Hamsters In The News

Now I have never strayed too far from my own hamsters on this blog but after reading this story in the news, I couldnt help but post something about it. I have basically rewritten what I have read on online articles so quote noted my resources where appropriate 🙂

A 10-year-old boy, Alex Dellamuro, from St. Ives in Cornwall, England, has started up his own business called Hamster Holidays which provides ‘five star’ accommodation for hamsters when their owners go on holiday.

He charges £1 per night for his furry guests and provides all critters with bottled water ( “but it’s not tap because I don’t like using tap water.” quoted from BBC news)

His guests must provide their own food, cage and bedding but Alex will provide the water, heat and a safe environment.

Wow! Firstly, congratulations to this young guy for taking some initiative during the school holidays. He has come up with an idea and people have shown an interest so massive brownie points for ‘Hamster Holidays’.

Secondly, I feel slightly mixed about the actual principal of his ‘business’ and Im not sure whether I am a bad person for thinking this – I mean the kid is 10 years old, I dont want to p*ss on his parade as such but taking his age out of the equation I would still feel the same.
I am just not sure I could trust a complete stranger to look after my pet! 

If I ever went away for a long time I would leave the hamsters with my mum, who loves them to pieces! I know she will take care of them and I could trust her to look after them properly and put up with the hamsters’ niggling bad habits etc. I am not sure I could bring myself to leave my beloved furry babies to someone I had never even met?
Does that make me a bad person?!

I understand for some people, a family member or close friend may not be an option. Especially if you are slightly bigger than rodent size and take up more room. So in that case I could understand the need for a service like this but even so are you telling me that pet-owners have NO friends to leave their furry babies to?!

Dont get me wrong, this boy has worked really hard to make this happen (e.g. fliers and online advertisement with the help of his mother) and I have so much respect for that but that just doesnt distract me enough from the fact that I would have to rely on (effectively) a child to take care of my hamsters.

I am clearly a very clingy person because I just cant bare to be apart from my hamsters for long which I can laugh at. I know I am a very attached human being but does that make me wrong?

I would love to hear what you guys would do? Would you use Alex Dellamuro’s ‘Hamster Holidays’?? Or would you leave your beloved furries with a family member/friend?? Answer the lil survey below for me and then comment your thoughts – I am dying to know what you think!