Help help help!!!! - Page 3

Penguin · 07-03-2015, 05:46 AM

Im so sorry to hear all this. If you haven't cleaned everything already then save some of the powder and do not wash the water bottle!!! Even if you emptied it, there will still be some traces inside that can help them identify what liquid it had contained. Please do report this

I wish you all the best - fingers crossed of the tiny thing

RubyDG · 07-03-2015, 02:29 PM

I don't know what your personal situation is like but I am concerned about not just Cujo but you as well, living in an environment where there are people who would harm a defenseless animal so vindictively. It takes a certain type of unstable personality to be capable of doing something like that. I would suggest taking a hard look at your living options and removing both yourself and Cujo from there asap even if you go stay with a friend until you can sort out another houseshare. I would inform the landlord and as a previous poster stated you have ample grounds to break any lease and claim back your deposit without waiting the standard month.

As for reporting it to the authorities please do. Even if they take a 'it's just a hamster' attitude you can still make a case for property damage which is a criminal offense. I know if you get the RSPCA involved they'll put more pressure on the police as well from an animal welfare point of view. This is important especially if something else happens. I'm sorry to say that in cases like these it's often not the last incident and is a red flag that you have a very serious problem. From a safety point of view you need to get yourself and Cujo out of there.

This is a horrible horrible thing that has happened and I hope little Cujo is okay. You've said already he will be taken to the Vet so they will be able to give you the best advice. Please keep us posted.

Pebbles82 · 07-03-2015, 02:52 PM

I hope you don't mind me updating this Cujo's Mum, but to keep the advice on track it might help others to know, as you told me in your message, that you live with your boyfriend's family and it was your boyfriend's brother who did it. I assume he was worried about fleas in the house due to the dog having had them, but that is still no excuse. Dousing your hamster with flea powder is one thing, but putting it in his water bottle is just evil and has nothing to do with getting rid of fleas.

I realise how tough this situation is, because not only do you need to protect your Hamster, but it may cause a rift for you and your boyfriend with his family if you confront the issue - but if you don't then you can't feel safe there and nothing will be quite normal again.

Obviously we don't know these people. There are only a couple of options really. Either you and your boyfriend go and stay with someone - friends or your family maybe and move out. Or you and your boyfriend confront the issue with his brother and see if he apologises or offers to pay the vet bill. I don't think you will be able to hide your distress over this while in the same house so it would be intolerable to just carry on living there as if nothing had happened. Is his brother the type who would get nasty or aggressive if you confronted the issue? If so then confronting is probably not the best option.

Is there anyone else in the family/house who might be helpful in resolving the issue with boyfriend's brother? Do your boyfriend's parents live there too? If so would either of them be someone you and boyfriend could go to and say - look this has happened and it is really serious, can you help us deal with it please. Family matters are much harder to deal with than housemates or landlords in some ways.

I think Shannon is right in that it is a hostile action towards you. Cujo is your hamster and this shows no respect for you. I think it better that you and boyfriend move out - I know these things can take time so then you have two options again maybe.

1) Both of you go and stay with your family - is this possible? Or with some friends, while planning how you can find or afford your own place.

2) As you mentioned, leaving Cujo with a friend and staying there until you can find somewhere else to live.

Again as Shannon says, I don't think it is good for you to live there either, never mind Cujo, although it could be that this brother is just one of those ignorant people who see hamsters as vermin. Even then, Cujo belongs to you so it is an attack on you as well.

I reckon this brother will be banking on you and boyfriend not daring to make a fuss or complain for fear of being thrown out. Well call his bluff. Go and stay with someone, take Cujo to the vet and tell the vet what happened and let the vet decide whether to report it to the ASPCA or not (you could say you are happy for him to report it) - that way the brother will have to answer for his actions but it won't have been you who reported it so it kind of protects you. Bullies like that need some kind of authority to put them in their place.

How is Cujo doing now?

RubyDG · 07-03-2015, 03:31 PM

Oh dear, that does make everything a lot more complicated

. I hope you manage to sort something out quickly. Keep us posted on how both you and Cujo are doing.

Cujo · 07-03-2015, 03:37 PM

So cujo is doing okay apart from irritated skin, he is getting a bath soon (sand) and lots of love, care, and attention from a trusted friend of mine who has owned hamsters before. He told me that if it was needed, cujo could stay with him for a while. So, new cage, new bedding, new bath, I have gotten him a bin cage that I will be setting up in the next few days, the critter trail two level I got is just for temporary housing/travel, and it's pretty mobile which will make it easy to transport to and from conventions. He should be a very happy hammie with my friend ryan, and in the huge mongols bin cage hee has waiting for him

Denisekay · 07-03-2015, 04:53 PM

I had just read this and while I don't have any advice to give other than what has already been said I still hope that everything will be okay and that Cujo will be fine.

BrainGirl · 07-03-2015, 05:11 PM

Oh dear, that does make things a little more tricky. I'm glad you've found a solution for Cujo's safety for the time being, I just hope that your boyfriend is willing to confront his brother. That kind of act is not something I could just let slide!

BTW, do you have autocorrect? I think you meant to write "humongous" but it showed up as "huge mongols"

yorkielass · 07-03-2015, 05:36 PM

So sorry to hear what's happened. After reading about his irritated skin, it might be an idea to actually bath him to remove any chemicals that may be on his skin. A sand bath won't get rid of them.
Good luck x

yorkielass · 07-03-2015, 05:40 PM

It might be an idea to give him a proper bath in luke warm water to get rid of any residual chemicals on his skin. If it's left to dry and soak into his skin it might make him poorly.

Piebald · 07-03-2015, 05:47 PM

Thanks for updating us Cujo we are all concerned about you and your little man. Very glad to hear he has a safe place for now and fingers crossed he hasn't been poisoned.
I am sorry it looks like you can't have a pet in that environment as it would not be safe. I hope you can see your way to somewhere more secure for you both. Words fail me in trying to express the outrage and distress I feel at such a heinous act. Take care please! xx