Just got my new hamster on sunday. Ive owned hamsters when I was younger but this has been my first since I was at school. I wasn't planning on getting one because I knew the right one would come along. This hamster was purchased by my partners friend. His friend bought the hamster for his daughter who is about 5 (an all too common story), I wanted to take the hamster from the moment I knew they had one, and made this option clear to them, I didn't want it to get to the point where he wasn't looking after him properly. Finally about 2 months after he had purchased him he decided he didn't want it any more. Im just glad I knew about this hammy before it was too late, I could see it would have ended badly for this guy otherwise.
His little life so far has been as far as I know ... sent to pets at home from where ever he may have came from .... sat on view at pets at home with hardly any privicy.... picked up from pets at home and put in a cage which personally I feel isn't suitable for a syrian. It was a dreamland hamster cage from pets at home
http://www.petsathome.com/find/keywo...oduct-is-20613. This hamster was then on its first day of arrival shuffled into its ball and watched while it ran round the room, probley scared to death. Then it was put back in its cage and got shouted at by the children. After this it was left to its own devices, occasionally he would have interaction from a bang on the cage while he was tryin to sleep from the younger child. He was never handled during this period, which im actually rather relieved about in a way, as I doubt the handling would have been properly supervised.
They stalled giving me the hamster trying to find a way to tell the girls why he had to go. We told them I was going to look after him and tame him so that when they come round they can hold him. Which is fair enough, im going to show them how to hold a hamster properly and how to look after one, hopefully some of this will sink in. And there will be NO screaming round my hamster lol.
I was told on saturday evening that I could have him, so when I got in from work at 9pm I went in the garage and got my old hamster cage out, its just a simple 3 level I bought from wilkinsons around 6-7 years ago, it was very dirty but with 3 hours of hard work scrubbing and disinfecting I had a nice clean place for him.When I went to pick him up he was awake sat in the box part of the cage, which he used as his bed. There wasn't enough bedding for him to bury a nice place to sleep in. The enclosed wheel was discusting to say the least, he used this as his toilet and I dnt think it had been cleaned.
When I got him home I transfered the box (where he slept) into his new cage, he ran out and explored, it was as if he knew he was safe now, he had never done this in his old cage. He even had a nibble of my retrievers fur, as she was standing next to the cage. She loved my last hamster and let him run all over her, but thats a golden retriever for you lol.
I left him that day to settle in, and then on monday I opened the door and placed my hand there, there was no hesitation, he was a little brave boy and jumped straight on, but then he had second thoughts and jumped back in lol. Now he is quite happy to be handled, and when presented with his ball he goes straight in an loves it.
Sorry for blabbing on, I just needed you to know his background so you all know what a special little hamster he is, its amsing how they can still trust us after what they can go through.
Now his name was harry but it just doesn't quite suit him so im thinking pepper, what do you think? my last one was called Incka he was all black. Ive been looking and I think this one is a black dominant spot. When he wakes up I will take a picture.