Moon's Graden

He had been showing signs of aging for a while now, sleeping far more than
usual and eating less and less.  Last night he took his final breaths in
Judy's hands while we watched TV.

He was always a little character from the very day we brought him home.
Early on we could handle him without any issues at all.  Over time we could
still handle him but he'd often nip at your fingertips, even when they were
completely clean and we hadn't handled any other hams prior.  I'm not sure
if it was a little game of his for how long he could keep it up before we'd
put him back in his house.

I'd always have to have a stash of treats near whenever we'd eat dinner in
the livingroom.  His tank was right to the side of me, and whenever he got a
smell of what we were eating I could look down and see him up on his back
legs dancing around looking to get some of whatever we had.  Since most
times it wasn't something he could eat, I'd toss in a hammy treat like a
piece of apple (which he loved!), or some oatmeal, and he'd sniff it, look
back at me like, "Thats not what I smell up there", but eventually he'd take
it and devour it.  In a way Dewey and I shared dinner almost every night.
I'm going to really miss that.  Now we have a whole container of apple bits,
and he was really the only one who loved them.

Not long after we got him, we noticed his coat color starting to really
change.  We got him when he was very dark colored, but as the photos will
show, he got a very light colored winter coat a few months later.  Then it
reverted right back to his old dark coloring.  His white coat was so
beautiful to look at, and so thick and soft.  It made him look like a
distinguished little fellow, or maybe like a little raccoon.

He used to defend his tank extremely well.  If we reached in to move
something or place something in, and he hadn't seen us coming, he'd rush at
you and make a loud vocal chittering sound.  If you weren't quick enough,
he'd latch into you with his teeth and hang on for dear life.  It was cute
to see.

He also had a habit of filling up his Wodent Wheel with big pieces of food,
then take of running so it made a huge amount of noise.  We'd take the food
out, and he'd go and put it right back in.  It was like he couldn't enjoy
his wheel unless it was making noise while he ran in it.

Overall he was a wonderful little friend to share time with.  I'm going to
miss all our little interactions, and being able to look down and see him
looking up when I'm eating dinner every night.  He spot is going to seem
very empty now.  He was a great little ham, my little Mr. Dew as I called
him, or Dewey Man sometimes.

Rest in peace little Dewey, you were a precious little friend, and we will
miss you dearly.

Photos are here   http://pets.webshots.com/album/569679390czojYM

Or if that link doesn't work   http://community.webshots.com/user/limahl

Brian & Judy & The Hamster Horde

I hope that you are all well and that otherwise 2009 is going to be a good
year for you.

Right now our last 3 little ones are doing ok, though I expect Petey won't
be with us much longer.  He's looking soooo old now.

Bear is as skittish as ever.  Doesn't want a thing to do with us.

Puff seems to be getting more sociable lately.  Hopefully that trend
continues.

I have a feeling we'll be out getting another 1 or 2 soon.  Seems so empty
with only 3 here now.

Brian & Judy & The Tiny Hamster Horde

I hate it when it comes to the end of a hamsters life.  I wish they
would live longer.  I had a hamster who was normally black but in the
summer his fur turned brown on the lower half of his body.

You must be in the UK?
I read your mail in the Newsgroup alt.pets.hamsters.

I am an American who has lived many years in Germany.
Since the 27th of February we have a dwarf hamster named Max
http://www.petfoto.de/fotos/details.php?image_id=90552

I enjoyed looking at the pictures of Dewey. My condolences.

  I can imagine how painful the lost of Dewey must be to you.
Two years ago I wouldnt have understood it so well.

What got my attention was your running wheel from Wodent Wheel.
Max has a Robowheel from the same company.

I have only found this wheel from ONE company in Germany. Even in eBay
they are not that much cheaper.
Can you give me the Website address from that company in the UK?

I wish you both the best and hope you got a new hamster to replace Dewey.

Bye,
John Muehlhauser

A few years back I found it cheaper to buy direct from the Wodent wheel
maker. I'm not sure whether things are the same now, but the wodents were
still quite pricey here and not stocked in the main petstores. I bought 2
which came in under the UK 18 customs exemption.

I remember at the site actually said it wasn't posting outside the US for
small orders but I emailed them and they kindly agreed to send them. This is
wodents address http://www.transoniq.com/

I'm afraid our group is very quiet these days. I still keep an eye on it, as
do others, for the occasional message and in case someone needs urgent help
.

I kept Syrian hamsters for 50 years, having my first one Snowy, a red eyed
white coated one. They were called albinos back then but they arn't
actually. I was sickly as a child and she ran her wheel and kept me company
at night when I was too wheezy to sleep. I used to carry her round in my
dressing gown and she would fall asleep in the pocket. So I've been hooked
since 4 years old.

I'm between hamsters at the moment. I lost my last 2 (to good old age)
before we moved in 2006. Home is now an old stone cottage which is still not
100% hamsterproof and with trips in/out of hospital I decided not to
actively look for another just yet. But if an old grumpy, scruffy one needed
a home I'd "have" to unpack the cage and toys?!

Max is very handsome and looks to be a real sweety. I'm glad you are
enjoying keeping him. They are very bright, with huge personalities and you
are right, until you have one its hard to explain the attraction to others.

:o)

Hi Hilary,

Thanks for writing.
Are you American or from the UK?

Thanks for the website.
Under INTERNATIONAL ORDERS in Germany it points RODIPET
https://www.rodipet.de/index_ssl.htm which is the only place in this
country where you can order.

I am going to see what the British companies have to offer.

I am sorry for your lost. It will also happen to me one day and I don't
even want to think of it.

Once you feel better I would get a new hamster. It will do alot for your
spirits. People with pets live longer.
I dont know why there is so liitle activity in this group.
Hamsters are everything xcept boring.

Talk to you soon.
John

We have 2 cats and 2 dogs so they keep us on our toes. That's part of it
really.  So when I'm not so good he gets to look after all of them as well
as me, so its not too fair to add another one at the moment.

:o)