African pygmy hedgehogs kept as pets are non-hibernating species that can enter dangerous torpor if temperatures drop, a welfare emergency that owners frequently misidentify as normal sleep.
Hedgehog torpor welfare failures stem from owner misinformation. The misidentification of dangerous hypothermic torpor as normal sleep causes owners to leave hedgehogs in life-threatening states until it is too late for rescue. The welfare requirement is simple — maintain adequate temperatures — but requires owner education. Pet retailers who sell African pygmy hedgehogs without providing comprehensive temperature management guidance bear responsibility for preventable torpor deaths. This is a welfare problem entirely solvable through education, making it a priority target for companion animal welfare programs.