Homeless Hamsters

 

Campbell’s Hamsters Make Great Pets!

The Campbell’s hamster is a delightful pet!  They are outgoing and will greet you and will gladly come out to explore. Campbell’s are cute and curious, playful and silly.  These little clowns will keep you laughing with their antics.

Hamsters are great pets for animal lovers of just about any age group.  They are great for older children but a senior can enjoy their company as well.

Adopting a hamster is a short-term commitment.  Dwarf hamsters live an average of one to two years.  If you aren’t in a position to take on the responsibilities of long-term pet a hamster may be the perfect pick.

For seniors, the short life span of a hamster can be a plus.  A 15- to 20-year time commitment that a dog or cat entails may make them think twice.  A 1-2 year commitment to a hamster may make more sense.  It could be the difference between having a pet and not having one at all.  If circumstances change and the senior needs to make alternative arrangements for a hamster it is a little easier than finding another home for a dog or cat.

If you have a busy lifestyle the hamster is the perfect pet.  They are able to be left alone at home and don’t need to be let outside.  No need to wake up on cold, snowy mornings and walk your hamster. 

Dwarf hamsters sleep during the day and are most active at dawn and dusk; they can say “good morning” to you before you go to work and are ready to hear all about you day when you get home.

They enjoy being pet and handled for short periods of time.  So if you have a short attention span this could be the perfect pet for you!

No grooming necessary!  You won’t have to bathe or brush this furry friend.  Hamsters are meticulous in cleaning themselves.

Hamsters don’t require expensive boarding kennels while you are on vacation.  Often a friend or relative can be talked in to watching them for free.  They are perfectly content to hang out in their cage at your home while a reliable person comes to check on them a few times a week.

Hamster supplies and food are readily available and inexpensive.  Even small pet stores devote a whole section to all things hamster.  You will find food, cages, dishes, water bottles, wheels, chew blocks, toys, tunnels, and tubes.

Food for this little pet won’t be a major addition to your budget.  After all, hamsters are small and a 2-pound bag of seed mix will last a while.

Hamsters don’t require yearly vaccinations like dogs and cats.  They only need to go to the veterinarian if they aren’t feeling well.

Whether you live in a huge house, a modest apartment or a single room, if there is space for you there is space for a hamster.  A habitat can easily fit on top of a dresser or desk. Also many landlords that do not allow cats or dogs are just fine with a caged pet.

Hamsters are also very quiet.  Your neighbors won’t complain because your hamster kept them up all night.

If your mom says that you can’t have a rodent tell her that the hamsters tail is practically non-existent making them hardly look like rodents at all! 

Owning a hamster is a winning combination.  You get the value of pet ownership and all the joy that comes from sharing your life with a pet, bonding with that pet, and giving it the best possible quality of life. 

 

Are you ready for a hamster?

Before welcoming a hamster in to your home please think about the following.

  • If the hamster is going to be a pet for a child, will you take over its care if you child loses interest?
  • Are you able to take care of the hamster on a daily basis, making sure it has food and water?
  • Do you have time for weekly cage cleanings?
  • Do you travel a lot, and for how long?  Hamsters will be fine left for 1-2 days but anything longer arrangements will need to be made to care for them.
  • Are you willing to take your hamster to the vet if it gets sick?  Not every veterinarian has the expertise to treat hamsters and the ones that specialize in exotic pets can be costly.
  • Do you have other pets?  Mixing hamsters with other pets like cats, dogs, and ferrets is not always a good idea as they could easily be frightened or injured.  In a home with other pets, it is best to isolate the hamster in its own room where no other animals are allowed.
  • Are you able to make time for your hamster?  You provide everything that makes up his world.  Your voice, your touch, food, treats, toys, furnishings all come from you.  You will need to make time for him every day.

Be Prepared to Welcome Your New Friend

Below you will find a list of supplies that you will need to purchase for your new family member!

  •  Appropriate sized cage *
     (Please ensure that the cage is well-ventilated and large enough for a food dish, water bottle, hiding area, wheel and play space.
  •  Aspen bedding *
  •  Water Bottle or Water Dish *
  •  Food bowl(s) *
  •  Hamster Food *
  •  Exercise Wheel and/or Exercise Ball *
  •  Hiding house *
  •  Treat Sticks / Chews
  •  Habitat Cleaner
  •  Vitamin Drops
  •  Hamster Books/Magazines

( * = Items that you must buy/own in order to adopt a hamster.)

Thank you for providing a loving, lifelong home to your hamster! If you have any questions about your adoption, please call Animal Friends at 412.847.7002.

To adopt

Animal Friends is requesting a $30 donation for the adoption of a hamster. This donation includes: 1 hamster, a Critter Trail starter habitat, water bottle, food dish, nest, exercise wheel, Carefresh Pet Bedding and a bag of food.

 Animal Friends will consider placing pairs of same gender.

Contact:
Animal Friends Adoption Department
562 Camp Horne Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
412.847.7002

Animal Friends
Pet Adoption & Resource Center | 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 | 412.847.7000
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