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Old 09-23-2020, 12:07 PM   #1
Rashy
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Default Kids vs hamster

As I do have 2 or 3 little ones there needs a new home, I`m actually scared. A big reason that people do sell or give their hamsters away, is that the kids dont like it as a hobby anymore.
In that thought I`m not sure if I feel like I want to give one off my hamsters to some with kids. Some familys do ask a lot and some, as I have a tread on here, do want to try it out as hobby.
But I`m wondering if I should say no the families there have kids there are under 13 years old.

I`m I bad for doing that?
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Old 09-23-2020, 12:28 PM   #2
flowerfairy
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

Not bad no, just careful. Go with what you feel is right for your hamsters. Good luck.
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Old 09-23-2020, 01:08 PM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

I would say not to families with children under 6 six years old and at that age, with the understanding that the parents will supervise at all times. Otherwise 10 years is more responsible but go with your gut about the individuals!
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Old 09-23-2020, 01:30 PM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

90% of the hamsters i've collected for the rescue and the hamsters i rehome myself were bought for kids who lost interest or decided to get a bigger pet.

I would only rehome to responsible parents who are willing to play an active part in the care of a pet and point out that a hamster is not a suitable pet for a child anyway.

You can usually tell if a parent is responsible because they would have done some research, sourced a suitable cage and gained some knowledge about hamsters.

Don't be afraid to turn people down if you are not 100% sure about them.

I have a young hamster at the moment who has already had negative experiences with children and he has a long way to go yet until he is ready for adoption. Once i get to know him better i'll have a better idea of what kind of forever home would suit him.

I think its not so much a matter of whether someone is an adult or young person but more a matter of matching a hamster's personality with a suitable person who wants to adopt.

It is not an easy task and i agree that it is scary. It scares me as well to think that i could get it wrong.

Last edited by Ria P; 09-23-2020 at 02:23 PM.
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Old 09-23-2020, 02:31 PM   #5
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

Ria has some great advice there. Do you watch Munchies Place on YouTube? she runs a hamster rescue and she talks about matching the hamster to the people who want to adopt them. For example, if someone has no or little experience of handling a hamster then you would want to be matching them up with a hamster that was easy going/very tame, maybe happy to be handled. More scared hamsters that need quiet and time to come out of themselves may need to be adopted by someone with no children. For example I adopt my hamsters from Austin's rescue in the UK and I have had hamsters that needed a quiet place to go live as I have no children and will just let my hamsters do what they want and work at their pace. Maybe you could start to follow a few rescues on youtube and social media and just observe what and how they do it.
Also when I adopt I have to sign a form saying certain things I won't do with the hamster etc.
Maybe you could create something like that so people know you mean business, I know Austin's also list the requirements of cage size, wheels etc on their page with examples. I think the more information you can provide to people wanting to possibly adopt will mean you will get rid f time wasters and make it easier for you to match hamsters to people.

No, you aren't bad if you aren't happy to let a hamster go to a family with small children,

Although, I will say I know many young hamster/pet youtubers and their care for their animals is incredible. Age doesn't always equate maturity and responsibility.
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Old 09-23-2020, 04:44 PM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

