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ADOPTION PACK

Hamster Info Ireland is committed to preventing cruelty and promoting the proper care of hamsters. Through our activities, we aim to reduce hamster suffering and increase hamster wellbeing as much as possible.

Our aim is to find suitable lifelong homes for as many hamsters across the island as we can, and this is where you come in! By choosing to adopt your next hamster from Hamster Info Ireland, you are not only offering a home to a hamster in need of one, but you are also making one less livestock purchase from potentially unethical sources such as chain pet stores or backyard breeders. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND FOR CHOOSING TO ADOPT AND NOT SHOP!

Adoption Criteria

We expect a lot from our adopters, and you should also expect a lot from us! This section outlines the sort of relationship you are entering into if you choose to adopt from Hamster Info Ireland.

Our adoption criteria:

  • Can and will meet the lifelong needs of their hamster
  • Is seeking a personal or family pet and is not seeking a hamster for an education or business setting
  • Is not intending to gift the hamster to another person or to surprise anyone in the home with the hamster
  • Is an adult of 18 or older and can enter an adoption contract
  • Adult named in the adoption application will be the hamster’s primary carer and children will always be adequately supervised when interacting with the pet
  • Already has an entirely suitable setup ready for their chosen hamster
  • Will keep the hamster’s living space indoors
  • Will return the hamster to our care if their circumstances change and will not attempt to rehome the pet privately
  • All members of the adopting household consent to bringing a new pet into the home
  • Has full and express permission to bring a caged small animal into the home by the homeowner/landlord/agent and any other relevant parties
  • No member of the household has ever been legally barred from owning hamsters
  • Not expecting a significant change in living or financial circumstances that would affect care quality or ongoing affordability of the hamster
  • Has permanent residence on the island of Ireland OR right to stay for a minimum of two years from the date of adoption
  • Can make a safe space for the hamster enclosure where other pets and known hazards cannot affect the pet
  • Can provide medical care as needed and has sourced an accessible exotic vet with emergency contact details

And here are some expectations you can hold us to:

  • Lifelong support once your hamster is home (drop us a message at any time and we will be back to you with the help you need as soon as we can)
  • A robust handover process for your new pet so you know as much about them as we do to make the transition as smooth as possible
  • Community support from fellow Hamster Info Ireland members
  • Your hamster will have a clean bill of health when you rehome them – if not, they will come with a detailed treatment plan and a clear indication of their future needs
  • Respectful and prompt communication always, both before and after taking your new pet home
  • Your concerns and queries will always be taken seriously by our team
  • Transparency in our operations as a registered charity
  • We will take back your hamster if your circumstances change after adoption
  • We will only rehome hamsters who are the perfect fit for you and your household

Adoption Process

We aim to keep the adoption process as simple as we possibly can while also ensuring that all Hamster Info Ireland hamsters go to 5-star new homes that are truly ready for hamster keeping. 

Here are the steps you will follow to adopt from us:

Ensure you are prepared for a hamster
The first thing you’ll need to do is read our Hamster Care Guide to ensure you’re up to date with everything your future pet will need to live a happy and healthy life with you. Even if you have kept hamsters before, it is important to check our care guide before applying to adopt – hamster keeping is an active hobby and guidance has changed significantly over the last few years.

Check you meet our adoption criteria
Next, review this adoption pack, ensuring you have everything you need for the type of hamster you wish to adopt and that you meet our general criteria for adoption. Review our website and join our Facebook group for the best support in getting everything ready for your new pet. 

Choose a hamster
We prefer to match prospective adopters to hamsters based on their needs, personalities, and your keeper experience level to ensure as smooth a transition as possible from their foster home to your home, but we do list adoption profiles for all our current hamsters available for adoption on our website. 
Source and set up your hamster enclosure

Firstly, you will want to check the measurements of your enclosure and wheel, even if you have used your enclosure for a past hamster or had it recommended to you in a pet store, to ensure they meet the needs of the hamster or type of hamster in which you are interested. This is the criteria the few keepers who fail to pass our adoption checks are most likely to stumble on, so please double-check your enclosure offers at least 4,000cm2 of usable floorspace in one level before applying. 

