Gumtree Heartbreak

Dalis_mum · 02-25-2015, 01:19 PM

Sorry for another thread...

I was just browsing aimlessly through gumtree and found an ad for what they claim to be hamsters although if they are hamsters they are very thin. I think they look like gerbils their faces are that narrow. There are 4 in what looks like a tiny starter cage which is disgustingly filthy.

I want to help but I don't have the space, resources or means to get to them.

Why do we torture ourselves? I was actually looking for a bed frame for myself and for some unknown reason they were in the list and I had to check the ad but wish I hadn't. I think that image will haunt me for some time.

Baby Grrr · 02-25-2015, 02:24 PM

That's so sad to hear I hope they'll take care of them better

Colby and the Dwarfs · 02-25-2015, 02:44 PM

We torture ourselves because we care. Loving animals (or anything) is ridiculously unfortunate in that it hurts sometimes. And knowing that those gerbils are not being taken care of should make anyone upset, but most people lack that basic sense of sympathy towards small rodents. If they were dogs or cats or horses they would be out by now. But sadly that's not the case, and it takes a caring person to rescue them. It's sad, but it happens constantly. I do hope they're rescued

Dalis_mum · 02-25-2015, 02:45 PM

It says they were abandoned by an old tenant... I would get them myself and try and rehome them but its too far for me to travel.

BrainGirl · 02-25-2015, 06:16 PM

Could you report them? If they look thin they might be in real trouble.

Shannonmcn · 02-25-2015, 07:56 PM

That's so awful

can't you look into a local rescue? There has to be someone who can take them.

I can't look at gumtree anymore, I used to look occasionally for cages but the number of poor hams being abandoned (given away for snake food, probably) in tiny cages that I can't rescue just breaks my heart. My housemate won't stand another animal, I barely got away with one.

I agree with Colby, if these were cats or dogs you would be falling over yourself for offers of help if you publicised it the right way, nobody cares about rodents and its horrible. Rodents don't have any less personality than cats or dogs if you let them express themselves.

Thin Lizzy · 02-25-2015, 09:42 PM

I hate seeing pics of animals up for sale, someone wanting a few quid, so decide to put their pet up for sale. What really annoys me is if these people had a heart, they'd do the right thing by handing their pets into their local SSPCA/RSPCA or other rescue centres showing some remorse about having to do so instead of making a few quid and not giving a dam.

Dalis_mum · 02-25-2015, 11:30 PM

I just went looking for the ad so I could use it to take details to lodge an online RSPCA report and it was gone. Hope that means that someone else has taken them in to rehome them and not something horrible. I've slept less than normal, which is saying something! I hope they're ok, wherever they are. No more gumtree browsing for me!

Thin Lizzy · 02-26-2015, 01:40 AM

Seeing things like that can be very traumatic and it's not surprising you've not slept too well.

racinghamster · 02-26-2015, 01:57 AM

I only tend to go to Gumtree when I`ve lost my hamster and I`m looking for another one `free to good home` or the owners are selling their hamster with `tiny cage` but I`ve only been lucky the once with a wee robo I took in. Some of the pets on Gumtree are genuinely in need, but anyone buying or taking on a pet from a website never really knows that animals background unless the owners are genuinely honest. Many dogs for example will have behavioural issues that may not appear right away, so the new owner has to be mindful of taking on a dog that may require some rehabilitation.

Dalis_mum, it`s a shame we don`t live closer as I have a brand new black metal bed frame for sale for £25! It`s a City Block bed frame. I wanted to re-vamp my own bed and bought this one as a spare and only used it for less than a week!