Deathy the Hamster

What would you do if your hamster killed your husband?

You would of course sue the pet store.

A Rhode Island woman filed a federal lawsuit last week after her husband died following a liver transplant. The death was attributed to the contraction of a virus apparently originating in the adoption of a hamster at a PetSmart store in Rhode Island.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, said a pathology report on the autopsy lists the cause of death as lymphocytic choriomeningitis, a viral infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. According to the AP report, “In May 2005, the Rhode Island Health Department confirmed that three people died after receiving organ transplants that were infected with the rodent virus.”

The lawsuit claims PetSmart had an obligation to warn pet adopters that hamsters can carry virus that can kill people. PetSmart refused to comment on the lawsuit (smart). A spokesperson for the Phoenix-based purveyor of pets would offer only “It’s not a common disease in pets. It’s not something that’s tested routinely by us or others.”

Having no medical background, and not much of a legal one, I’ve got to think this thing will be settled out of court. PetSmart’s legal stiffs will no doubt argue that the guy went through a liver transplant and died from any number of complications. Plus, even though a pet hamster may be been the vector of death, who is to say the transplant victims didn’t develop lymphocytic choriomeningitis from some other source? The evidence linking the development of the viral infection of brain membranes to a hamster is circumstantial, and then to say PetSmart was negligent is a bridge too far in my opinion.

But who knows, perhaps we are entering a brave new world of pet disclosure. I can see the commercials now. 8 year old girl enters the local PetSmart store, picks out that oh-so-cute puppy. While slobbering all over the little girl, a voice-over starts with the disclosure:

PetSmart pets carry risk of disease and death. People who adopted puppies report symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, heart burn, gout and glaucoma. In some cases, death resulted. Pet adopters should consult their doctors before inquiring as to the full monetary value of the doggie in the window. Pets are recommended only for people who are healthy enough to operate machinery. People who taking certain blood pressure medicines, or who are, or may be, pregnant, are strongly urged to consider alternatives to pet adoption.

The commercial then fades to black as our pig-tailed heroin is seen getting a preventative rabies shot after Fido gnawed on her left big toe.