Hamster Exercise Balls - Safe or not?

Over the years of me owning hamsters, I have heard many debates about whether these exercise balls are cruel. Personally I think that if you use the balls properly, and make sure you don't leave your hamster in there too long and you frequently check up on them, that these exercise balls are safe. I have had a many hamsters over the years and all of them enjoyed exploring and running around in their ball. However, there are still many people who think that these toys are cruel. So I have decided to share my views on hamster exercise balls, using some common arguments of people who think they are cruel.
No offense to the people who said these comments is meant, I just wanted to show my opinion through examples.

X for Xmas

Day #24 of the A-Z Challenge

Well, X  is an especially hard day to write for, as there are only roughly 17 words beginning with 'x' in the oxford dictionary. I choose Xmas, as I felt this was the only word I could sort of link to animals.

As you all know, hamsters are living creatures with their own minds and personalities, and their own life.

If you give a hamster as a present, (for instance and Xmas present), you have to make sure that the person you are giving the hamster to is willing and able to look after a hamster.

If you do decide to give a hamster for a present, then don't put it in a little box and wrap it up, even for the night - the hamster could suffocate, or panic due to being confined.

The best way to give a hamster is to buy a hamster cage and wrap it up, without the hamster in it. Give it as a present, and take whoever you are giving the present to with you to a pet shop to choose their own hamster. This is better in many ways, as this means that the person receiving the hamster will be able to pick just the type and colour of hamster that they want, and it is also much less stressful for the hamster this way, as they don't have to be hidden or wrapped up.

Another safe way to give a hamster for a present is to wrap up the hamster supplies, (food, bedding, water bottle etc.), and put the hamster in a cage already somewhere safe and hidden in the house. This way the hamster will have a small amount of time to settle into the cage before getting played with, and also means the hamster does not have the stress of being wrapped up.

Cool or Cruel?

I came accross these pictures in my english lesson, when looking at some articles in the newspaper. It was this headline that caught my attention:
 'Lacking Dognity?'

I thought this was aweful, but the truth is many women, (and a few men), in America do this. I thought I would share this with you anyway, even if it isn't just about hamsters.

Left-Right top: Buffalo, Panda
Left-Right middle: Camel, Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Left-Right bottom: Bee, Horse

In America there are competitions for owners to transform their dogs, into things like the pictures above. These dogs have been transformed to look like other animals and people in under 2 hours, for a dog competition. The pictures were taken at a competition in Ren Netherland of Clearwater, Florida.

It is not right to do this to your dog, no mater how 'cool' or 'funny' it may look. They have simply gone too far: its one thing to be a ridiculously pampered dog with perfect hair, and being transformed into something completely different, and not looking like a dog any more.

Hope this post doesn't shock you too much...

(Don't forget to enter my giveaway, ending in 2 days!)