Small Animals are Animals too!

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Comment by Ros on August 1, 2008 at 11:16am

I am an adult who loves hamsters. I have had 5 over the past 5 years. I just lost Boo a month ago. Some I have gotten at pet store and others I have gotten at the shelter. Some advice- feed your hamsters gourmet hamster food. that will help them to live long, healthy life. Also, give them Honey yogurt drops as a treat maybe twice a week. Hamsters are terrific pets when you take good care of them.

Comment by Vanessa on June 29, 2008 at 9:49pm

Recently I was part of the largest rat rescue effort ever pulled off in Canadian history.
A small rat rescue in New Brunswick was overburdened with the amount of homeless rats that they had taken in and were having a hard time caring for them all. Over 110 rats needed new homes and a plea went out to the rat community to help.
Over 30 adopters came forward and offered homes, and about 20 rat lovers offered up their time and money to provide transport all the way from New Brunswick into Ontario and south to the United States. Over 4,400 miles were clocked by the Canadian transporters alone, and probably about another 1,500 by those taking rats to their homes south of the border.
In addition, over $2,000 was raised to pay for vet bills and transport expenses, given by dozens of caring rat lovers in both Canada and the U.S.A.
It was an incredible effort, and at times seemed to be more than we could pull off, but it was a huge success. All 114 rats, 4 degus, and 1 gerbil found loving new homes.
Anything can be accomplished for animals if people put their minds to it. It was a huge challenge for everyone, but we all just put our heads down and got done what needed to be done for these little tykes.
If anyone is interested in the details, and seeing pictures of all the adorable rats that found homes, please visit the best rat forum on the planet at www.jorats.com/forum.
:)

Comment by Sara on June 8, 2008 at 2:19pm

that video was awful!

Comment by tyler childs on June 4, 2008 at 9:10am

i love hamsters i have 2 there names r trixy an mickey i love them

Comment by Amanda on May 28, 2008 at 8:06pm

i used to have a hamster i have a group called we love Hamsters and its realy for any one that loves little animals

Comment by Rosie on May 27, 2008 at 3:15pm

I have a hamster, Hammy. My other hamster ,Guzzler, died recently. I was so upset. To see all these hamsters dead... it's just so cruel....

Comment by max aley on April 17, 2008 at 8:47pm

that is so horeble i cant beleave it its like having a horble night mare.

Comment by ***Bethy*** on March 24, 2008 at 9:46am

"Getting Stronger Day By Day, All Joining Together To Save even The Smallest Of Animals!!!"
"Peace and Love To All!!!"
":-)"

Comment by Connie Nawaz on March 23, 2008 at 5:28am

This is really horrible!!! The pet store I always go to, and every time I go, there are always small animals that are up for adoption, because they have been returned by people that originally bought them from there, and then found out they couldn't handle them, and I always take them home. I never end up buying any small animals because there are always so many that get returned, supposedly because they bite. I always make sure with the workers, then I put my hand right into the cage, making sure to rub it in their bedding first, to ge their scent over my hand. Then I am always able to pick up the dear animals without any fear or even a bite from them. I have had small animals ever since I was 7 years old, and therefore, have had much experience with them. The first thing that the pet store needs to tell these customers is to let the animal first get used to it's new home before attempting to get it out. Then, when you do, make sure you wash your hands, so no food scent is on your hand. Then before you try to pick them up, make sure you rub their bedding on your hand to get their scent on it, it makes the animal more comfortable. I know that hamsters cannot see in the daylight, and what little they are able to see is not very far. Every small animal I have had in the past, they lived for an average of 5 years. At least I've been told that for hamsters, that is a very long time. The main problem with getting a small animal, especially a hamster, for children, is they need to be really calm with them. Hamsters are nervous animals to begin with, and they do not generally do well with someone just grabbing them before they get used to their new home. I have NEVER been bitten by any of my small animals, and I think it's because when I got my first one, I was taught how to handle them properly from the pet store we got him from. Dogs and cats seem to be able to handle children way better than small animals, from my experience at least. Dwarf hamsters tend not to be as friendly as bigger hamsters, and the friendliest hamsters are golden hamsters. Sure, they might not be as fancy as teddy bear hamsters, but if it's for a kid, that's the kind you should get. I currently have 1 rat, 1 mouse, 1 gerbil, and 3 hamsters. I also have 3 cats, which have been taught that the small animals are not food, that they are family, just like them. I can confidently get my small animals out with the cats right by them, and while I always keep an eye on them, because you never know, they have not tried to eat them so far. My cats are 3, 2 and 1, and my oldest cat was very close buddies with our golden hamster, named Henry. They would give each other kissses all the time. She always let him climb all over her, and would snuggle with him alot too. When he died after 6 years, she was so depressed. She would look where his cage used to be, and she would let out this horrilble sound. She wouldn't stop until I told her that he was up in heaven smiling down on her, and for some reason, that would always make her better. She seemed to really realize what I was saying, and eventually, she got really close to the other small animals that we have now. They are the best of buddies, although not as close as she and Henry were. The picture of the cat on here is of my Midnight, the cat that loves small animals. She has also saved my life, which I realize is off topic, but she is so intelligent and caring. My small animals are all trained to do various tricks, which they love showing off to visitors. I honestly do not know what I would do without my "fuzzy kids", as my boys are 13 and 11, and in school all day, and my husband works two hours away from home, and for very long hours, always more than 12 hours a day, and four hours total travel time, so he is hardly home. Although I am allergic to all animals, very badly allergic to them, I feel that they help me way more than dealing with the allergies and asthma is worth. I am disabled, having multiple chronic illnesses, and also severe bi-polar among other mental disabilities. My animals help me so much, and my allergist, at first he told me to give them away, he made a deal with me to quit smoking and he'd let me keep the animals, which I gladly did. Even my doctors credit my animals in helping my live my daily life, and I am truly blessed to have a husband and boys that are supportive of having all these pets. I have at times, had more animals than I do now, but most of them were really old and passed on a while ago. They are always given a proper burial at my parents' house, where there is a lot of land, and thieir spirits can be free. My 11 year old wants to be a vet when he grows up, and every animal he has come across is instantly drawn to him, he is always very kind to them. I do know that alot of small animals are kept in back until they get well enough to be adopted out at the pet store I go to, but do not know how many are in back at one time. They are always glad to see us, as we are always in there, and like I said, every time a small animal is up for adoption, they always manage to come home with us. All my animals are pretty much spoiled, they get so much attention. While I realize the hoarding issue, I don't see it as a problem as long as the animals are being well cared for, which my animals always are. I have a friend that is disabled like me, and she also has many pets. Her doctors feel as though her animals help her so much too.

Comment by max aley on March 22, 2008 at 10:14pm

that is horrbel i didint no