Give one hamster a new home

Rashy · 09-19-2020, 11:36 AM

A family who want to try to have a hamster will try to have one off our hamsters for a week or two. I`m always insecure when it comes to give hamsters a new home.
They do follow Victoria Rachel on youtube and a norwegian hamster page on facebook.

What should I ask them?

LunaTheHamster1 · 09-19-2020, 11:46 AM

Do you mean they are adopting one of your hamsters? If so. I would ask then what size cage they have, food, wheel size, bedding they will be using. Have they had a hamster before, do they have any other pets, if yes will the hamster have it's own secure place. Things like that.

Ria P · 09-19-2020, 11:50 AM

Do you want to give them one of your hamsters for a week or two to try out what its like to have a hamster or did i misread your post? I hope i did.

Rashy · 09-19-2020, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

Do you want to give them one of your hamsters for a week or two to try out what its like to have a hamster or did i misread your post? I hope i did.

Is that a bad idea?

Rashy · 09-19-2020, 12:00 PM

They would like to see how it is to have a hamster, and if they like it, they would keep her. Is that bad?

Ria P · 09-19-2020, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rashy

Is that a bad idea?

In my opinion, yes.

LunaTheHamster1 · 09-19-2020, 12:23 PM

Umm, tricky one. On the one hand they are not being fully responsible in taking on a pet and all the responsibility that entails in that they can just give it back, but on the other hand at least they are wanting to try it before they commit.

If it worked out it could be a good thing, but if they decide to return it you have just put your hamster through one upheaval in getting used to a new home and then returning back to it's old home.

I know most rescues will let you adopt a hamster on the proviso that if anything ever happens and they need to rehome the hamster again that you have to take it back to the rescue and not just give it away/advertise it. But they wouldn't be expecting it to return in two weeks.

I think what would be best for the hamster and the people involved is to discuss what their expectations of having a hamster are and see if that matches up with what actually owning a hamster is like.
If you get it right in the first place then there should be no need for them to return a hamster.
What reasons would they expect to return the hamster to you??? if they have any doubts, maybe a hamster isn't the right pet for them.

Rashy · 09-19-2020, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

Umm, tricky one. On the one hand they are not being fully responsible in taking on a pet and all the responsibility that entails in that they can just give it back, but on the other hand at least they are wanting to try it before they commit.

If it worked out it could be a good thing, but if they decide to return it you have just put your hamster through one upheaval in getting used to a new home and then returning back to it's old home.

I know most rescues will let you adopt a hamster on the proviso that if anything ever happens and they need to rehome the hamster again that you have to take it back to the rescue and not just give it away/advertise it. But they wouldn't be expecting it to return in two weeks.

I think what would be best for the hamster and the people involved is to discuss what their expectations of having a hamster are and see if that matches up with what actually owning a hamster is like.
If you get it right in the first place then there should be no need for them to return a hamster.
What reasons would they expect to return the hamster to you??? if they have any doubts, maybe a hamster isn't the right pet for them.

I have told them that hamsters are animals who wakes up at evening/night. They told me that they have let their kids know that hamsters is not kozy/social animals, and they have the knowledge, but not experience.

Amethyst_ice · 09-19-2020, 12:50 PM

Do you mean if they get on with the hamster they will keep it? I read it more that they were like hamster sitting one of yours for a week or two to see what it's like. I think the latter is actually very responsible because so many people get a pet and after a month or so realise it isnt for them etc and then it either gets neglected or passed from home to home.

Rashy · 09-19-2020, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

Do you mean if they get on with the hamster they will keep it? I read it more that they were like hamster sitting one of yours for a week or two to see what it's like. I think the latter is actually very responsible because so many people get a pet and after a month or so realise it isnt for them etc and then it either gets neglected or passed from home to home.

Hamster sitting yes, and if they like it, they will keep the hamster.