Arkansas Spike Babies!! And how we gotta started...

My hedgehog rescue I have in my home. We are located in central Arkansas.

We are willing to meet within the surrounding cities of Conway, Jacksonville, Vilonia, Cabot and Sherwood.

My family and I moved back to Arkansas in 2020. My husbands niece was given a hedgehog and she didn't want it anymore. We took her in and renamed her Spike. She was so sweet and loveable. She only lived about 6 months more. 

I waited about 6 months before I decided I wanted another Spike baby. I found a breeder that wasn't too far away and made an appointment to go by and see the babies. I went in wanting a female. I was talked out of a female, he told me males are nicer and handed me a spike ball. He told me that the hedgehog was just mad because he just sold the female he liked. Mr being dumb believed this pile of crap. The spike ball was already 6 months old and he came home with me. Let me start by stating a 6 months old hedgehog is considered full grown. Another fact I didn't know at the time.

I decided to go back and play with the hedgehogs and get use to the different attitudes and learn more. I learned more than i wanted to know. I found out the reason he talked me into a male is because he doesn't sell his females very often and usually uses the, for more breeding. At 6 months old, he does somehing to them to control the population because most people only want babies. The is when I became a rescue station with Hedgehog Welfare Society. My mentor told me to try and save the 6 month hogs as possible. I spoke to the breeder again about it and he said no. It would be taking money away from him by giving me the older ones to re-home. He them asked me to take hedgehogs to an auction. My mentor asked me to and that it would at least give em a chance. I ended up buying another 6 month old hedgehog before the auction. At least one I knew was safe. 14 hour drive one way. I was treated like crap when they didn't auction for the prices he was expecting. I didn't even make all my money back. 

I refused to do anything else for him and cut off contact. Over a year later, he calls me asking me to go get a couple hedgehogs from a breeder in MO. I flat out told him NO! Haven't heard from him since. Nor will I ever buy another hedgehog from him.

There were no being relinquished for a while. My old turned 2 in May 2023. I decided to find me the female I wanted to begin with. Most hogs have a life of 3-5 years. Some do live longer. I'm found a breeder in upstate Arkansas. She had one female left and she was beautiful. I paid in advance for her and waited for her to be old enough.

In the meantime, I had gotten a female in my rescue. The one who adopted her had bought from her before and passed away at 2 1/2 years old. I'm also heard from, another breeder that the woman's bloodlines are good but lifespan is short. She was paid for and she was mine and I could only hope for the best. so far, she has quilled the 8 months I've had her. She is binded with me but very shy. That breeder give me her pedigree and talked to me about a male. Tried getting me to buy a male from her without a pedigree. Tried to turn me into a back yard breeder. Did NOT happen.

I then looked into maybe becoming a breeder. To be a good one unlike the ones I've had dealings with. I got a call from another rescue station in Texas, she was desperate for me to go get this hog from Dallas. I contacted the girl and drove all the way down there. A flat tire and over 100⁰ weather later, I was handed a container the size of a litter box with high sides. There was a shot glass of water that had been spilt, food loosenon the bottom of it and a towel. She was missing a back leg and I was told she had worms. I got her the first vet visit I could, started antibiotics and pain meds for her skin, treatment for possible mites and a test for worms. I later finally got the female to send me the vet papers and the only info was a date meds were given. Almost a year before. She wouldn't give me the vets name or anything.