Beware Of The Hamster

The latest example of Elf & Safety gone mad is the news that young children shouldn’t be allowed to keep hamsters as pets.

And it’s not just the humble hamster that’s been deemed a dangerous health hazard; also in the firing line are lizards, turtles and hedgehogs.

Fair play re: hedgehogs, given that they’re formed almost entirely of spikes.

And I can’t really see turtles or lizards topping my list of suitable household pets for children, either.

But, seriously, where’s the harm in hamsters? I had one when I was little; so did my brother; my best friend – oh, the horror! – had two.

As far as I’m aware, we’ve all made it into adulthood with no discernible side effects from our time spent looking after these little furry creatures.

The anti-hamster argument, which comes from a report by the American Academy of Paediatrics, is that they carry germs.  (And kids don’t?!)

So, because children spend a lot of time chewing on their fingers, they’re more likely to ingest said germs, yada yada yada.

The good news, however, is that once a child reaches the age of five their immune system is better able to cope with potential risks from dastardly rodents.

Ah – but then they have to go to school…and who knows what dangers lurk there?