Rescues
Quarantine
My kennel will be in quarantine from January 1 through January 31 - What does this mean? I am going to be attending the MidAtlantic Gerbil Show and one of the requirements is that we quarantine our kennel for 30 days before each show. No new animals come into the kennel (including dogs, cats, reptile, birds, etc) during the quarantine period. This is to ensure that no diseases or parasites are brought in that may have a gestation or incubation period that would show up during or after the show. What this means to people reading this page is that I will not be able to do any rescues during this time.
If you have adopted from me, and you need to talk to me about rehoming your gerbils, please still contact me, and I will work something out with you, but outside rescues will have to be put on hold.
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 ()
None at this time.
Rescue Successes ()
Heather and Ebony - This mother and daughter pair are settled in and very happy in their new home. Heather is a lovely black mottled and Ebony is a solid black. I will try to get some pictures up soon.
Gypsy and Penny - Burmese and sapphire female; These two ladies were rescued with Chip and Burt below. They are now integrated into the gerbilry. The sapphire momma is Gypsy, the burmese daughter is Penny. Gypsy & Penny are on the "female" side of the room with Marie & Irene, Petunia & Aggie, Meg & Catherine and Ellen & Eloise.
Bert and Chip a black and lilac/sapphire male - Daddy (black) is Bert and son (lilac/sapphire) is Chip. They made it through quarantine and are doing very well. These two are now living on the "male" side of the room. Their tank is with Charlie & Franklin and Lucky & Albert.
Flora and Fauna - These girls came in from the New Hampshire rescue where over 40 gerbils were taken in at one time in one tank. All are thought to be the children of one breeding pair, but there are no records to substantiate this. All were lilacs.
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 or former breeders. 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.
- cases of extreme need as determined by me - this covers gerbils with special needs, cases where the owner is moving and the new apartment doesn't allow pets, cases where the owner becomes incompetant, cases where the owner dies, cases where the owner goes off to college, AGS kennel closure, etc. I reserve the right to make the determination whether your situation falls under this category.
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.