Here is my experience in adopting/rescuing a pet.

My Interview on My Adopted Hamster, Nutty:

What type of animal is it?

A Syrian hamster. Originally I tried to get two thinking they could keep each other company but I was told it is dangerous to keep them together because they often fight.

What is his/her name?

The original owners named her Harry thinking she was a boy. The pet shop then changed her name to Holly when they discovered her gender was female. However, now I have called her Nutty (short for Hazel Nut because of the colour of her fur and she was crazy energetic when I first got her). I always try to name my animals something to do with their personality. Also, my housemates wanted her to be called Glen (or Glenda) because that’s the street we live on but unfortunately I have never had a good experience with the pets I’ve owned that don’t have a ‘y’ at the end of their name. Honestly, they tend to die quickly compare to the others who all lived long lives for the species.

What past pets have you owned?

I had three rabbits at one point. Two where inbreed brother and sister and they were called Buttercup and Bubbles. Buttercup died about a year after Bubbles passed away due to a broken heart. Snowy was my first rabbit who was given to me by my niebour because he was trying to eat there vegetables. He was domestically house trained and despite us putting up flyers to see if his owners would find him they did not. He was a beautiful white rabbit with black spots (he looked a lot like a Dalmatian). We had will for about 7 – 8 years (we don’t know how old he was when we got him but he was quite young and fit).

I had Lizzie and Borris the tortoises when I was very young. They were only babies but they didn’t live very long due to England’s bad climate. Also they would not hibernate.

There was Joey, the cockatoo. I accidently set him free into the wild when I a child because I attempted to feed him and he flew out the cage. Hopefully he lived a happy life.

There was Sparky the Guiney Pig (named after the fact he wouldn’t stop squealing the first day we got him and was in the car bringing him home. He sounded like a firework and therefore he became Sparky.) He lived around 7 years and was a white, black and brown tabby. We did get a second Guiney Pig and she was called Honey (because she was white with a honey brown nose – long name was Honey Bee). Although she didn’t live very long as she developed a disease with made her eyes go yellow. Honestly, I was not sad when she died because we had Sparky first and she would bully him by like not letting him eat and things.

We also have had loads of fish (too many to count).

Lastly, we have our cat who is around 11 years old now. His name is Rory because he was black and grey stripped like a tiger. He was the trouble maker and the only boy out of the bunch of kittens we had. We got the kittens after we looked after a street cat who turned out to be pregnant. All the litter came out different colours (one was tabby, one was black and white, one was ginger ect …). My cat is so cute, he never scratches or bites people. He is massive now (like the size of a small dog). I’m pretty sure he can understand English and can have attitude if you ignore him or insult him. Probs got that from me. He usually sleeps with me and he will tap you if he wants something. Sometimes he climbs his way to my window and meows so that I let him in during the night. The first time he did that it was so scary.

Where did you develop this love for animals?

I’ve always loved animals. I feel like they are so peaceful and some people think they are dumb or inferior because they didn’t develop the way we did (i.e. technological and colonial).However I believe that humans have become so depressed and anti-social and that is why animals don’t want to become like us as they prefer to live in harmony. I used to travel a lot and got to see all the zoos, shows, farms, as well as ride horses, swim with dolphins and seals and sharks excreta. I became a vegetarian at the age of 8 despite the fact none of my family are. My Arab family did not get it for a long time when I went to visit and would still try and feed me meat or fish. However, they are fine with it now. Another reason I became a veggie was in Tunisia they would sometimes kill a lamb at parties and celebrations. I remember one day I was playing with the lamb and my uncle told me ‘Don’t play with your food’ … I didn’t realise what he meant to the evening. It was so evil the way the lamb screamed as 3 men held it down and the smell was repulsive. Most people would quite meat after that experience.

Why did you pick to get a hamster?

They are very easy to look after. Especially because I am at university and not living at home. I would have been hard to have a cat or dog or large animal. Also, I though the fact they live about three years would be a good time period because that’s how long I will be at uni. Although, it’s such a short period that I will get very sad when she’s gone. Another reason is that I have never had a hamster before. Plus I had Rabbits and Guinee Pigs and got used to cleaning and caring for them. I said as a joke before I came to uni that I was going to get a pet hamster to keep me company but everyone though I was joking. The thing is when I have an idea I will carry it out. All talk, all action. I’m a bit of a diva and always get what I want.

How old is she?

We don’t know for definite. I’ve had her for about 6 weeks now and when I got her they estimated that she was around 18 weeks old. So that would make her somewhere around 24 week (6 months).

Is she high maintenance?

Her food is so cheap. When I first got her I spent about £60 for all her toys and cleaning products and food. But that will last me about 3 months so she’s not that expensive. When I put a post on Facebook one of my uncles tried to make a joke and was like ‘You know you have to feed her right?’ to which I replied ‘Shit! I though they hunted for their own food :’)’. A lot of people where like ‘WTF’ or ‘I’m scared you’re going to kill it’. Like they obviously do not know me. While others struggle with their uni allowance I decide to buy a hamster. My parents were not too thrilled when I told them what I did but I’m 18 and an adult so my life and I am not under there roof anymore. Although, they liked her when I took her home for Easter.

Is it very rewarding?

It’s a nice feeling to know you have a responsibly and that something is relying on you. So yeah I guess it’s rewarding. All my house mates like her too. She’s so fun to play with too. Hamsters are like little dogs. I put her in her ball and let her run around the house and it is so funny to watch her. She can be a diva at times because she won’t eat her food unless I hand feed her and she tried to jump of things, like my bed, all the time. My cat had fun staring at her in her cage when I took her home but eventually he got used to her and was bored.

What was she like when you first got her?

At first I wasn’t going to adopt a hamster but get a new one. Unfortunately, the pet shop did not have any new ones but had two females whose past owners no longer wanted them. The women who spoke to us about her was so informative. It was honestly great service. Nutty was so sad in that little cage and was curled up into a little ball. The worker told us that they believe something happened to her with her past owners because she was so scared. It could have been she escaped or was traumatised by children or dropped or they had another house pet that caught her. It was strange because as soon as we go her home and put her in her new 3 story pent house (cage) she was so happy and sociable with all the house mates. She became a whole different personality (once again she became Nutty). She didn’t even need training because she has not yet bit me. She has had a nibble at a few people though (maybe they had the smell of food on their hands though). Plus, she defiantly is not a morning person. One of my house mates where really useful in teaching how to look after her because she used to have a hamster too.

Do you think more people should rescue pets? And why?

You know what. I do. She was my first adopted pet. Yes, I would have been happy to get a new one and probably wouldn’t have given Nutty a second look if they had new babies in store, but after having her and seeing how she was filled with life when I brought her home – I wouldn’t change her for the world. Previously she had been relocated to between three different homes in such a short amount of time. I’m glad that what I could offer her was love and stability. A lot of people want pets but will neglect them; so if your one of them people who will give up on them then you shouldn’t adopt or rescue an animal who needs love. There are other way in which you can help animals too such as charities and donations (i.e. the RSPCA). Therefore if you can spare the money to help animals do it if you do not have the time to space and adopt or own a pet. Also, buy organic if you can because so many farm animals are treated so brutally (i.e. being molested for their milk, tied up to machines, not seeing sunlight, being beaten, forced feed, taken away from their families ect ….). Or better yet become a veggie or vegan – I don’t judge if you eat meat though. Overall, if you have the time, love, support, stability and financial income to look after an animal please do. Remember that it’s the rescue pets that get the last look into finding a happy home, so before going to the pet shop and getting a new animal give the rescue pets a chance.

Do you want to adopt or rescue an animal to love?

CLICK HERE