Hamsters on a Plane!

Thanks to NYHH friend Meghan K., who pointed out this article about a hamster who grounded a plane.

The article ends like this: "Austrian Airlines said the jet would remain grounded until the hamster was found ''because it can't take off that way for safety reasons.''"

Hehe :) It's nice to know that I'm not the only one with escape-artist hamsters...

Doctor Update

Sinead: Has an adrenal problem, probably Cushing's. Dr. Pilny is going to investigate putting her on the meds for Cushing's, and if they make her better, we'll know that was the problem with her health. If not, it's some kind of hormonal problem which probably can't be treated. She also has some problems with losing the elasticity in her skin, which is why it is bagging and drooping all over her body. Dr. Pilny pointed out that due to her hair loss, it looks like she has a mohawk down her butt :) She's still active, eating, and happy, though. About 31 grams.

Killer: Cancer of the mammary glands. She's got a HUGE tumor that is very red, almost purple, and I do *not* like to look at it. Another nipple seems to have opened up, some sort of rupture, but has healed over. She is, like Sinead, happy, and active, so we're just going to wait and see how it progresses. I'm worried about the tumor, cause it hangs, but we're going to let her enjoy her life and when it seems to be too much, I'll (very regretfully!) have her put down. She may be sick, but she's 52 grams. But about 8 of it is the tumor (!!!).

One Eyed Willy: Dr. Pilny thinks that Willy may have some conjunctive-eye issue. It's interesting, cause although the skin all around her left eye is really swollen and irritated, her actual eyeball is fine. Her lower eyelid is so swollen that it's turned outside a bit. It's hard to tell what it is from, since I don't know how she was treated as a baby. But, I'm giving her saline, visine and ciprofloxacin, and will monitor how it goes. We think with that treatment, she will improve. This one is 34 grams of CUTE.

I only have pictures of Sinead with me at work, so here's another one of her. Note that though she is skinny and her fur is uneven and thinning, she is still absolutely adorable in her own hamster way :)

Dr. Awesome

Tomorrow is a BIG day for the New York Hamster House at Dr. Pilny's.

We've got appointments for Killer (who sadly has a tumor), Sinead (who is still losing hair), and One Eyed Willy (for the other eye, which is all red and irritated). Yikes!

After the appointment, I guess all three of the little guys will come on down to work with me, since I'll be late already and won't have time to go home. Oh well!

I'll update you all afterwards and let you know how the little monsters are doing...

Photo Parade

Ask and ye shall receive!

I hereby bring forth a DELUGE of cute.

On a scale of Cuteitude, these two new hamsters are the cute equivalent of a super, super intense salt and vinegar potato chip. We're talking mouth-puckering cutness here, people. CAUTION, ok? Be careful.



Introducing... One Eyed Willy!

And super stud Cale Hoeflicker!

Here are Mike and Ike, who left the NYHH for a class of second graders in Astoria.

Mike and Ike are probably busy right now, doing homework and eating vegetables. You know, when I was little, I kind of *loved* doing homework. I kind of rocked homework. My second grade teacher was Mrs. White. Also, that year this girl stole my Barbie from my lunchbox.

PS The pictures of Willy and Cale are super-high res. Click to enlarge them--so crisp! So clear! So whiskers! Dare I say that these pics might even be worthy of... cute overload? I can only dream.

Baby Got Back

I know that young, impressionable children may this blog, so I need to keep this PG. But, isn't this the cutest, fluffiest butt you ever saw?


Mike and Ike, two new male dwarf hamsters, were adopted yesterday by a really friendly, awesome teacher from Astoria for her second grade class. Mike and Ike, you'd better do all your homework, and no talking in class!

Sinead VS The Walnut Shell

Grace, this one is for you :)

Last month, a very generous NYHH supporter named Grace send a bunch of walnuts to the hamsters, along with other treats.

The walnuts were a BIG HIT. Sinead, in particular, is obsessed with them. You guys remember Sinead, right? She used to be fat, but now that she is sick she is very skinny and has lost a great deal of her fur. Well, anyway, last night she was sleeping in the Hamster Playground, which is in my bedroom. She woke me up this morning at 5am, wrestling with a walnut shell. She kept it up for about a half hour, and I figured if I wasn't going to get any sleep then I might as well shoot some video.

Without further ado, I give you: Sinead VS the Walnut.

On your mark, get set.... HAMSTER!

Dude.

DUDE.

Hamster Ball Derby, this Saturday at 2pm at the Petco on 92nd Street.

"Bring your own hamster or come in and cheer for your favorites during our Hamster Ball Derby. Warm up rounds begin at 1:30 pm and hamster races begin at 2 pm. Each hamster must be in a hamster ball to qualify. Prizes will be awarded!"

I am so there. I wonder who should race? Bunnicula, cause she is a speed demon. Sinead, cause she is sick and I want her to have fun. Maybe some of the new guys, too.

Anyone else going? I am SO excited!

Adoption = Awesomedoption

Today two friends and roommates came to the NYHH today to see about an adoption. And who did they end up taking home? Simon, Garfunkel, AND Dotty. Holy crap! The two girls, Grace and Wendy, were so sweet, and they played with the little cuties until they knew exactly who they wanted. Wendy took Simon and Garfunkel, and Grace had a very hard time deciding between the plucky runner Bunnicula and they plump, calm Dotty. She ended up taking Dotty.

And why am I telling you guys this?

Becuase it just makes me SO happy to know that those two gals are going to give those hamsters such a good life. They are going to be HAPPY--all of them. And that is kind of the best part of the NYHH. I've had 75 hamsters over the course of the past year, and while I've loved them all and treated them all well, I can't possibly give them each the love that they eventually get at their forever homes. I get such a thrill placing the hamsters and gerbils with their new families. So, thanks to you all for making it possible for me to be a matchmaker for these deserving, homeless bundles of CUTE!!!!

A glimpse of the gerbils and Dotty on their way out....

Auf Wiedersehen, Simon und Garfunkel!
Bis spaeter, Dotty!