Saving Hamsters

[anogete]

I saved two dwarf hamsters on Saturday. Friday night there was a post on Craigslist from a woman who had two gerbils she was trying to pawn off on someone. She said she bought them for her niece, but the little girl was uninterested. I e-mailed her and told her I would take them in. Jason loves gerbils and wants two very badly, though we haven't actually searched for any. We traded a couple e-mails, and I agreed to pick them up at her apartment on Saturday afternoon. When I got there, I realized they weren't gerbils, but dwarf hamsters. We already have two dwarf hamsters that we're having aggression issues with, so we didn't really want two more. However, the poor little ones came with a Habitrail cage, and I felt bad for them. I gave her twenty bucks for the entire deal even though she was only asking for fifteen.

It was obvious to me from the start that they were not well taken care of. They are both healthy, but unused to contact with people and not easy to handle. They also sleep in their own filth, which is something that my hamsters do not do. I assume this is because they were forced to live in a filthy cage. Their food was low quality and did not have the proper nutrients. I took them because I'm a bleeding heart.

Anyway, I related this story to Payroll Girl, and she asked if I was set on keeping them. She said if I was willing to part with them, she'd love them as a pet for her son. She and her husband were planning on getting hamsters or gerbils from the pet store anyway. I called Jason, and he gave me the go-ahead to rehome the little buggers. So, I took them into work today and gave Payroll Girl a crash course on how to care for them. She doesn't have experience with any sort of rodent, but I'm sure she'll take fantastic care of them. She's already bought them food and treats. Her son is young, but he's very responsible, and he'll do just fine with the hamsters. I'm just happy they have a nice home.

Jason is itching for gerbils even more now, so we're going to get a couple. I've been watching the city shelter's website, but they don't have any for adoption. We may end up just buying two at the pet store. I prefer adoption, but sometimes that's hard with such small and short-lived animals.

Comments

[bleedtoblue.livejournal.com]

She can't have done very well by them if she didn't even know what they were! Yay for finding them a good home! But rodents....

[neriah.livejournal.com]

Well their lives will be better for it because of you. You're starting to sound like Ms. Dolittle.

[celeste-506.livejournal.com]

How nice of you! You're in the wrong profession; you should be working for one of those pet rescue/adoption places!

Or would your home be overrun with animals? :)

[anogete.livejournal.com]

I'd be overrun with animals. ;-) When I volunteer at the chihuahua adoptions every other month, I want to take at least three of the dogs home with me.

[transephera.livejournal.com]

See, I cannot understand people like that woman. She buys pets for her niece, and her niece is uninterested? Shouldn't she have found out if her niece was interested in hamsters before she bought the cute lil' buggers? That's like buying earrings for someone who's ears aren't pierced or a car for someone who can't get a license- things you find out before you do it! Except in this case they're alive! Poor little things...you are a good person!

[anogete.livejournal.com]

Yeah, people are terribly irresponsible with animals. You'd think it wouldn't happen with something bigger like a dog, but it happens across the board. I work with a chihuahua (and chi mix) rescue. The stories behind how these dogs came into the rescue's care kills me. Most of them were found as strays or abandoned at the pound. I don't understand how anyone could just give up a part of their family like that. My two dwarf hamsters and I don't cuddle and talk, but I could never post and ad telling someone to come get them before they are tossed out on their little hamster butts.