Hamster Rescued After Living for 2 Years in a Cage She Barely Fit In
Small pets--like hamsters, guinea pigs, and mice--are popular pet species whose welfare is often overlooked. They can't express discomfort in the same way that a cat or dog can, yet their small sizes make them popular 'starter pets' for children.
Hamster owner @fernybiird is spreading the word about hamster welfare after rescuing an animal from deplorable conditions. For 2 years, she had been living in a filthy, tiny cage she barely fit into! Now, though, this rescue pet is living her best life with her new owner.
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Aww--this little hamster is so sweet! Despite surviving two years of awful conditions in that tiny cage, she seems so trusting of her rescuer. It's like she knows that @fernybiird is there to help her.
Even within the short time shown in this video, this hamster's transformation is inspiring. She looks so much cleaner after an initial wipe-down, and it warmed our hearts to see her astonishment at her new cage. That old hamster cage was way too small and filthy for her!
"Why are cages like this even sold to people?" asked commenter @krystalsuiker. That's a good question! The bright colors and fun tunnels and tubes could be great marketing tools for potential pet owners, but the truth is that they're just not enough for a hamster to live in. What if you went from room to room via a tube barely wider than your body?
Teresa Manucy, DVM, recommends that hamster cages measure at least 40 by 22.5 inches. The height of the cage should be 24 inches, with at least 6-8 inches of bedding for your hamster to burrow into. Clearly, this rescue pet's new enclosure exceeds all expectations. This hamster owner's followers are going to get so many adorable updates as the little one adjusts to her new luxury hamster home!
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