Abandoned hamsters found at San Bruno mall up for adoption

A group of albino dwarf hamsters dumped outside the Sears store at Tanforan Mall in San Bruno has been rescued and they are now available for adoption at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA.

A Good Samaritan saw people in a truck dump two glass tanks in a shopping cart in the parking lot and then drive away quickly. She decided to investigate, discovered the hamsters and brought them to the humane society’s office.

“We are very grateful to the individual who brought the abandoned hamsters to us,” spokeswoman Buffy Martin Tarbox said. “Thanks to her, the hamsters were saved and we are now able to find new and loving homes for them.”

The tanks were dumped last month and contained 14 hamsters. Two have already been adopted and PHS/ SPCA is seeking homes for the remaining 12.

Dwarf hamsters make fun and entertaining pets and are ideal for someone living in an apartment, Tarbox said. They’re smaller than other hamsters and have an average lifespan of three years. Hamsters can also be excellent escape artists, so they will need either a tank with a tightfitting screen lid for ventilation, or a cage with bars spaced closely together to serve as their secure habitat. And they need access to fresh water and suitable hamster food and toys, including a running wheel.

“Not only are hamsters adorable, they make good pets and can be very affectionate,” Tarbox said. “They are most active during the nighttime, so if you’re a light sleeper, it’s best to not keep their cage in a bedroom and always make sure the hamsters are separated by gender to prevent unwanted litters.”

The society encourages potential adopters to visit the Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion at 1450 Rollins Road in Burlingame to meet the hamsters.

The shelter is open seven days a week for adoptions, Monday through Friday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and weekends 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Each hamster’s adoption fee is $10.