Adopt
A deep dive into our easy, five step, adoption process!
For a more in-depth breakdown of each step, scroll to the bottom of this page or visit our FAQs page!
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step one
Join the Adoption Waitlist
Fill out a brief questionnaire selecting the preferred coloring and gender of your hamster; along with paying the $4.99 non-refundable deposit to hold your place in line!
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step two
Take our Online Course
We require all adopters to take our fun, interactive, educational Online Course, to ensure everyone is fully equipped with knowledge. The price of the course goes toward the costs. (see our Pricing page)
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step three
Pass the Multiple Choice Exam
At the end of the Online Course, there is a multiple-choice exam to ensure the course information was absorbed. Score an 85 or more to move onto the next step! (there are lots of practice quizzes inside the course)
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step four
Email your Enclosure Photos
After passing the exam, set up and take 3-5 photos of your enclosure. Send your photos to adopt@happyhamstery.com
Once your photos are received, you will be added to the Current Waitlist Page.
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step five
RSVP to the Adoption Event
Once at the top of the Waitlist, and a hamster is available, you will be invited to attend our One Hour Adoption Event.
If you are not available or live out of state, you will remain at the top of the waitlist until you are available! (more info below)
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bonus step
Spoil your Future Hamster
Shop our Hamster Subscription Box to receive 10 goodies delivered straight to your door, every 3 months!
Or visit our Shop to stock up on any needed Hamster Accessories for their future enclosure! (All profit goes toward our hamstery!)
More information…
Once you’ve joined the waitlist, our team will email you back an Adoption Timeline, along with our list of requirements before adoption can occur.
—— We are located in Rock Hill, South Carolina ——
We do not ship hamsters, but we’re happy to try to bring a hamster along on our Annual Road Trips!
Every January (the last weekend), we travel to Ridgeway, VA
Every late May / early June, we often travel to Tybee Island, GA
Every July (first week), we travel to Minneapolis, MN (driving through — TN, KY, MS, IA, MN)
Every August (timeframe varies), we like to visit State College, PA (driving through — NC, VA)
Every November (week before thanksgiving), we travel to Orlando, FL (driving through — GA)
(This trip to FL is not happening this year, because we are expecting our first human baby during this time! We travel to FL yearly but do not have a our next travel time scheduled)
**Please try to join the waitlist 4-6 months beforehand, to ensure their is a hamster pup that is available for you**
Step #1: Join the Waitlist!
We breed our hamsters here based off the length of the waitlist. This way we breed responsibly and always have a home lined up for our little ones.
Once you pay the $4.99 (non-refundable waitlist deposit), you will be redirected to Waitlist Form. After filling out this form, you will receive an email in about a weeks time!
The Waiting List is currently around 4-6 months wait time. The wait is longer in the Winter, due to smaller litters, and a disinterested in breeding from the females. Visit our Current Waitlist Page, to see how many others are waiting for their hamster in front of you.
Step #2: Taking the The Happy Hamster Online Course
To ensure all of our hamsters go to safe, enriching homes, we offer a fun and educational online course that teaches proper hamster care at the affordable price of $34.99. This cost goes toward the adoption of your hamster, decreasing the cost of a Purebred Winter White Hamster from $75 to $40.
This step is required, no matter how much hamster care experience you have. This is the only way we can ensure we are equipping our adopters with all the information we feel is necessary to care for one of our hamsters.
Step #3: Passing the Happy Hamster Exam
At the end of the course, there will be a Multiple-Choice Exam. If you score 85% or higher, you will move on to requirement #3; however, if you score below an 85%, you may retake the exam for a $5 fee.
Click here link to Retake the Exam. (the practice quizzes in the Online Course are the same questions as the exam, feel free to practice as much as you need prior to Retaking the Exam)
Step #4: Emailing Photos of your Cage Set Up
Your Hamster’s Enclosure must meet the ‘Enclosure Requirements’ and include a minimum of 3 enrichments. Please see our Enclosure Requirements page for more info.
Include the following in your Enclosure Photo Submission:
The square inches of floorspace the enclosure has (see module one, in the online course, for review if needed)
The inches of bedding in the enclosure.
List the 3+ enrichments that you choose to add to your enclosure.
3-5 photos from different angles of the enclosure. Include a photo of an adult with the enclosure and their ID (more info below)
The name of the Food Mix you plan to feed your hamster.
In most cases, we provide advice and suggestions based on the enclosure requirements. We strive to encourage all our adopters to continue bettering their care!
In order to ensure the submitted photos were taken by you, please include one selfie of you OR an adult family member with the enclosure & a picture of that persons Driver’s Licenses or some other from of Identification (this must be the same person who picks up the hamster on the day of adoption).