SEVENTEEN abandoned Syrian hamsters are badly in need of new homes after being dumped outside a garage in Wheathampstead.

They were taken to the RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre in Potters Bar two weeks ago when a man from the village turned up with a couple of cages containing the hamsters which he said had been left outside his garage.

The cages, one a proper hamster cage, the other a general pet carrier, were full of excrement and urine as well as very mouldy.

Inside were a female hamster with 12 babies and four other adult females.

Because Syrian hamsters need to be kept singly, the centre had to find five different cages which also had to be placed apart from each other so they were not stressed by being able to smell each other.

RSPCA centre manager, Anna White, said: “Hamsters are small, charming animals with a great deal of character but their needs are very complex and they can be injured easily if you are not careful when handling them.

“If you can offer a home to any of these hamsters in a warm, safe, indoor environment please get in contact.”

More information about keeping hamsters as pets can be found on the RSPCA website www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rodents/hamsters