xtremeroswellia

Hammie died sometime either late last night or early this morning. Mom found him this afternoon when she came home from work. It looks like he just curled up and went to sleep.

My journey with this hamster has been an unusual one. For those who were on my friend's list this time last year, I had fostered this hamster for a family that came into shelter Mid-November of 2007, just days after my Bozzie died. I originally met them because they had 13 guinea pigs they were trying to sell and I was looking for a new cage mate for Faith. Those guinea pigs weren't being very well taken care of either. So when the family came into shelter, the thirteen piggies went to the local guinea pig rescue. In a way it sort of felt like Bozzie's death saved their lives. But I took and fostered Hammie for three months before returning him to them in Mid-January when they moved out.

They came back into shelter this past October, and once I again I took Hammie. This time, however, I did not give him back when they left, because they hadn't been taking care of him. When they brought him to me, he seemed to recognize me from last year, weird as that might sound. I feel like he was supposed to be mine...because he came back to me. And now it's my turn to give him back to the universe.

Rest in peace, Hammie. You were a very sweet little hamster, and I loved you. Tell Bozzie I miss him when you see him at the Bridge.

So right now, since I've decided to keep Hammie, I'm thinking about getting him a whole new, bigger cage, with tubes and stuff for him to play in, because I feel so bad he's been in such crappy conditions for so long. I really need to read up more on hamsters, but I know the cage he's in is too small.

I know I have at least a couple people on my friend's list who have/have had hamsters in the past...any helpful suggestions for me?