APH 'the must-have pet' in the Daily Mirror

[Choggie]

I agree that I didn't get the time that I thought I would but I did have a wonderful four hours before the show introducing the choggies to the crew and also to various other people from the BBC who were all interested in learning about them and I came away feeling that I had at least tried to put the record straight about having them as pets even if it didn't come across on the show. It was a shame that they didn't show me talking to the audience during and after the show and showing them my choggies and explaining about their care requirments and also how important it is to remember that they are a long term commitment and not a "must have" pet.

At least the choggies had their own dressing room and were the stars of the show all be it off stage - at least I tried.

As for future litters that I have, all prospective owners will be vetted and invited to come to my home to meet my choggies and choglets.

[dexnos]

has anyone ever had a hedgie live for 8 to 10 years. I thought the average was about 4, 5 .

Fingers crosed for 8 to 10

[Choggie]

Depends on where you get your information from - books/care sheets/internet research all have varying ages listed on them. The point is that people should be prepared to look after them long term and if they are serious about owning a hedgehog then they should have carried out some research of their own as well and most people will pick this up from the internet.

I was hoping to get the point across that they were not something that you could plonk in an egg cup - they were animals that needed proper care and attention and were a long term commitment.

[dexnos]

Hopefully people will be more put of by the average age of a hedgie being 4 ish and the retirement age for breeding being 3 yrs, they may be more inclined to rethink there decision into owning one of these guys with this info rather than thinking about the potential £ signs with longer living mammals.

Ive spoken to lots of different people who have owned and bred hedgies for over 5, 6 years in this country, they all agree on the average age.

Its diffficult to get that across though in a tv studio in 2 mins two mins.