You will then need to ensure you have enough substrate, adequate food, and suitable enrichment for your new pet. You can see some excellent examples of full hamster setups for a variety of species on our website.

Remember that you will need to have a complete setup before adoption approval is granted – we do not rehome hamsters into “starter” setups or temporary accommodation. 

Complete the adoption form below
Once your setup is ready and you are happy that you meet the Adoption Criteria, fill in the Adoption Form below. Answer every question in as much detail as you can and leave no blank responses – doing so will delay your application. Answer all questions truthfully – we do check into your answers and will ask for proof that you meet our criteria as needed. 

Have a chat with us
We aim to review all applications as quickly as possible – we do not want to delay our hamsters from finding their forever family for any longer than necessary! Our team reviews the Hamster Info Ireland email accounts daily but do note that our volunteers may need to prioritise more urgent work over application processing during busy periods. Please be patient with us once you send in your application – check in using the contact page on the website only if you have had no response from us in one week. 

We will organise a video call with you to discuss your interest further if we are happy with your written application. You do not need to prepare anything further for this interview, but you should be prepared to discuss your application, prove you meet any of the listed criteria, and show your completed setup in the call. We can adjust our process to facilitate access needs – let us know in the additional information box on your application if this applies to you and we will email you back with alternatives.

Bring your hamster home!
Once we have approved you and matched you with a suitable hamster, it is time to sign the adoption contract and bring your pet home! Your adoption manager will provide the contract once your assessment is complete, usually on the same day of your videocall. The adoption fee will be discussed during the video call – the minimum adoption donation is €10 but enhanced donations help keep the charity running to rescue more hamsters. It costs around €140 to provide a new fosterer with a rescue kit to provide a hamster in need with a foster home for up to 3 months, so we make no profit for our charity on our adoption fees and rely on public fundraising to offset the deficit. 

We will apply a ‘cooling off period’ of two weeks from date of application to hamster release date to prevent impulse purchasing, but once your form is signed for a specific hamster, they will be reserved for you and will not be homed to anyone else within that period. After that, your hamster will be ready for collection as agreed with your adoption manager – details vary depending on your circumstances and the location of your chosen hamster. Our rescue is home-based, so our fosterer volunteers will agree a pickup time in advance that suits both parties. 

If you fail to collect your hamster at your pickup time without contacting us to explain, please note that your chosen hamster will no longer be reserved for you, and you may need to complete a second two-week cool down to ensure you are committed to taking on a new pet.

Adoption Application

Applicants Details
IMPORTANT: PLEASE ENSURE YOUR ENCLOSURE IS FULLY SET UP, INCLUDING SUBSTRATES AND ENRICHMENT BEFORE APPLYING - THIS WILL HELP YOUR APPLICATION BE PROCESSED QUICKER.

Name*

Name*

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Date of Birth*

Date of Birth*

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Full Address*

Full Address*

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Phone Number*

Phone Number*

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Email*

Email*

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Preferred method of contact for video call*

Preferred method of contact for video call*

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Where did you hear about Hamster Info Ireland?*

Where did you hear about Hamster Info Ireland?*

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Questionnaire

Why do you wish to adopt a hamster from Hamster Info Ireland?*

Why do you wish to adopt a hamster from Hamster Info Ireland?*

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Do you have permission to own a small animal and house it indoors in your home? Explain your situation below.*

Do you have permission to own a small animal and house it indoors in your home? Explain your situation below.*

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Indicate the number of responsible adults and dependents in your home (list ages for minors) and confirm they all consent to adopting a new pet below.*

Indicate the number of responsible adults and dependents in your home (list ages for minors) and confirm they all consent to adopting a new pet below.*

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Is the named applicant going to be the primary carer for the hamster?*

Is the named applicant going to be the primary carer for the hamster?*

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Please ensure your enclosure is set up before applying. If you have your enclosure, include the measurements or model name below*

Please ensure your enclosure is set up before applying. If you have your enclosure, include the measurements or model name below*

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Do you have any other pets? If so, detail their species and indicate your plans for keeping your hamster separate from your other pets.*

