Officials at the California Hamster Association insist that the pop star was cruel to give away his pet
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(WENN) - Justin Bieber has incurred the wrath of animal rights campaigners by giving away his pet hamster to a fan.
The teenage pop star thrilled a young girl at the Jingle Ball in Atlanta, Georgia last week by handing her a cage containing his beloved pet, named Pac.
Bieber told the fan to "take care" of the hamster, which he adopted in October, and she promised Pac would be going to a good home.
However, officials at the California Hamster Association insist Bieber was cruel to give away his pet.
A spokesperson for the group tells TMZ, "(Hamsters) often succumb quickly to illness and death (when faced with) sudden environmental change. The moment that hamster was handed off to a screaming girl in a harsh, frenzied environment was likely the moment it gazed at the short path to its doom."
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