Law to protect gerbils

[Janet Morrow]

Last week we went down state to visit a breeder.  (We were still looking for a female at that time.)  I was appalled by the conditions that he kept his animals in.  He had over 300 gerbils, rats, and hamsters in one small room of the trailer. The tanks were not filthy, but they weren't clean.  There was food and water in all of the tanks.   He had all of his gerbils in 10 gallon aquariums.  There were between 10 and 25 gerbils per cage.  If they were all to lay down the tank bottom would be 3/4 covered.  Their coats were greasy looking and most had some fur missing on their tail.   I reported it, and heard back today.  He is breaking no laws.  You can keep as many rodents in a cage as you want.  I was told that if it had been dogs or cats there would be limits, but not for rodents.  The reason that their fur is greasy is because he feeds them dog food mixed with seeds...   After visiting the breeder I was told that he is not breaking any laws.   Janet