On the night of 1 July, passengers taking the night train from Mosjøen station observed a cardboard box left behind. In it lay a live hamster. – I was cursed. This should not be done to animals. Regardless of whether you have a dog, cat, fish, guinea pig or hamster, you are responsible for a life, says train passenger Helle Meisler. Chair Anne Lise Skoie Risøen in Animal Protection Norway says there has been an increase in the number of animals that have been dumped in recent years. This dwarf hamster was abandoned at Mosjøen Station. Photo: PRIVAT When the cardboard box was found, it was delivered to the office at the railway station. A few hours later, Meisler came to take the hamster home. – The water bottle had leaked in the box and everything was soaked. Both sawdust and food, and everything. – I hope those who put it back are ashamed, says Meisler. Meisler says that whatever the reason for not being able to look after an animal anymore, you don’t leave it at the railway station: – There are so many possibilities. Whether you are moving or on holiday. Facebook, Finn.no, there are always opportunities. Photo: Private After she took the hamster home, she published a post on Facebook in which she pointed a stern finger at the person who had dumped the hamster. Some of the comments excuse the dumping. – I wonder if they would have reacted in the same way if it was a dog. – Completely reprehensible In 2022, Animal Protection Norway helped more than 5,000 animals. Exactly how many of these had been dumped may be difficult to know. – We don’t always know if an animal has lost its way or been abandoned. But there are probably large dark figures with us, says Anne Lise Skoie Risøen, chairman of Animal Protection Norway. Anne Lise Skoie Risøen says Animal Protection Norway is fighting for stricter legislation around animal welfare. Dumping animals is a violation of the Animal Welfare Act, but Risøen says that such cases are often dropped: – We are very much on the barricades to get legally required ID marking so that you can track down the owner. It had solved a lot. Photo: Privat But when it comes to the hamster that was found at the train station in Mosjøen, she has no doubts. – It has clearly been dumped. – I think it is completely reprehensible. The animals that are dumped may starve or thirst to death. Now this hamster was placed in a place where it would be found. That is not always the case. After cats, rabbits are the most frequently dumped animals. Swipe to see some of the bunnies that were abandoned. This rabbit family was dumped in the forest outside Mandal. Fortunately, the landowner saw the incident and contacted Animal Protection, who reported the case. The owner of the rabbits ended up being fined NOK 10,000. These rabbits are two of several that were found dumped in the forest in Telemark in 2021. Several rabbits were found abandoned in their cages in the forest. The rabbit Louis was found dumped along a road in Lillesand together with four other rabbits. The rabbit Vetle was found dumped at a bus stop in Lindesnes municipality. Pet care first, holiday afterwards Risøen says it is important to arrange passports for the pets before the holiday is booked. – I cannot understand that someone can go on holiday and sit down to enjoy themselves and think that “Now we are going to have a good time”, and then they have put the family animal out to die. I cannot fathom and understand it. She says that there are several things you can do to find a passport for the animal before you travel away. Seek out a kennel There are both cat and dog boarding houses around the country. Some of these also accept small animals such as hamsters or rabbits. Check out Facebook groups There are also several Facebook groups where members offer to look after animals. The disadvantage is that you do not get the same quality check as with a registered boarding house. Ally with a neighbor Talk to friends and family, or ally with a neighbor. Maybe you can take turns looking after each other’s animals when one of you goes away. – With small animals like this, it is quite common that it ends up with children, but it is important to remember that you have to be 16 to be responsible for animals, says Risøen. And if you can’t find a passport for your pet? – Then you can’t go away. This is what the cardboard box looked like when it was opened: – The water bottle had leaked in the box and everything was soaked. Both sawdust and food, and everything, says Helle Meisler. Photo: private Nina Brogeland Laache, section manager of the animal welfare section at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, says the Norwegian Food Safety Authority annually receives reports of concern about dumping of pets. – Especially in connection with the holidays. Laache says that it is against the Animal Welfare Act to leave an animal in a helpless state, and that it can be reported to them or the police. – If we receive a report about an animal without an owner, we take care of the animal and try to get hold of the owner, to clarify what has happened and consider further follow-up. Possible forms of reaction may include an infringement fee, the owner not getting the animal back, an activity ban or a police report. Nina Brogeland Laache says that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority annually receives reports of animals that have been dumped. Photo: HEIDI GOMNÆS New home for the hamster After Meisler published the post on Facebook, a family got in touch. They wanted to take over the hamster if she didn’t want to keep it herself. – We found the old cage from when we had a hamster and went to the pet store to buy some food before we passed it on to the family. Meisler wanted to report the relationship. But when she called the police, she was referred to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. She says that on the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s website she was referred to the police again. – Then we left the matter a bit dead. The most important thing is that the hamster is doing well now.
ttn-69
Hamster dumped at train station before holiday – news Nordland
