Upsetting free ad

[Liz47]

Hi,

I've tried searching for rules as I'm not sure if posting about free ads may be against the rules so I apologise if it is, I won't post a link just in case.

I was having a quick search on preloved to see if there was any bargain cages about and found two adverts from the same seller for two female syrians. The cages are tiny, shockingly small. They have no substrate other than hay and nothing but a tiny wheel and water bottle.

Is it wrong to want to go and get them? I don't have a full membership so can't reply yet but they're in my location. I know I can't feel sorry for every hamster I come across but I can't believe how small the cage is. In the pics both hamsters are just sat in a corner of the cage, they have no where to hide/sleep.

[Thin Lizzy]

Hi Liz, it's always heartbreaking when you come across these situations. Unfortunately, some people are ignorant to a hamster's welfare. Just because they're small, people assume a small cage is fine. I just don't look on these sites because I'd want to rescue every hamster.
Pet Shops don't help matters by selling these tiny cages.
I was in a petshop recently who sell supplies but not any animals and they had a cage and I gasped in shock as it was smaller than the carrier box I have.

[Piebald]

Of course it's not wrong of you to want to go get them. Nor to feel sorry for every Hamster in a bad situation you see. If you can possibly afford to give them a better life go get them. Couple of bin cages will help, even if you decide to rehome to more responsible people of your choosing you've done a good thing. xx

[mylittlefluffyhamster]

I agree with piebald if your financial, time keeping, and overall health is all okay I would go get them.

it's not bad wanting to rescue every hamster it's just a shame pet shops don't make it clear enough that hamsters need a large cage xx

[racinghamster]

It`s so sad isn`t it. If you only have one hamster at the moment and were thinking about rehoming another, maybe take one rather than both if it`s all you can financially manage and while there, perhaps look at both hamsters and decide what the best course of action is. Taking on two Syrians would mean having a decent cage (or Bin) for each and the equivalent accessories. Cardboard shoe boxes make great sleeping huts and you could easily make things rather than buy, apart from the wheels! To save money.

Nearly all the hamsters I`ve had have been adoptions or rehomed from others and they have all been wonderful hamsters. But then I don`t judge their characters good or bad. I just better their lives.

Let us know what you decide/discover. x

[Liz47]

Thank you for the replies. I do usually avoid free ads, like pet shops, but was looking in the pet supplies section. I know pet shops sell small cages but these are something else! The seller wants £10 for each hamster and cage, I do have a lot of pets including one male 2 1/2 year old Syrian but financially am stable. Its more space that would be an issue. I will give it a few days thought, maybe some one else will come along in the mean time to give them a new start. The ads say nothing about either ham, just that they're female.

[GreySyrian]

Do you have a link to the ad? If your not able to take them then perhaps someone on the forum who's close could help?

[herbi7]

You could suggest to the person who wrote the ad a name of a good local rescue if you cant' have them and no one else takes them. Otherwise, take them! I would quarantine them from your hammy though for a while while you check if they have something infectious or mites or something as if they are in poor conditions they might well be poorly. If you feel there is reason for the RSPCA to get involved, (it has to be a clear case of cruelty or neglect) you can give them a link to the ad, I've done that in the past but they werent' able to take further action. It's hard rehoming pets at the moment, most people are getting rid, rather than taking on animals so make sure you're sure you could cope wtih them long term before you take them on. The danger of leaving them for someone else to take is that they may be unaware hamsters need to be kept differently so they may not get a better life.

[Liz47]

Thank you for the replies. I don't the RSPCA can help, I volunteer for a branch and they no longer take unwanted animals and it wouldn't be a case for neglect as sad as it is!

[Pebbles82]

If you wanted them and could find £64, you could get a couple of Alaska cages and stack them on top of each other (the cage has a big front opening door). It's a good sized hamster cage.

Alaska Hamster Cage | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!