Hamster Info Ireland

12/11/2024

The baby girls, Sage, Thyme and Parsley were out for breakfast and a cuddle! 🐹🥰😍
These babies are 4 weeks old and will stay together until they’re 8 weeks old when they’ll be ready to go to their forever homes.

05/11/2024

💕🐹💕 DONATION APPEAL 💕🐹💕

Our adorable litter of hamsters who were recently rescued alongside their parents are all doing well, but they need your help to start their new lives! Caring for these tiny little ones comes with a cost - enclosures, bedding, food, enrichment and more. With the added possibility that mum may be pregnant again, the expenses are adding up quickly!

Your generous donation will ensure these hamsters have everything they need to thrive: safe homes, good quality food, and plenty of enrichment to keep them happy. Every little bit helps! 🥰

Please consider supporting their journey by making a donation today. Together, we can give these hamsters the loving care they deserve!

Donations can be made through our website: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/donate/ To make a regular donation to our charity please subscribe to our Patreon for just €3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/HamsterInfoIreland

Thank you! 💜🐹💜
---
Hamster Info Ireland is a registered Irish charity. RCN: 20206484

02/11/2024

Today we had a rather unexpected emergency rescue of not just one, not two, not even three... SIX hamsters!

We were alerted to two hybrid dwarves cohabiting in a cage the size of a piece of paper that were being given away for free on an ad listing site. Knowing how risky those situations are, Sophie swooped into immediate action and went to rescue the hamsters. There’s always a high risk of fighting or pregnancy when hamsters are kept together so we always treat these intakes as emergencies. Being the veterans we are, in this case we suspected that one hamster could be pregnant if they were opposite s*xes and recently bought from a pet shop.

Upon arrival, Sophie was greeted with two parent hamsters and, as supected, their litter, who are almost 3 weeks old. The babies had not even been mentioned on the ad! Sadly, one of the gorgeous babies had escaped the unsuitable enclosure on Halloween and was found dead by a child, who has been so deeply traumatised by this experience that they have not slept in their room since. This awful scenario of baby animals having babies and then unexpecting owners dealing with the fallout of poor pet shop ethics should not continue happening. We MUST push harder for more robust standards as a nation, especially when we are so dreadfully behind our European neighbours.

We’ve decided to name the young parents Rosemary and Basil. The little ones are called Dill (male), Parsley, Thyme, and Sage (females). We need new adopters to step forward, as the rescue doors are now closed due to capacity. Rosemary will be on pregnancy watch for the next three weeks, but totally derserves a home of her own after giving birth while so young. The stress of cohabiting in that awful enclosure has poor Basil very anxious, so we desperately need a patient, understanding home for this tired-out dad. The babies will be ideal for anyone who usually chooses a pet store due to the age of the hamsters available... adopt a baby from us instead, and open up a rescue space for another hamster in crisis. They will be ready for homing from 8 weeks old.

22/10/2024

Introducing our newest intake - Topolino!

Topolino is a male Chinese dwarf hamster and is available for adoption! Chinese dwarf hamsters need a few more vertical obstacles as their grip and longer tail mean they can climb better than their cousins. Items like grape vine wood or spider wood provide a lot of enrichment for the Chinese dwarf hamster.

17/10/2024

Today we're asking you to please consider sending a small donation to our charity.

In recent weeks our rescue has been hit hard with multiple vet bills for some of our rescued hamsters. One of whom is little Russian dwarf girl Rudi who sadly had an eye issue on intake which needed treatment. Despite doing well lately, the condition has sadly returned which has led to further vet visits. Medication and scans can be expensive as hamsters are classed as exotic pets and often need specialised care.

Aside from this, we've had a steady flow of some very quick intakes and adoptions. This is great news for our hamsters as they head off to their new forever homes, but the result of this means full foster cage setups need to be quickly dismantled and rebuilt for the next intake. Our fosterers always do the best they can in terms of using washable items that can be reused or cheap cardboard items that can be discarded. However, there is only so much that can be done in that regard. Safe substrates and other forms of enrichment can really be a strain on our finances. Transport for collecting, moving or delivering hamsters, while often voluntary, can also be costly for our small charity.

