Meet a Resident - Moley
- Danielle Coonan
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
Moley captured everyone's heart from the moment he came into the rescue. His situation is not a common one, but unfortunately by no means unique. We wanted to share a bit about Moley's background, how he came to us, and how he's doing now.
Moley was found outside in October 2025. As we know, October in the UK is a cold and wet month. Poor Moley was left to fend for himself until he was spotted and posted on a community page. His kind finder got him as safe as he could in a storage tub with a curtain to keep him warm
We got in touch and were able to arrange bringing him into the rescue. One of the first things the team noticed were Moley’s eyes: he is completely blind from a condition called retinal dysplasia.
Whether he was born this way, or exposed to a virus outside that damaged his eyes, we will never know without unnecessary tests, as tragically we can’t save his sight. The decision was made not to go ahead with invasive testing to try to see if we could determine the cause as this would have just meant additional stress for him, and he has been through enough. Moley has been so friendly and grateful to be cared for again, and we wanted to ensure that he continued to feel safe as long as he wasn't in any pain.
He was very underweight, malnourished and in quarantine while treated for the European parasites to which his species are so vulnerable. Domestic hamsters are in extreme danger outside in the UK. The cold, rain, predators, pathogens and urban environment are almost always a death sentence. Unable to see, it is a miracle that Moley survived.
Within just 1 month, Moley gained a huge 33g! He began to learn that he was safe, warm and loved. His carer within the rescue has a lot of experience looking after hamsters with high care needs, and they have really given Moley the best possible home.
The entire team were amazed when we were given an update on Moley, and found out that in early December he let his carer hold him! After weeks of building a relationship, and him learning that their voice was an indication that he was with someone safe, he was able to trust them enough to be held.
Moments like these are absolutely beautiful to experience, but they're a result of so many smaller moments. Building the trust by being consistent, using the same words and songs when interacting with him, keeping his environment the same, and above all patience. Everything has been done at Moley's pace and there have been no expectations on him. When hamsters have gone through so much trauma, it is completely understandable if they want to have no interactions at all. But, as is so often the case, hamsters like Moley surprise us with their capacity to love and trust again, despite what he has been through.
Moley has continued to enjoy his quiet life. He likes to keep to himself mostly but still comes to see his carer when he hears their voice. He adores burrowing and regularly buries his wheel after making some new excavations! He has learned how to be a hamster again. And to quote his carer "Winning Moley’s trust, watching him regain his health and find his instincts has been a journey of love and reward.
We’re so proud to have the privilege of bringing him the life he and all hamsters deserve."
What do we hope people take from this story?
When hamsters are abandoned outside, it is very rare that they survive. They cannot find safe food, it is too cold for them, and they are incredibly vulnerable to predators, parasites and diseases. We don't want that fate for any hamster
We are here to help. Other rescues are here to help.
If you, or anyone you know, is ever in the position of struggling to care for their hamster due to finances, time, health or for any reason - please reach out.
We will not judge anyone that comes to us for help. It is true that all rescues are incredibly busy and may not always have a space available immediately, but we will always do everything we can to find space either with us, or if needed, at another rescue. We can offer advice and help in many different ways.
There will always be another option, you never need to abandon your pet. Not all of them can be as lucky as Moley and manage to survive the ordeal.
Moley is a true inspiration to us all. He has overcome trauma and malnourishment and has been able to start living a great hamster life. But he will carry the lasting effects of being left outside for his entire life. Imagine the life he could have had if his previous owners had felt able to reach out for help.
If you would like to help with the ongoing care of Moley, and all our other amazing hamsters, then follow the link below:
What a sweet little man, his story is a sad one but I’m glad he’s safe now🥰