Aside from the IHA [2.5], and the now defunct HI and N.A.H.A. (North American
Hedgehog Association), there exist a number of other organizations dedicated
to hedgehogs.  Many of these organizations discussed in this section are
generally involved with wild European hedgehogs, rather than pet hedgehogs.


Within North America, until recently there has been no problem with hedgehogs
not having homes.  They were rare enough, that few would wind up at the pound
or unwanted.  Unfortunately that is now changing, and Kyrstin Westwind has
started the Hedgehog Rescue organization to help out unwanted, or illegal
hedgehogs.  At the present time, it is located in the Northwest United
States, specifically in Oregon, but she hopes that it will become more wide
spread and organized over the coming months.

You can contact Hedgehog Rescue at:

        Hedgehog Rescue
        11575 SW Pacific Hwy. Box 148
        Tigard, OR
        97223
        USA

        phone: (503) 230-1624
        email: westwindREMOVE_TO_SEND@aracnet.com

   Rescued hedgies are given a complete health check by a vet, any needed
   treatments are given and they are put on a balanced diet (most of the
   hedgies, we see, have been eating store-brand kitten food!)  In most cases
   the hedgies have not been socialized at all and need to be worked with one
   on one for a while.  We try to determine if they CAN be socialized or
   will always be grumps -- happily, in most cases they DO come around. 

   On the advice of other rescue groups we have an adoption fee.  I had been
   resistant to this idea, but it is true that people rarely value ``free 
   pets'' -- some groups had real horror stories to this affect -- and there 
   are a LOT of expenses involved in this effort!  So for $50 the adoptive 
   person/family gets a healthy hedgehog that will unball, a list of 
   resources including how to reach the hedgehog list, FAQ, and other web 
   pages as well as local vets.  We waive all or part of the fee for people 
   who have experience with hedgehogs, or in cases where they need to pay for
   a Delta Dash.

   We do screen perspective adoptive homes: making sure they are well
   informed about all the pros and cons of life as a hedgie slave and that
   there have been no abuse complaints against them in the past.  We avoid
   giving a female from a ``breeding mill'' to someone who wants to breed
   hedgies, because these females tend to have been ``over- bred''  We provide
   on-going support and, if at some point the person/family decides hedgies
   are not for them -- hasn't happened yet -- we take the hedgie back and find 
   a new home.
   -- Kyrstin Westwind

I've been told by Sharon Massena that ``the 4H group of Hedgehogs Northwest 
is doing rescue work.  I'm not entirely sure what area this covers, but it
sounds like something that has merit well beyond the nominal Northwest US.


There are also a number of regional and local hedgehog clubs and 
organizations appearing throughout North America.  One of the largest,
and oldest is Hedgehogs Northwest:

   Hedgehogs Northwest is composed of pet lovers, owners, hobbyists and 
   breeders who are interested in expanding the understanding and knowledge 
   of hedgehogs. The club sponsored the first hedgehog confirmation show in 
   the world.  We sponsored our first show on October 22, 1995 which was 
   such a success that we sponsored another March 24, 1996. (These were both 
   held in Tacoma, Washington).  We also do the Puyallup (Washington).  
   Spring and Fall Fairs as well as other shows to acquaint people with the 
   specialness of our little friends.

   Note: I don't have a current address for Hedeghogs Northwest, although
   there is a website to be at:

          www:    http://www.hedgehogsnw.com/

My thanks to Janet Martin for sending me the info above, and to Sharon 
Massena for updates.

More local and regional hedgehog clubs/organizations are forming, some under
the auspices of the IHA [2.5].  You should contact or the IHA for information
about any known clubs or organizations in your area.


In the Netherlands, the organization VEZ is involved with numerous types of
exotic mammals, including hedgehogs:

    The VEZ is a Dutch organization of keepers and lovers of exotic mammals. 
    The main goal of the organization is gathering and spreading information 
    about these animals and how to take care of them.  We coordinate 
    breeding programs for different kinds of mammals.  Members are not only 
    vets, zoos, breeders with a large stock of animals, genetic experts and 
    so on, but people with a pair of chinchilla's, a hamster or gerbils are 
    as important to us.

    We publish a magazine, four times a year, in Dutch. In the future we'll 
    try to add a summary in English at the end of the articles.  Members meet 
    regularly to exchange animals an experience, and to visit zoos in the 
    Netherlands and abroad.

    For some animals, like hedgehogs, sugar gliders and others, we have a
    contact person who coordinates the breeding program, can give you basic
    information and show you the way in case you need more than that.

    Costs:
    Membership costs Hfl 50,- excl. bankcosts for foreign countries.
    For more information write to:

       	VEZ
       	Beetslaan 73
       	2281 TG Rijswijk
       	The Netherlands

    Contact person for different species of hedgehogs is:
 
       	Anja van der Werf
       	Siriusstraat 16
       	1622 ZH Hoorn
       	Tel. 0229-246499
       	The Netherlands

       	E-mail address: 101621.2230REMOVE_TO_SEND@CompuServe.COM

    -- Anja van der Werf