Justin Bieber targeted by animal rights campaigners over pet hamster

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 (12Dec12) 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 (12), 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.com, "(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."