We got our first Hamster Charlie for stepson when he was 6. It was good for him but really it was my responsibility. As it happened I fell head over heels in love with Charlie and yes stepson lost interest but liked that he was around and cared about him (and also got a bit jealous of him). But it was good for stepson at first. He was always nervous about handling him though. We got in a routine of feeding at 6 so we could spend some time bathtub taming or having out of cage time before stepson went to bed. Hamsters do also seem to respond to children as long as they feel safe - Charlie always perked up when he heard stepsons voice. So it’s the parents you need to suss out. Constant supervision. And having the cage in the family room not the child‘a room.
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Old 09-25-2020, 05:52 AM   #7
Rashy
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
Ria has some great advice there. Do you watch Munchies Place on YouTube? she runs a hamster rescue and she talks about matching the hamster to the people who want to adopt them. For example, if someone has no or little experience of handling a hamster then you would want to be matching them up with a hamster that was easy going/very tame, maybe happy to be handled. More scared hamsters that need quiet and time to come out of themselves may need to be adopted by someone with no children. For example I adopt my hamsters from Austin's rescue in the UK and I have had hamsters that needed a quiet place to go live as I have no children and will just let my hamsters do what they want and work at their pace. Maybe you could start to follow a few rescues on youtube and social media and just observe what and how they do it.
Also when I adopt I have to sign a form saying certain things I won't do with the hamster etc.
Maybe you could create something like that so people know you mean business, I know Austin's also list the requirements of cage size, wheels etc on their page with examples. I think the more information you can provide to people wanting to possibly adopt will mean you will get rid f time wasters and make it easier for you to match hamsters to people.

No, you aren't bad if you aren't happy to let a hamster go to a family with small children,

Although, I will say I know many young hamster/pet youtubers and their care for their animals is incredible. Age doesn't always equate maturity and responsibility.

I create a contract or something like that. I think the biggest issue is that when the kids wants a hamster, they get one and let it be the kids responsibility. As when the kids gets bored, they do sell the hamster.
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Old 09-25-2020, 06:03 AM   #8
Rashy
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
90% of the hamsters i've collected for the rescue and the hamsters i rehome myself were bought for kids who lost interest or decided to get a bigger pet.

I would only rehome to responsible parents who are willing to play an active part in the care of a pet and point out that a hamster is not a suitable pet for a child anyway.

You can usually tell if a parent is responsible because they would have done some research, sourced a suitable cage and gained some knowledge about hamsters.

Don't be afraid to turn people down if you are not 100% sure about them.

I have a young hamster at the moment who has already had negative experiences with children and he has a long way to go yet until he is ready for adoption. Once i get to know him better i'll have a better idea of what kind of forever home would suit him.

I think its not so much a matter of whether someone is an adult or young person but more a matter of matching a hamster's personality with a suitable person who wants to adopt.

It is not an easy task and i agree that it is scary. It scares me as well to think that i could get it wrong.

I have mentioned a family here at the forum a while ago. They are supposted to come tomorrow to get one off the hamsters. They have bought a cage, food, carefresh, sand, and she says that she and the kids are motivated to try to have the hamster and think the hamster will be getting a good life with them. But then I think. What if the hamster dont fit for them?
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Old 09-25-2020, 07:07 AM   #9
Ria P
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rashy View Post
I have mentioned a family here at the forum a while ago. They are supposted to come tomorrow to get one off the hamsters. They have bought a cage, food, carefresh, sand, and she says that she and the kids are motivated to try to have the hamster and think the hamster will be getting a good life with them. But then I think. What if the hamster dont fit for them?
I think that we have already discussed adoption issues at length and there's nothing further to add that hasn't already been said. It really is down to your judgement now to decide whether you are going to let this family adopt one of your hamsters or not.
As i said before, i only let a hamster go when i'm a 100% sure that it is a suitable forever home. If not, then i turn people down. Fact is, the majority of people i have turned down because i'm prepared to keep a hamster indefinately until the right person applies. If that doesn't happen then i'm prepared to give the hamster a good life myself for the duration of its natural life.
That is the kind of commitment you have to make when taking in hamsters for rehoming.
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Old 09-25-2020, 07:27 AM   #10
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Kids vs hamster

Rashy, as Ria says I think a lot has been said about this already and if

1.) They can prove to you they have everything that you are happy with to provide the hamster a good home, i.e show you cage set up, including wheel, bedding, food, that it is a safe and secure room in the house etc.
and
2.) you create a contract that you make them sign and that if at any time they can no longer keep the hamster they agree to return it to you (providing that is what you want)

That's all you can do. If you are not happy doing this, then rescuing and adopting out hamsters may not be for you.
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