The miracle of life

We have found a "home" for the babies --- the pet store on the west side where we bought our first cat. The guy actually suggested we keep breeding our adults, and they'll pay us a few bucks per animal. I don't care a bit about the money, but the idea of being able to do all this again is a fun prospect. A friend of mine came to see them yesterday and when she saw how cute they were, she asked if I could breed them so there would be babies over Christmas break and she could take them home to "raise" them for a few weeks.

I held them yesterday (and today) -- you're not supposed to, but the mother hasn't rejected them; she didn't even seem to mind all that much. One of them is a little bit of a runt (though not nearly as bad as poor Gimpy was), but they are all looking big and healthy. Except for one small problem, which concerns me --- one of the black babies has a deformed foot --- it's kind of a stump with no real "hand", so it's shorter than the others and he "walks" (they don't quite WALK yet because they can't see and are unsteady on their feet) funny. I imagine the store might not take him, but he's as cute as anything.

SO, who would like a "special needs" hamster? We shall call him "Stumpy". What better way to teach your children (or your spouse) some responsibility than to start them with an easy to care for animal that needs just a little special attention?

And, no, I will not MAIL any of them to you. So stop asking.