As a registered Irish charity ( #20206484), our work is fully funded by the public. Making a donation to our charity means we can provide the very best of care to little hamsters who often come from cases of neglect and cruelty. We'll also be able to continue to educate and promote ethical care for these wonderful animals.

If you'd like to send a donation you can do so through our website: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/donate/

Or you can join our Patreon, where for just €3 per month you'll become an official charity member and get exclusive access to behind the scenes rescue news and our quarterly newsletter! https://www.patreon.com/c/HamsterInfoIreland

17/10/2024

An important post from our friends at DRD Knaagdierwinkel about hamster play! 😊

Hamsters would much prefer some nice deep substrate to burrow in, or some sprays and flower blossoms to explore, than being trapped in a hamster ball forced to run around with nowhere to hide!

Remember, the best way to take care of an animal is to give it ways to express its natural behaviour. ✅

BLOG 🐹 Wat Is 'Spelen' voor Hamsters?

Lekker rollen in een hamsterbal? ⚠️🚫
Nee, nee alsjeblieft niet. Een van de populairste producten in de knaagdier schappen als het gaat om "speelgoed", maar heel erg fout voor de dieren. We beginnen even met dit geheel verkeerd geïnterpreteerde speelgoed. De dieren gaan er inderdaad in rennen, maar niet omdat ze het leuk vinden. Uit onderzoek is gebleken dat de hamsters snel wegrennen in de bal op zoek naar een verstopplek. Daarnaast worden door de bal alle zintuigen buiten spel gezet. De dieren kunnen niets meer voelen (handjes, snorharen), slechter horen en ruiken. Wij raden deze ballen ten zeerste af en adviseren in plaats daarvan een leuke ren met genoeg activiteiten, veel leuker voor de dieren. Als we natuurlijk gedrag als uitgangspunt gebruiken dan is de hamsterbal een middel dat natuurlijk gedrag geheel onmogelijk maakt.

Wat wij met "spelen" bedoelen, komt bij de hamster helemaal niet voor! Als hamsterbezitters willen we het beste voor onze harige vrienden, en dat begint met het begrijpen van hun gedrag. Een veelgestelde vraag die we vaak krijgen, is: “Welk speelgoed is geschikt voor hamsters?” Maar eerlijk gezegd spelen hamsters helemaal niet op de manier die we gewend zijn bij andere dieren. In deze blog onderzoeken we het speelgedrag van hamsters en hoe we hen kunnen helpen om gelukkig en gezond te blijven.

Wat Is 'Spelen' Voor Hamsters?
Eigenlijk moeten wij het woord 'spelen' niet gebruiken voor hamsters, maar eerder "natuurlijk gedrag vertonen", want daar worden hamsters echt vrolijk van. Net zoals een spel met een bal een hond blij maakt, is een volle bos oogst of een heerlijk soepel looprad iets waar een hamster helemaal blij van wordt. Heel veel dingen worden verkocht als "hamster speelgoed", maar het speelgoed waarmee een konijn zich urenlang kan vermaken, zal een hamster niet eens opmerken dat het er ligt!

Spelen = Natuurlijk Gedrag Vertonen
Allereerst moeten we met elkaar afspreken dat we bij hamsters 'spelen' eigenlijk gelijk moeten stellen aan 'natuurlijk gedrag vertonen'. En dan komen we tot wonderbaarlijke conclusies voor deze dieren! Lees verder, link in de reactie!

04/10/2024

Happy World Animal Day! 🐹💛🐹💛🐹

At Hamster Info Ireland, we believe that even the smallest animals deserve the best care possible. As a registered charity in Ireland, we’re dedicated to educating the public about ethical hamster care. Unfortunately, Ireland still has a long way to go in ensuring proper animal care, as many pet shops continue to sell unsuitable products and pet owners often receive misleading information. Our goal is to elevate hamster care standards in Ireland to match those of other European countries, creating safe and nurturing environments for our beloved pets!

Our rescue service cares for unwanted and neglected hamsters until they can find loving new homes. This important work is fully funded by public donations and carried out by our amazing volunteers, including trustees, fosterers, and transporters, who generously dedicate their time to help hamsters in need.

🔵 If you’d like to support our efforts, please consider making a small donation: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/donate/

🟣 Interested in volunteering? Learn more about how you can get involved: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/rescue/

🟠 Could you provide a loving home for a rescued hamster? Check out our available hammies here: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/available-for-adoption/

🟡 Want to learn more about ethical hamster care? Explore our Hamster Care Guide: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/care-guide/

29/09/2024

RAPHY SPAM!

