Hedgehogs are cute little creatures with prominent personalities. They love to play and explore their environment, but they also enjoy sleeping inside their cozy homes.
Unfortunately, some apartment complexes don’t allow them inside because they believe hedgehogs carry fleas or other parasites. Is this true? Are hedgehogs allowed in apartments?
While apartment and condominium associations’ rules may vary significantly regarding pet policy, hedgehog ownership is legal in most U.S. cities. However, some buildings prohibit certain types of animals altogether.
Some even ban them altogether. Does this mean you shouldn’t ever bring your furry friend into the house?
Not necessarily. There are ways to get around these restrictions without breaking the law. In this article, we’ll give you tips and tricks to help you find a way to keep your pet in your apartment.
Let’s get started!
Hedgehogs as pets in apartments: What do I need to know?
If you want to have a hedgehog as a pet, here are a few things to consider before bringing one home.
1. Find out if your complex allows pets
First things first: You need to know whether or not your apartment complex allows pets before bringing one into your home. If it doesn’t, you can do a few things to make sure you can bring your hedgehogs without breaking the complex rules. We’ll discuss it later in this article.
2. Keep your pet safe
You should always take precautions when having a pet at home. Make sure that your pet is microchipped, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. Also, make sure that your pet wears a collar with identification tags and contact information on it.
3. Be prepared
It would be best if you also prepared yourself for unexpected situations. For instance, how will you handle emergencies like fires and floods?
4. Don’t make assumptions. A good landlord won’t let you bring home a hedgehog without checking references. They will want proof that you’ll take care of the animal properly.
5. Be flexible. Most landlords will accept different breeds of dogs, but some places don’t allow cats. And some landlords do limit the number of pets allowed per household.
6. Get permission
Finally, you should ask permission from your landlord or management company before bringing your pet into your apartment. Most landlords and managers understand that keeping pets is important to many people, but in some cases, they may not realize how large of an impact they can have on a tenant’s life, so you’ll need to work around this.
What can I do if my landlord won’t let me have a hedgehog?
Landlords generally don’t want animals living in apartments because they can cause damage to carpets, furniture, walls, and other items. So, what can you do if your landlord refuses to allow you to have a hedgehog? Here are a few options.
1. Ask your landlord or management company if they would be willing to change the rule. Many landlords and management companies will agree to make exceptions if enough tenants ask them to. Perhaps a petition could be helpful.
2. Move somewhere else. It might be difficult to move to another apartment complex if your current landlord doesn’t budge. However, moving to a different location could be easier than trying to convince your landlord to change his mind.
3. Offer more money. Landlords often charge extra monthly rentals for specific amenities, including pets. If you’re willing to pay a fee, you could offer to pay more than the standard amount and try to negotiate a deal, so consider that your monthly costs to own hedgehogs in an apartment complex could skyrocket.
5. Leave your pet outside. Of course, this isn’t really an option, but it’s a good idea to think about it. If you live in an area where temperatures are mild all year round, leaving your pet outside during the winter months won’t affect it, and you would have a higher chance of keeping your pet with you.
You may be asked some questions about pets during an interview.
Landlords oftentimes ask prospective tenants about their pets before they agree to rent them an apartment. They might ask:
- What kind of pet do you own?
- How big is it?
- Is it loud barking?
- What type of food does it eat?
- Does it need special attention?
- Will it damage the carpeting?
Nevertheless, most landlords are willing to consider pets if they meet specific requirements. For example, they must be well-behaved, housebroken, and not destructive. Also, they should be healthy and vaccinated against rabies.
If you decide to move into a rental property with pets, here’s what you need to know.
Sign a pet rent contract
Landlords often make pets part of the rental agreement, giving them the right to enter your home without notice and inspect your property.
They might even be able to demand that you get rid of your beloved furry friend if he poses a risk to other tenants or residents or even if he just doesn’t fit in with the neighborhood.
Some states require that you sign an additional document called a “pet rent agreement,” which spells out what the responsibilities are for both parties. If you don’t agree to the terms, you could face eviction.
