Please stay safe

[Vierville]

P.S. I love the word 'phodopus'... even our hamsters' scientific name is cute!

[Ria P]

With the government imposed current Lockdown i wonder how to keep the hamsters safe!

I had arranged to collect a hamster after work tomorrow but now that the country has shut down i guess that i'm not able to do that and have canceled until i get more info. She's not a neglected hamster as such but no longer wanted by the child, usual story.

I'm in a dilemma. What do i do? Adhere to government guidelines/laws or ignore it and continue to collect hamsters to take to the rescue.

[Vierville]

Originally Posted by Ria P

With the government imposed current Lockdown i wonder how to keep the hamsters safe!

I had arranged to collect a hamster after work tomorrow but now that the country has shut down i guess that i'm not able to do that and have canceled until i get more info. She's not a neglected hamster as such but no longer wanted by the child, usual story.

I'm in a dilemma. What do i do? Adhere to government guidelines/laws or ignore it and continue to collect hamsters to take to the rescue.

Ria P, I'll probably get some bad reactions to this but if it is in the best interests of the welfare of the hamster I'd 'find' a reason for the trip. They need care too during these awful times, it's not their fault any of this is happening.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Vierville

Ria P, I'll probably get some bad reactions to this but if it is in the best interests of the welfare of the hamster I'd 'find' a reason for the trip. They need care too during these awful times, it's not their fault any of this is happening.

Thank you Vierville. I am classed as a keyworker and have to go to work so i can always say that i thought it applies to humans and animals, should i get stopped and asked. I'll arrange special measures like leaving the hamster in a box on the door step at pick up so no human contact. The rescue operates like that. People can't enter the premises, hand over a transport box on the door and receive it back with the hamster in it.

[cypher]

I would have thought it would be ok to pick up the hamster if they can put it in a carrier & you do n't get closer than 2m to the owner, obviously you'd need to take precautions, hand sanitiser or just washing your hands after handling the carrier but that should be safe enough.

[Pebbles82]

Difficult but I think if you have cancelled and the hamster is not at risk it is better to stick to the guidelines. It could put them at risk as much as anything - if they're staying at home and you're a key worker but very complicated I know. We're having a few problems trying to persuade a relative to stay at home!

[Vierville]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Thank you Vierville. I am classed as a keyworker and have to go to work so i can always say that i thought it applies to humans and animals, should i get stopped and asked. I'll arrange special measures like leaving the hamster in a box on the door step at pick up so no human contact. The rescue operates like that. People can't enter the premises, hand over a transport box on the door and receive it back with the hamster in it.

I'd go get him. Follow all the guidelines and take all the precautions.

[Pebbles82]

Current Uk government rules as of yesterday are stay at home for 3 weeks. Don’t go out except for essentials of food and medicine, or to go outside for exercise once a day for a walk or a run avoiding other people, don’t travel to work unless absolutely essential. No groups of more than 2 people in any location. Work from home if possible. All shops and public places are now closed and events are banned except for funerals.

It is to minimise any contact at all other than immediate family to stop the spread when one person can infect 2.5 people and they infect another 2.5 people and within a week that is an awful lot of people and critical care can’t cope. Personally I think everyone should be as stringent as possible unless it is a dire emergency.

[VOESSY]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Current Uk government rules as of yesterday are stay at home for 3 weeks. Don’t go out except for essentials of food and medicine, or to go outside for exercise once a day for a walk or a run avoiding other people, don’t travel to work unless absolutely essential. No groups of more than 2 people in any location. Work from home if possible. All shops and public places are now closed and events are banned except for funerals.

It is to minimise any contact at all other than immediate family to stop the spread when one person can infect 2.5 people and they infect another 2.5 people and within a week that is an awful lot of people and critical care can’t cope. Personally I think everyone should be as stringent as possible unless it is a dire emergency.

I have to agree.
It is hugely important to keep in mind that you can in fact spread it so easily, and more than anything you do not know where any of the other people you may encounter have been and who they encountered and so on. You don't want to bring any of the risks home with you either, very cautious or not.

[Vierville]

Well let's hope the unwanted hamster is going to be looked after by its current owners until the lockdown ends. My suspicion would be that if it is unwanted it may have a very low priority to them in these difficult times.