Meet Meowmies‘ Pompadour, a cute and innocent looking winter white pearl boy … but who knew he had the hidden special talent of flower arrangement? Pompadour (aka Pompy) is going to show you four easy steps to flower arrangement, the hamster way.

Pompadour’s Flower Arranging Guide

ONE - “Firstly, get yourself a nice big dandelion flower, make sure it is fresh and clean.”
TWO - “Turn it up this way. I feel this helps to show the flower’s outer beauty.”
THREE - “Cut off that unsightly stem.”
FOUR - “… And your elegant centrepiece is complete! The perfect decoration for any home!”

Reminder/Disclaimer:
Remember to give clean/washed/pesticide free flowers for your hamsters to handle, to prevent skin rashes.

  Share with the web

An interesting article from Popular Science talks about new procedures that will path the way for more  humane animal lab tests, such as using artificial skin grown from human cells, microchips coated with enzymes and living cells, and so on…

“Kill Cells, Not Mice - Here’s another device animal lovers can get behind. A liver-on-a-chip will reveal how new drugs react in the body, without killing animals in the process. The system pairs the MetaChip, a glass slide coated with liver enzymes, with the DataChip, a slide covered with live human cells from various tissues, to test whether new drug candidates will become toxic in the liver. The tech, developed by Solidus Biosciences, has received federal funding and will launch next year.”
(except from article)

This is a definitely a promising start towards pushing for newer techniques and methods that will lessen the need and intensity to use animals for testing in labs.

Read more details of this article from Popular Science.

Meanwhile, you can play your part in giving animals a better life, by looking for and using products that declare that they do not perform tests on animals while developing the product.

  Share with the web

When HH forum member mikachewie saw Meeko’s ad on Pet Finder, she does not even know what Meeko looks like … but not that it matters anyway, because she already has her mind set on adopting Meeko!

Little does mikachewie knows what she has gotten herself into - a super tame hamster, a whole lot of happiness, and the great sense of satisfaction that comes with adopting. Looks like someone has caught the adoption bug! ;p

Read the full inspiring story, written by mikachewie herself.

====

“In a world that forgets that hamsters are amazing companions and not just expendable pets for young children, I managed to save one and it felt good.”

I was perusing PetFinder when I came across Meeko at Animal Care & Control (ACC). I couldn’t help but immediately inquire because ACC is no place for a dog or a cat, let alone a hamster. They had no pictures of him, just a description. I went ahead and sent them a message to see if they’d allow me to adopt him. I didn’t really care what shape he was in or what he looked like, as long as he came home with me. They responded and told me that Meeko & another hamster had been dropped off carelessly in front of a pet store in a box during the day. Since Meeko was male, the store refused to keep him, and he was sent off to ACC.

“They had no picture of him, just a description … I didn’t really care what shape he was in or what he looked like, as long as he came home with me.”

I arrived on August 7 08 to pick Meeko up. I was surprised to see a beautiful albino male sitting in a bed of carefresh. He was in a 5 Gallon tank, open top, with cats around him. His cage smelled atrocious. In fact, 6 days later he is still retaining some of the smell, though, with time, it’s starting to lift from his fur. I didn’t notice a wheel or a hiding spot - just food, water, and a chew toy. ACC don’t have space to accommodate hamsters, so I can’t say I was surprised. I filled out all of the paperwork and paid $5.

“I got home and found out you can pluck him straight from his cage or let him walk onto your hand and expect no bite.”

The girl who was handling him said he had been “nippy” and I assumed it meant he wasn’t tame. It turns out to be far from the truth, as I got home and found out you can pluck him straight from his cage or let him walk onto your hand and expect no bite. He loves his wheel and his little TV and he’s about as sweet as anything. He managed to steal my heart and my plan to foster him while I find him a good home failed miserably. I can’t give him up. I love my little Meeko and it was an amazing experience to adopt and save him. In a world that forgets that hamsters are amazing companions and not just expendable pets for young children, I managed to save one and it felt good.

===

Read all the issues here.

  Share with the web