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Meet the neighbors
The best way to make friends in a new place is to introduce yourself to the people around you. You can start by introducing yourself to your neighbors. If you’re moving into a new apartment building, ask about the property’s amenities. Does it offer doggy daycare? Do they offer pet grooming? Is there a pool? Ask if you can meet some of the residents.
Why can’t hedgehogs live in apartments?
As a general rule, some owners may be bothered by hedgehogs because they’re unfamiliar with them since hedgehogs aren’t common pets like cats or dogs. Others may not mind having them if they don’t bother anyone else.
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Can I legally own a hedgehog?
Generally, hedgehogs are not protected under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The AWA only applies to animals used for commercial purposes such as research, exhibition, entertainment, education, testing, or breeding.
Hedgehogs may be kept as pets without a license, but they must be registered with the USDA and meet certain requirements. These include being over six weeks old, weighing less than 15 pounds, and having been raised in captivity.
Do colleges allow exotic pets?
Generally, colleges do not allow exotic pets such as snakes, lizards, turtles, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, gerbils, hedgehogs, chinchillas, parakeets, birds, fish, frogs, and insects. However, some schools may allow dogs, cats, and other small animals if you have a special permit.
Note: Most universities require students to get their animal licenses before bringing their pets onto campus. Some schools even have specific policies regarding which types of animals are allowed.
For example, at the University of California, Berkeley, students must obtain licenses and identification tags for any type of pet.
In addition, there are no laws governing exotic pets at schools, but most universities require students to follow their housing policies. Some universities even prohibit possessing exotic pets, or they may add additional monthly costs to keep them.
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So, is it illegal to keep a hedgehog in college dorms?
No, but it’s not legal, either! The University of Wisconsin-Madison has an animal care policy that states, “All animals must be cared for according to the guidelines set forth by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).”
The AVMA recommends keeping pets out of dorm rooms because they can cause damage to furniture and other items. However, if you do decide to bring a pet into your dorm room, you should follow these rules:
• Keep your pet away from food and drink.
• Clean up after your pet frequently.
• Make sure your pet doesn’t chew on electrical cords or carpeting.
Nonetheless, many students bring their pets into their dorm rooms anyway. Some say that having a pet in college helps them build relationships with other students, even though they may require a special permit to keep it.
That said, some states forbid owning hedgehogs altogether.
Why is it illegal to keep wild hedgehogs as pets?
Many U.S. states prohibit the ownership of wild hedgehogs. They are protected under the Wild Animals Act 1976 (as amended) because they are considered “wild animals.” They cannot be kept as pets unless used for research purposes.
- Hawaii
- Georgia
- Washington
- California
- Omaha
- Nebraska
- New York City
Finally, hedgehogs are considered exotic animals. This means that they require special care and feeding. Most apartment complexes prohibit residents from having exotic pets because these animals aren’t native to North America.
Nevertheless, some states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey may require you to pay an annual permit fee to own a hedgehog as a pet.
Why is owning a hedgehog illegal in California?
California law would prohibit ownership of hedgehogs unless they were born in captivity. If you bought a hedgehog from a pet store, you could keep it as a pet.
However, if you find a baby hedgehog in the wild, you cannot keep it as a pet since it was never domesticated.
Can I own a hedgehog as a pet in Michigan?
Michigan state law allows the owner of hedgehogs. You could keep one as a pet if it were born in captivity.
In addition, the law does not restrict the number of hedgehogs you can own as well as you won’t need any special permits to own one.
Wrapping up
In this article, we’ve explored the legality of owning a hedgehog and the hustle of going through all the hoops needed to legally keep one in an apartment.
And if you live in a state where they are illegal, you should consider moving. Hedgehogs are adorable, cuddly creatures that deserve better than being locked up in a cage all day.
They should be allowed to roam freely around the apartment, to play and explore.
We hope this information will help you make an informed decision about whether or not you want to buy a hedgehog.
Want to learn more about hedgehogs?
Ready to boost your knowledge about hedgehogs to the next level? Check out the articles below:
- Do Hedgehogs Eat Mice? (Explained)
- How Long Can a Hedgehog Be Left Alone? (Read This First!)
- Do Dogs Attack Hedgehogs? (If so, What to Do)
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