Incredible Opportunity- Should I Take It?

by CinnamonPearl Mon 07 Nov 2016, 11:50 am

Alright, so I know I said I was going to hold off on getting more mice until after I heard back from Cornell, BUT... I was doing some research, and it turns out that in Providence, Rhode Island, about three hours from where I live, there's a pair of female mice for adoption at Providence Animal Rescue League! Having mice available for adoption this close to me pretty much NEVER happens, and I'm suddenly excited! Pretty much I was waiting for the Cornell results because I wanted to get a trio of girls if I do get in and another boy if I don't. But I do love having girls so much, and a pair of ladies is only one more than the single boy. I have a three day weekend this week; I could hop on a train and go get them. And they are the absolute sweetest looking things. Do you guys think I should take the chance and go scoop them up? If I pass up this opportunity, I'll probably have to buy from a pet store, which I really don't want to do because all my pet store mice have never lasted over a year with me. I just don't trust it anymore. What're your opinions?

Here they are. Their names are Hermione and Ginny: http://www.parl.org/node/4742

by CanadianExport Mon 07 Nov 2016, 12:57 pm

So a few questions
(1) When will you be leaving for college, regardless of whether it is Cornell or another school?
(2) If you do not get into Cornell and all your mice are still alive, what will happen to them?

If you will have to re-home your mice if you do not get into Cornell I personally do not think it is very responsible to get more mice but if you have a contingency plan that will enable you to keep them then go for it. I know it is tough to wait but ultimately you have to think about what is best for the mice and set aside your personal desires.

by CinnamonPearl Mon 07 Nov 2016, 1:20 pm

If I don't get into Cornell and have to rehome mice net summer, my main go to is Scaredymouse, who offered to take in some of my mice. I have a couple of other options, but you're right, I should actually go and talk to those people before I make this move. I leave for college next August. The thing is I plan to get another tank whether I get into Cornell or not, whether it be a boy or a trio of girls depending.

by Artistwolf Mon 07 Nov 2016, 1:37 pm

Well, if you were planning on getting another tank anyway... I'll be the bad influence and say that you totally should Very Happy

by Peachy Mon 07 Nov 2016, 1:43 pm

I'd definitely make sure someone is still able to take in your mice before you get more, boys or girls. Just assuming that someone will want mice that you knew you would have to give up in nine/ten months isn't the best decision, and if plans were made a while ago things may have changed.

But that said, while I wouldn't discourage adopting, I personally wouldn't go three hours away to adopt shelter mice that might be healthier than pet store mice. They had to come from somewhere, and the chances that they came from someone that breeds for health are small. More likely they were bought from a pet store and then surrendered because some kid wasn't taking care of them or they were too stinky.

by CanadianExport Mon 07 Nov 2016, 2:03 pm

Another thing to consider before adopting is that most shelters require you to sign a contract that requires you to return the animals to the shelter if you cannot keep them. I know this is the most ignored contract out there but it is usually still in there. Is it really fair to adopt two mice and keep them during their young cute months and then go to re-home them in their senior months?

I know I am being a major downer but this is something that I feel very strongly about when you know there is a very strong possibility that you will have to re-home any animals you currently have or are considering getting.

by CinnamonPearl Mon 07 Nov 2016, 2:18 pm

Canadian, I appreciate your advice, but I'm afraid I don't quite understand why you're accusing me of only wanting to keep these mice while they're young, cute, and spry and rehome them just because they're older. I thought I had made it clear that any rehoming of animals would be because of the demands of getting a higher education, not any lapses in moral judgment. I may not be very good at taking care of mice, but I would never do that to an animal. Please.

Getting back to the conversation, alright, I think I will take all your advice and wait on it. I'm hoping that Hermione and Ginny will still be there next month so I can scoop them up if I get into Cornell! I got excited, but you're all right; dedicating myself to a doe colony with so many unknowns is too risky. It isn't because of the distance though- I know a lot of you wouldn't be down for a three hour trip to get mice, but personally, that amount of time is nothing to me. Laughing

It's more of a fun day trip than a hassle.

by CanadianExport Mon 07 Nov 2016, 2:24 pm

Cinnamon I know why you would be getting rid of them, I was more talking about if you had to get rid of them you would be re-homing older mice. It might be for different reasons but the result would be the same. I was just offering my opinion which I know is not a popular one. I am not passing judgment on your moral reasoning. But I will end it here and call a truce. I hope you get into Cornell and can get these girls.

by Peachy Mon 07 Nov 2016, 2:27 pm

I love traveling. Road trips are my favorite things ever. I'd just prefer not to put mice through so much traveling if it wasn't necessary. lol Good luck with everything! Smile

by CallaLily Mon 07 Nov 2016, 2:42 pm

I agree that it would be best to wait until you know for sure that you'll be able to keep them. It wouldn't be fair to them to possibly be bounced around any more than they probably already have. I hope you do get into Cornell and adopt more mice! We already know you're a great mouse parent!

by River Mon 07 Nov 2016, 3:49 pm

I wouldn't get any until you're certain they'll live with you forever.

by CinnamonPearl Mon 07 Nov 2016, 5:26 pm

Actually, while we're on the subject of this, I had an awesome idea of how I can bring all of my mice to Cornell with me without having to risk neutering Henry! (If I get in.) I'm thinking of building a DIY tank that is partitioned into two separate halves, one side for Henry and one side for a trio of girls. I still need to do a lot of research to figure out how ideal that would be, but if I can't get permission to bring two tanks, I think it'd be worth looking into. That or I could get a larger wire cage. The limit on tanks is 30 gallons, but wire cages can be as large as 25 cubic feet. More than enough!

by EverythingAnimal Mon 07 Nov 2016, 5:41 pm

25 cubic feet?! So you can't have a tank large enough for more than a small pet or a few fish, but a cage big enough for a horse?

by CinnamonPearl Mon 07 Nov 2016, 5:55 pm

I know! It's bizarre. I think they bump it up to that size for the people who bring rabbits, because 24 cubic feet is the minimum for a small rabbit (4' x 3' x 2'). I'm thinking I'll either make a tank that's like two 10 gallon tanks next to each other or one on top of the other. If they won't let me, I'll make a wire cage. So now I can bring everyone and Henry doesn't have to be at risk! Yay! Very Happy

by River Mon 07 Nov 2016, 6:01 pm

Actually, the cage for rabbits aren't measured by feet. They're measured by the amount of hops a rabbit can take in each direction, if they can stand comfortably, etc. This is because how much rabbits, even ones of the same breed, can differ in size. Personally, I always go with more than is necesary, but I thought this was interesting info!

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