinegar can also be used as a nontoxic surface cleaner. You will want to make sure to vacuum often if you use bedding that gets on the floor. The room should be free of clutter. Some inspectors give a little leeway, others insist that the room the hedgehogs are in be used for nothing but the hedgehogs. Record keeping: You will need to keep records that include where each of your animals came from, who you have bred it to, how many babies resulted, and the disposition of all animals. The USDA has forms that you can use. Veterinary Care: Before your USDA inspection, you will need to have your veterinarian complete a facility/home visit and complete a form called a Plan of Veterinary Care (PVC). Your veterinarian must visit at least once a year. Knowledge: Some inspectors will ask a few questions, some will ask a lot. Be sure you have a basic knowledge of the animals you are planning to breed so that your inspector can feel confident that you know what you are doing when issuing you a license. Now that you know roughly what they are looking for, if you are still interested, you’ll be wanting to know how to apply. If you have internet access, you can apply for a class A (breeder’s) or B (resale) license here. You should also check your state local agencies for any animal regulations. Many states require state licensure under certain conditions, with some states requiring you to apply before you even obtain any animals. It’s much better to be prepared and have the proper permits or licenses than to run afoul of the law. Under the current USDA licensing, pet stores are able to sell hedgehogs without a USDA license if they are covered under their state licensing. Antigone Means Iola, KS All information on this web site is copyright of Hedgehog Valley. You may view/print the web pages for your personal use. You may also provide a link to these pages without prior approval. No one is allowed to re-post the information from Hedgehog Valley Web Site, including pictures, to any other web site, without the approval of Hedgehog Valley. Copyright 2002 This page last updated by Tig on 01/01/24
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