Our foster hammy Raphael loved his new sprays last night, just couldn’t get enough of them!!!

Raphy and his brothers are all so adorable, we can’t believe they’ve not been adopted yet!

If you’re interested in adopting a hamster, please apply now, link in bio!!

25/09/2024

🐹🎡 Wheels for auction 🎡🐹

Please comment on the individual photo to place your bid, remember the minimum bid is €10 to cover postage 📦

25/09/2024

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Join us for our online hamster wheel auction, where you can bid on a variety of hamster wheels while helping to fund Hamster Info Ireland’s rescue efforts! 🐹

It’s the perfect time to grab a bargain and sort out that wheel upgrade you've been thinking about, or to grab a spare for your playpen!
All wheels are second hand, have been washed thoroughly and are in near perfect condition ✨

This afternoon, we’ll be posting each wheel and if you’re interested in purchasing it, you can comment your bid!
Minimum bid is €10 to cover postage 📦

22/09/2024

Isn’t Leo just the cutest little boy?!

How has he not been adopted yet?

Apply now - https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/available-for-adoption/

18/09/2024

🐹 NEW INTAKE - MEET SPROUT 🐹

Yesterday, a special little (big!) dwarf hamster called Sprout made his way into the rescue network. We received a message about him and knew we needed to act quickly. His previous owner was keeping him in a cardboard box with no lid, and had recently adopted an ex-hunting lurcher, so his safety was at significant risk. Luckily, our trustee Tina was able to take him in very quickly, so he's now safe with her.

Tipping a whopping 79g on the scales, mister Sprout is on a special diet to help get his weight back under control. His previous owner wasn't sure about what to feed a hamster, so was offering him carb-rich corn on the cob. He's now so large that he tumbles on slopes, owing to the fatty deposits that are inhibiting his front legs' ranges of motion. Obesity is sadly common in hybrid dwarves on inadequate diets, which is why species-specific nutrition is so important. This is linked to other health concerns and mobility issues, so Sprout won't be adoptable until we get his weight down a little. His special low-carb dwarf hamster food from Getzoo will hopefully help him shed a few grams, as will running on his lovely BUCATSTATE wheel. You can donate to help us replenish the costs of his rescue and care here:

Https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/donate/

We're on the hunt for a great home for this boy. He was taken in by his previous owner at about 6 months old and spent the next 6 months in the cardboard box setup, so he is super deserving of all the best standards of care our adopters provide. We're accepting prospective applicants now, with a view to rehoming him in a few weeks.

Https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/adoption-application-pack/

17/09/2024

Will You Give a Rescued Hamster a Forever Home? 🐹🏠💛

Hamster Info Ireland has welcomed several hamsters in recent months due to various circumstances. Some come to us because their owners are moving, acquiring new pets, or facing financial difficulties. Others are surrendered when children lose interest, leading to neglect. There are also cases where pet shop hamsters produce unexpected litters or where owners lack the knowledge to provide proper care, putting the hamsters at risk of harm.

At Hamster Info Ireland, we are committed to giving these hamsters a second chance. We place them into our foster network, providing care and finding them loving forever homes. (We do not pay for any hamsters we rescue to avoid supporting unethical practices.)

Unfortunately, due to limited space and resources, we can only rescue a certain number of hamsters. Therefore, finding forever homes for these animals is crucial for our work to continue.

Could you be the one to give a rescued hamster a loving forever home?
To begin the adoption process, please:

🟣 Register Your Interest: Fill out the form on our website here: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/adoptionapplicationgreen/

🔵 Prepare a Suitable Enclosure: Set up a home for your hamster that meets modern care standards. Detailed guidelines are available on our education page. https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/education/
Avoid outdated pet shop advice, which often doesn't meet current ethical standards.

🟢 Complete the Adoption Questionnaire: Once your setup is ready, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire which you will have received via email. This form includes questions about your lifestyle and the products used for your hamster's enclosure.

🟠 Review and Video Call: Our team will review your application. If approved, we’ll schedule a video call with you to discuss any questions you have and ensure your setup is ready. We’ll also arrange a time to bring your new furry friend home!

