A HAMSTER abandoned in his cage amongst bags of rubbish has been rehomed!
The unwanted tan and white pet had been left in his enclosure at Penllyn, Cwmavon near Port Talbot, alongside bags of general waste, early last month. Luckily a member of the public noticed him moving around inside and contacted the RSPCA.
He was collected by RSPCA animal rescue officer Paula Milton after the kind-hearted person who found him the previous day kept him overnight and he was then transferred to RSPCA Llys Nini Animal Centre in Penllergaer.
Llys Nini Branch’s administration and rehoming manager, Julie Fadden, said the Syrian hamster – now named Dewi – was initially fostered by a member of the team. And he has now found a forever home in time for today’s National Hamster Day too (12 April).
“We are delighted to say that Harry has now been officially adopted by his fosterer who has fallen in love with him,” she said.
“It is wonderful that he has now found a forever home. It was very sad that he was abandoned amongst the rubbish. He was found in a good condition and had been kept in a well-stocked enclosure, so he’d clearly been looked after in the past, but sadly his owner could not keep him.”
His new owner Celyn Thomas said he has been renamed Dewi as he was abandoned on St David’s Day – and is settling in really well.
Celyn, who also works at Llys Nini Animal Centre as animal rehoming assistant, said: “I absolutely fell in love with him when he first came into the centre, considering all he had been through he’s been such a friendly boy.
“He’s such a gentle little soul with everyone who handles him. He’s now getting all he could ever want, and is super spoiled already. He’s had a home upgrade and a lovely new wheel. He loves his sleep and wakes up with a bed head which is quite amusing!”
When Dewi was discovered several messages were found scribbled on the base of the cage in black pen including ‘name Harry’ ‘pick me up’ ‘I like food’ and ‘do not destroy.’
The cost of living crisis is thought to be behind the surge in abandonments that the RSPCA is currently dealing with. A dedicated cost of living support for worried pet owners has been created by the RSPCA, with a recently-opened telephone helpline on 0300 123 0650 and an online hub, which has lots of practical tips and advice, including details of pet food bank schemes.
Sadly small furries like hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs are often abandoned.
Dr Jane Tyson, from the RSPCA’s Companion Animals Department, said: “Small furries can be fantastic pets to have, however they have a reputation as a good ‘starter pet’ for children as there is a misconception that they are easy to look after, but they actually have quite complex needs.
“While we believe many people buy a rabbit, guinea pig, hamster or other small furry with good intentions, and many will also do their research, there is a risk that not enough research is being done and we are concerned that this could lead to an increase in neglect of small furries in the months to come.
“Adopting small furries from the RSPCA, either from our national centres or any of our branches around the country, will mean you will have all the information and advice you need to ensure your new pets are happy and healthy.”
Hamsters are very active animals and should be housed in a large cage which provides enough space for them to perform all their natural behaviours such as burrowing, climbing, playing and exploring.
Cages also need to be large enough to contain all the resources they need, for example, shelters, toys and tunnels, as well as plenty of suitable, safe bedding and nesting materials. Cages should be kept in a quiet part of the household, in an area where the lights go off at similar times every night and away from items that generate ultrasound (e.g. computer screens, television sets).
