Rescues
Warning about "Free to Good Home" Ads
Just FYI - "Free To Good Home" ads are dangerous to your beloved pets.
Though you may have good intentions, please be aware that offering companion
animals as "Free To Good Home" can be dangerous. Many unscrupulous people
pose as loving, responsible pet owners in order to get companion animals for
very little to no cost. Sadly, these pets often meet tragic ends. Just a few
of these include:
- Bait to train fighting dogs
- Bait to train greyhounds
- Sold to research facilities
- Sacrifice for satanic rituals
- Innocent victim for malicious pranks
- Breeding machine if not spayed or neutered
- Fish bait
- Snake food
Rescues in Progress ( )
There is a listing on Craigslist for Norfolk for a male that needs to be rehomed. I am checking to see whether this would be a good rescue for me to participate in. Depending on the situation, this may be a good sunset match for Mira. I am checking with the current owner to get some additional information.
Rescue Successes ( )
Burmese and sapphire female; black and lilac/sapphire male - These four (two are the parents, two are offspring) are now integrated into the gerbilry. The sapphire momma is Gypsy, the burmese daughter is Penny. Daddy (black) is Bert and son (lilac/sapphire) is Chip. They made it through quarantine and are doing very well. Bert and Chip are now living on the "male" side of the room. Their tank is with Charlie & Franklin and Lucky & Albert. Gypsy & Penny are on the "female" side of the room with Marie & Irene, Petunia & Aggie, Meg & Catherine and Mira. I am hoping to find a new tank mate for Mira soon.
Rescue Philosophy
In most rescue cases, I do not intend to rehome the gerbils I rescue. I am rescuing with the intention of providing a permanent "forever home" to the gerbils. However, if the gerbils are pregnant females, I will oftend rehome the offspring. In some cases, if the resuce is large, I will rehome some of the rescues via the AGS. This means that they will be rehomed through the AGS mailing list. 99% of the people on the mailing list are AGS members, with many of those being breeders/rescuers. Some, however, are just enthusiasts. All are given specific instruction on rescue before gerbils are placed with them, however.
As a general rule, I don't just rescue every gerbil that needs a new home. I have found that indiscriminate rescues tends to encourage "throw-away" pet ownership. However, I will rescue gerbils in certain situations:
- cases where the owner (usually the child) is truly allergic to gerbils. This is a very rare case. Very few people are allergic to gerbils, but it does occasionally happen.
- cases where the rescue is of a gerbil that originated from my own gerbilry (i.e. the person adopted from me, but now can no longer care for the gerbil.)
- cases where the rescue is being handled through the AGS.
- cases where I am notified by a knowledgeable person that the animal is being kept in unfit circumstances.
All rescues also depend on the current availability of space in my gerbilry. I will not sacrifice the health of my own gerbils in order to save another.
If you need to discuss a gerbil rescue with me, please email me.