Illustrator Famous For Her Heartbreaking Animal Comics Just Released Her Latest Work, And This Time She Is Talking About Neglected Hamsters
Jenny Hefczyc is an artist from Germany and a passionate animal rights advocate. She creates and publishes comics that depict the awful way we treat animals to raise awareness and change our mindset.
Jenny, also known as Jenny-Jinya, is a strong storyteller, and her work sends a powerful message. Her latest work focuses on neglected hamsters, but it could easily apply to any "not-flashy" pet.
She addresses the issue of hamsters and other inexpensive pets that are easy to acquire, which people often view as expendable and easily replaceable. The saddest part is that many believe that because something is cheap, it doesn’t require any care. That assumption does not apply to living beings; it never did.
However, our consumerism is taking its toll. We have started viewing living creatures as something we can discard when we get bored, believing they can be easily replaced.
"The urge to draw a comic was reinforced when someone on Facebook got a hamster and proudly posted a photo of a cage that was far too small. It was sad how resistant the person was to advice, and the counter-argument was simply, 'The staff at the pet store said the size was sufficient!'
Jenny-Jinya believes that it’s time we talked about hamsters and how some owners neglect these tiny creatures
"I have the feeling that the sentiment 'it’s just a hamster' still prevails. 'If a hamster dies, you just buy a new one for 10 bucks.' Anyone can purchase such a small life for little money, often based on misleading advice because the staff in many pet stores isn’t properly trained. It’s a fundamentally wrong attitude towards animals, not just rodents," the artist told reporters.
Jenny believes that we need to learn about pets before acquiring them. "It’s actually not a lot of work to sit down and learn about the creature you want to bring into your home. It doesn’t take much effort to improve their lives either. A few fresh vegetables and a generally healthy, balanced diet are essential," she said.
"Let the hamster explore the world outside the cage every now and then (in a safe and supervised environment, of course). Keep their cages clean and learn about the causes and symptoms of common hamster diseases. Just take responsibility for the little life that depends on you."
The artist shared a PSA about the importance of doing proper research before getting a pet
Jenny also shared a public service announcement, advising hamster owners to educate themselves on how to enhance their little buddies’ lives.
The right food, a spacious cage, and a larger wheel are just some of their basic needs and not luxuries. Additionally, be sure to change their water every day and wash the bottle thoroughly.
Replace their bedding at least once a week. But most importantly - play with your hamsters! They need to know that they are a part of your family and not just tiny toys that can be easily replaced.
Here is what people say about her latest comic:
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