My kids are always
wanting some kind of new pet.  Sure, we have a dog and he is
well loved.  I did a lot of research to get him a couple of years
back.  My kids have allergies, and we needed a hypo-allergenic dog.
So, we chose a schnoodle and he is the best dog!  But, you know, they
still wanted more.

Alas, one Christmas they thought Santa should bring
them a new pet.  Santa made a mental note, though he wasn’t convinced this
was a good idea.

They wanted a
rodent.  I (er, Santa) said NO.  They wanted a snake or lizard.
NO way.  They wanted a bird. Uh, certainly no.  Then I happened on
one of these cute little babies:

Me (and Santa) were never
the same.  A Hedgehog!  Who knew?  This is a very low
maintenance pet.  Cute, cute, cute and now, we are always the most
popular people at “bring your pet to school” day!

Hedgehogs are not so
common, and may take a little effort to find one.  They also require a
little bit of bonding time.  Plus, since they do carry a body
full of spikes- the parent should be the primary care guardian. As long as you research
how to handle them, then it isn’t difficult- just something to get used to
doing.
I let my kids feed and water our hedgehog, Cinnamon, but I do
not let them get her out without me there.

They do require at least a 24 x 24 living space and have to
have a great wheel to run on- they can run up to 4 miles a night!
Feeding is easy, as most chain pet stores carry hedgehog foods now.  They
also like yogurt bites and cottage cheese!

Check out more about
hedgehogs at www.hedgies.com or  www.hedgehogcentral.com if you
are considering a new pet.  We have had hours of enjoyment with our
hedgehog!

Aubree Southern

www.thesouthernfamily.blogspot.com

“If you want to go
somewhere, it is best to find someone
who has already been
there.”—Robert Kiyosaki