Fawkes' Story
This year, we are sharing the story of each of our 2024 charity calendar stars so you can learn more about the hamster behind the photo. Fawkes is our featured hamster for the month of September.
Fawkes, our beloved resident, originally arrived at our rescue in 2021 with his three brothers. Back then, he was known as Ravenclaw, and his siblings were named after the other Hogwarts houses. These little guys deserved so much better than their previous living conditions, which were cramped and unsanitary. One of his brothers was even born without a foot, a heartbreaking reminder of how important genetics are in hamster husbandry.
Last year, we welcomed back our old friend. After his adopters were no longer able to provide the care they had agreed to provide when they adopted him, he returned to our rescue. We had to jump to action and offered to take him back as soon as his owners could deliver him to our nearest foster home. Given his age, we made the heartwarming decision to keep him as a permanent resident. In honor of his resilience, original name and second chance, we renamed him Fawkes.
Tina started planning and prepping our old boys retirement enclosure, providing him with a large, geriatric friendly 140x70cm home. As lively as he was, Fawkes still needed a modified set up to make sure he could get around as easily as possible.
Since Fawkes passed in January 2024, his purpose built home has brought solace to two other retirees, Tutti Frutti and Alfie and is now called “Auntie Tina’s Retirement Home”.
Unfortunately, the enclosure setup that was originally approved as Fawkes’ forever home was lacking and barely contained more than the very basics.
Our adoption process is thorough to ensure our rescue hamsters go to great forever homes. Sadly there is only so much we can do once handover happens.
Our adoption contracts hold adopters to a certain standard but also state that our rescue will take back any of our hamsters if the adopter can no longer provide adequate care for the hamster.
If you’d like to support our rescue work, you can make a donation here.
Next month, learn about little Boo!