We strive for a thorough adoption process to ensure our rescued hamsters go to the best possible homes where they will be loved and well cared for. If you need help at any stage, we’re here to support you! ☺️

🐹🐹🐹 Check out our available hamsters here: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/available-for-adoption/

Interested in helping but not ready to adopt? You can:
🟣 Donate: Support our rescue efforts and the care of our hamsters here: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/donate/
🔵 Volunteer: Consider fostering or transporting hamsters. More details are available on our rescue page: https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/rescue/

Thank you! 🥰

12/09/2024

Our trustee Patrice is fostering Raphael and has been testing out screens for the Savic Plaza that she got an Amazon.
These screens ensure your hamster can’t bar climb or chew and allow you to add deeper substrate to an otherwise limiting enclosure.
It’s also great for visibility and makes hammy photography a lot easier!

Can you spot Raphy in his foster enclosure?

31/08/2024

This year, we are sharing the story of each of our 2024 charity calendar stars every month so you can learn more about the hamster behind the photo. Belle is our featured hamster for the month of August.

A couple of weeks before Christmas 2022, we saw that there were two Roborovski dwarf hamsters on a resale website who were being given away for free in a very unsuitable enclosure. We were determined to take them into our foster network because they were living in the same tiny enclosure and this carried a lot of risk for both hamsters.

Luckily Sophie was able to collect them, although when she got them home she discovered that one was a girl and one was a boy. This sadly isn’t uncommon. The vast majority of pet shops do not know how to determine the s*x of a hamster and will sell them in pairs only for them to mate a couple of weeks later, leaving the buyer with unwanted litters.

We named the two robos Jingle and Belle (we love a good Christmas theme!) and split them into their own individual cages immediately. Unfortunately we were too late, Belle was already pregnant.

Jingle was brought to a new foster home and eventually found his forever home, thanks to Sophie’s mum!

Sophie made sure Belle was comfortable until she had her babies on the 28th of December 2022. Eight little jellybeans were born (dubbed the Valentine litter) and one by one they all went off to their forever homes. Romeo was the last of the eight to be adopted and was over a year old by then. Sadly robos are not as popular as the other hamster species and it can take us quite a while to find loving homes for them.

Belle was adopted by Steph in March 2023. Steph had been planning to get a really big hamster enclosure for a long time and could think of no hamster more deserving of such a large home than Belle, who had been a fantastic mother to her little ones and now needed a place to call her own. Sophie built Belle’s new enclosure with a huge 11,800cmsq of floorspace. Belle has been living her best life ever since then. She’s a feisty little one, not afraid to sn**ch treats whenever she gets the opportunity. She races about her enclosure, searching every nook and cranny for food, and of course she adores her wheel! We’re so happy Belle found her happily ever after!

If you’d like to help with our rescues efforts, please donate here - https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/donate/Next month, learn about Fawkes!

06/08/2024

This year, we are sharing the story of each of our 2024 charity calendar stars every month so you can learn more about the hamster behind the photo.

Luna was our featured hamster for the month of July and comes with a public/hamster safety announcement to wrap your barred enclosures.

THIS MONTH’S STORY COMES WITH A TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains descriptions and images of hamster injury and death.

01/08/2024

⛔️ CAGES TO AVOID ⛔️

Thinking of getting a new hamster cage? Visit our website to learn more about common cages to avoid and why they're best left on pet store shelves!

If you’re a hamster parent in Ireland or the UK, you might be surprised to learn that many popular hamster cages on the market are, well, just too small. Despite their cute appearance and appealing features, these cages are often totally unsuitable for our little furry friends. Let’s look at som...

31/07/2024

🐹 SPECIAL APPEAL - HAMISH 🐹

New to hamster keeping and don’t know where to begin? Our lovely new intake Hamish has excellent potential as a first hamster, and he also comes with his enclosure (Zoozone 2). A potential adopter would only need to provide food, forage, and some new accessories, which we can discuss on application.

Unlike some of the cases we see at HII, Hamish has been very well loved, and his rehoming is not due to any lack of care. His owner has sadly had a very sudden change in living circumstances that has forced this sad parting on them.

Fancy adopting? Apply now!
https://hamsterinfoireland.ie/adoption-application-pack/