School hammy

**pophammy** · 11-25-2005, 12:30 PM

We have a hamster in our biology lab at school. He is a little Campbells called Ginger and I am hamster monitor on a Friday so today I took him in a new wheel as he had one with spokes on and a sand box and sand. He lovvvvvved it and rolled over and over blissfully. He then climbed on top of the new solid wheel and did a Tarzan swing on his millet spray! He is not very tame as yet but I am working on that though he did bite me a couple of weeks ago. Naughty Ginger. We have a 'Hamster Club' on a Monday where we learn about small pets and have had Guinea pigs, hams and a puppy in. I have showed everyone HC and am already the hamster expert in school!

**babyboos** · 11-25-2005, 12:47 PM

Oh that is great - pophammy the official hammy expert :P Did you take Nelson in to show off? Glad Ginger liked his new wheel and sand. Hopefully with time he will settle down and stop nipping. Which lucky person gets to take him home for Christmas break?

Emma · 11-25-2005, 12:53 PM

Heehee, spread the hamster word!

Well done you for getting Ginger a safe wheel and a sand bath

nooboo · 11-25-2005, 01:40 PM

wow, Ginger now has a proper wheel and can stay clean, plus you are helping a lot of people learn how to properly look after a hamster, well done!

**pophammy** · 11-26-2005, 05:59 AM

I will hopefully get permission from the headmistress to bring Nelson in but I will probably wait until the weather gets wamer as I don't want him freezing on the bus! I think that the Biology teacher will be taking Ginger home over Christmas but our hamster hotel is always open! (If I do get to take Ginger home then I will try and get some pictures of him for you all!)

nooboo · 11-26-2005, 06:02 AM

I am glad some schools still have pets, I know sometimes the animals do not have the best environment, but so many children don't get to have a pet nor understand how to take care of one, and the parents are equally as clueless but just by having this hamster people are learning about care responsibility, ah and how cute and fluffy things can be.

well done to pophammy as well for helping to improve the living conditions of the hamster, and for being one of the experts from which the others can learn :P

**babyboos** · 11-26-2005, 02:33 PM

Totally agree Anita. This may well be the only exposure many children have to a hamster so I am glad pophammy is there to help educate them and make them appreciate they can be wonderful pets, plus showing them the proper way to care for them. Keep up the good work, and I hope Ginger gets to sleep over with you for Christmas so he gets a visit from Santa Hammyclaws too

Emma · 11-26-2005, 03:36 PM

I do think school pets can be a good idea, but theres lots of "ifs" involved - if there is a willing responsible adult etc etc. I'm not convinced hamsters make a good school pet though due to their nocturnal nature and requiring slightly more careful handling than some other animals.

But then if the school pet is lucky enough to have someone like pophammy in the class who is interested, knowledgable and wants to make sure the hamster has everything it needs and is treated well, then it's set!!! I just hope all school animals are as lucky - I'm not sure they are.

souffle · 11-27-2005, 03:28 PM

I agree with you Emma though I did have to sign a form to say I gave permission for Pophammy to be bitten by the school hamster!!!!!!!!!!!. Ginger seems to be more of a daytime hamster than most. Maybe he has adjusted. The biology teacher is very keen and helpful though Pophammy seems to have taught her quite a bit! I think perhaps a larger rodent might have been more handleable but the children are not allowed to pester Ginger and he has his own daily personal attendant to feed and clean etc which helps establish responsibility. Many schools will not keep animals for fear of allergies, suing parents over biting or arguments over care but as long as there is an adult to oversee everything it should be OK. I was an Education officer in Glasgow zoo for 18 months and we had school parties all day. We kept various animals for the children to handle including hamsters, snakes, chicks, stick insects, millipedes, rabbits etc. and it was amazing how many had never touched an animal and were frightened even though they had never touched one. A little ham soon won them over and soon they were stroking snakes! Most kids think snakes are slimey and were amazed to find them dry and warm if just out of a heated tank!

**babyboos** · 11-28-2005, 03:48 AM

Oh what a fantastic job that must have been :P It is true I love seeing the little local children's faces at shows, many have never seen a hamster up close or had the opportunity to hold one. The squeals of delight are truly wonderful, and the big, tough looking brother in the background is soon cooing over them too

Here in Dundee we have a petting zoo at Camperdown Park but not much petting goes on anymore due to fear of litigation, it is very sad.