Do you have any other pets? If so, detail their species and indicate your plans for keeping your hamster separate from your other pets.*

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Do you forsee any changes in your living or financial circumstances over the next two years? If so, detail below.*

Do you forsee any changes in your living or financial circumstances over the next two years? If so, detail below.*

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Are you able to provide the type of care detailed in our Basic Care Guide for the entire lifespan of a hamster?*

Are you able to provide the type of care detailed in our Basic Care Guide for the entire lifespan of a hamster?*

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Does anyone in your household suffer from dust or dander allergies, excema, hayfever, or asthma?*

Does anyone in your household suffer from dust or dander allergies, excema, hayfever, or asthma?*

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Is the primary carer physically capable of looking after a hamster, including heavy lifting of substrate and handling of a small animal?*

Is the primary carer physically capable of looking after a hamster, including heavy lifting of substrate and handling of a small animal?*

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Your Hamster Preferences

Do you have a preference for a particular hamster species?*

Do you have a preference for a particular hamster species?*

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Have you seen a particular hamster you wish to adopt online? If so, please write their name here:*

Have you seen a particular hamster you wish to adopt online? If so, please write their name here:*

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Have you any previous hamster-keeping experience? If so, please give us some details below.*

Have you any previous hamster-keeping experience? If so, please give us some details below.*

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Are you aware of a hamster’s usual timekeeping and social habits?*

Are you aware of a hamster’s usual timekeeping and social habits?*

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Are you confident in taming a hamster or handling a nervous hamster?*

Are you confident in taming a hamster or handling a nervous hamster?*

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Would you home a pet that is unsocial? (a “look but not touch” type pet)*

Would you home a pet that is unsocial? (a “look but not touch” type pet)*

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Are you willing and able to adopt a hamster with additional needs?*

Are you willing and able to adopt a hamster with additional needs?*

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Do you have a travel pod? If not, please ensure you have one before collecting a hamster if your application is successful. *please note, cardboard boxes are not accepted**

Do you have a travel pod? If not, please ensure you have one before collecting a hamster if your application is successful. *please note, cardboard boxes are not accepted**

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Additional Feedback

Have you any other questions, comments, clarifications, or concerns you want to add to your application?*

Have you any other questions, comments, clarifications, or concerns you want to add to your application?*

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IMPORTANT: PLEASE ENSURE YOUR ENCLOSURE IS FULLY SET UP, INCLUDING SUBSTRATES AND ENRICHMENT BEFORE APPLYING - THIS WILL HELP YOUR APPLICATION BE PROCESSED QUICKER.
Please attach a clear photo of your full set up here:*

IMPORTANT: PLEASE ENSURE YOUR ENCLOSURE IS FULLY SET UP, INCLUDING SUBSTRATES AND ENRICHMENT BEFORE APPLYING - THIS WILL HELP YOUR APPLICATION BE PROCESSED QUICKER.
Please attach a clear photo of your full set up here:*

This type of file isn't allowed
The file size must be up to 5 MB
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Disclaimer

NOTE THAT SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION IS SIMPLY AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOUR ACCEPTANCE, NOR DOES IT PLACE A HOLD ON A SPECIFIC HAMSTER YOU HAVE INDICATED INTEREST IN. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE ANY APPLICANT WE SEE UNFIT FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT EXPLANATION AND MAY WITHDRAW FROM THE ADOPTION PROCESS OR REFUSE TO MATCH A SPECIFIC HAMSTER AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE ADOPTION CONTRACT IS SIGNED. Please tick below if you understand and agree to these conditions.*

NOTE THAT SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION IS SIMPLY AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOUR ACCEPTANCE, NOR DOES IT PLACE A HOLD ON A SPECIFIC HAMSTER YOU HAVE INDICATED INTEREST IN. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE ANY APPLICANT WE SEE UNFIT FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT EXPLANATION AND MAY WITHDRAW FROM THE ADOPTION PROCESS OR REFUSE TO MATCH A SPECIFIC HAMSTER AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE ADOPTION CONTRACT IS SIGNED. Please tick below if you understand and agree to these conditions.*

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