Lucky escape for hamster thrown in a bin (From Daily Echo)

Lucky escape for hamster thrown away in Southampton

10:13am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News By Michael Carr, Reporter

FOUND unwanted, unloved and dumped in a bin – meet Hampshire’s most fortunate hamster.

The little creature was found in a bin in Millbrook, Southampton, by council staff cleaning out litter but she has now been given a home by a family in in the city.

A workman spotted the hamster move among the rubbish in Second Avenue Road. He rescued her and alerted animalloving colleague Paul Adams.

When groundsman Paul, 58, saw the hamster his first thoughts were to name her Lucky and take her home.

She is now being looked after by Paul’s 22-year-old daughter Chloe at the family home in Radstock Road, Woolston.

She said: “She is such a friendly hamster, she doesn’t bite is just so active and not scared of anything. We all love her.”

Already Lucky has formed an unlikely friendship. The family dog Riley, a five-year-old rottweiler, has developed an obsession with licking the playful hamster.

Rehoming pets is nothing new to the Adams family. They found a abandoned cat in box who they adopted and now call Boxer. They also temporarily rehomed a hedgehog called Spike and have 12 chickens, three tortoises, and two cats.

Chloe keeps a close eye on the happy hamster. She said: “It always has to happen to us. We are just the kind of family that love to look after pets. We are happy that Lucky has become lucky.”

The RSPCA urged any pet owners to contact them if they cannot care for their animals.

A spokesman said: “There is never any excuse for abandoning an animal. If people have pets which they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is available from a number of organisations, including the RSPCA.”