Gender: Male
Species: Winter White
Estimated Age: 9 months
Likes: Interminable sessions of burrowing, going beserk over protein delicacies, and camping in his wheel
Dislikes: Loud human squeals and grabby hands of adoration, for now 4
A reclusive artist he is (or at least he wants to be; if he could eternally escape from his human papparazzi), Pop has made his mark in using subtractive sculpture technique to carve out a system of tunnels. He spends most of his daytime burrowing and making subterranean mazes through the Kaytee and Oxbow bedding. His recent pièce de résistance was a paper-based, 3-pillar structure supporting his Silent Runner or Wodent wheel. Unfortunately, Pop's human put his risky installation to a thwart. She has since placed his wheel on a platform, allowing him to engage in a digging frenzy underneath - nonetheless, a win-win situation.
Much of Pop's burrowing behaviour can be attributed to his character - reserved and timorous. He sporadically surfaces only when he needs to eat, drink, run & occasionally pee (he is still toilet-training). Pop has been ingeniously designing maze exits near important pitstops (i.e. water bottle, food bowls and wheel) in his cage, to make himself inconspicuous. He especially loves foraging for his supplemental grub scattered in his bedding.
As recreant as he can be, Pop cannot resist taking treats from a proffered hand. Nuts and freeze-dried breast meat are the best bets. If he is in the mood for some human interaction, he will silently climb up the cage bars. Then, he will nimbly swing left and right before his fosterer succumbs to his silly antics.
While Pop bites his Alaska cage (for attention, when he demands it), he is friendly to human hands. When you think he has just begun to acclimatise himself to cuddles, he will pop your bubble in a blink and tries to scamper off your inviting hands, back into his most comfortable territory. Pop's Silent Runner or Wodent wheel is where he is confident to be seen in the public eye; his sanctuary. He does not hesitate to sleep, eat and poop in it. Much to the irritation of his fosterer, who has to bear the pitter-patter of unpouched dry mix and poop pellets spinning along with the wheel. Pop enjoys running undisturbed - it is a daily necessity that he did not get to delightfully do, before joining our foster programme.
Why does a Pop begin to love running? Because in terms of the 'why', Pop is almost a rodent version of the running Forrest Gump. When he came home to his fosterer, he ran from pain and fear. He was housed together with other hamsters and as a result, forced to share basic essentials. His 'why' changed along the way, when he continues to run. Like Forrest Gump said, "You need to put the past behind you before you can move on". So, Pop tries to - and never stopped till now. His current 'why' involves his passion, dreams and a vision of who he wants to be. His fosterer does not know what exactly those are, but she certainly knows he is determined to be happy.
So...will you be the one to accompany him with love and run with him till the end? (P.S. He REALLY REALLY loves good wheels.)
