ANIMAL CARE

THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER FROM SOMEONE WHO ADOPTED ONE OF OUR GERBILS:-

I took a gerbil from you on Saturday 18 October, and I promised Ann (I think it was Ann) to let her and Animal Care generally see some photos of her.

The name on the cage was ‘Squirt’ but I have renamed her Millie.   In efforts to stimulate her I have let her run about on the floor a few times in the first week.  We had a few problems and she even managed to chew through one of my telephone cables.  Fortunately, I had been having some trouble with this and was not too displeased to have to buy a new one.

I think I have got the hang of her much better now.  During the day, she spends a lot of time in the shower enclosure (suitable dried for her, of course).  This gives her more room to jump around in while being fairly escape proof, at least so far.......................  The material you can see in the photos is an old nightdress, and she loves tunnelling in it and dozing there, despite having other options.

She doesn’t much care for being caught, and we seem to be in an arms race.  No sooner do I find a good way of catching her, than she realises the trap......  However, once caught, she seems quite happy to be handled, and particularly appears to enjoy having the side of her face stroked.

She certainly seems to have a good appetite, but I’m surprised at how much she drinks.  Indeed, on the two occasions she escaped, it was her desire for water that enabled me to recapture her.

I’m much enjoying having her in my life.  She’s the cutest thing.  Thank you so much for allowing me to adopt her.