AARCS has 35 hamsters available to adopt, 7 without eyes

The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society is looking for potential adopters and asking for donations after receiving an influx of hamsters. (AARCS)

The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) is looking for potential adopters and asking for donations after receiving an influx of hamsters.

AARCS took in 19 of the critters this month alone, plus another 16 they were already housing.

Several of the hamsters are from a single person who reached out to AARCS for help after purchasing a hamster from a pet store without knowing it was pregnant.

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AARCS says when the hamster gave birth, seven of the babies were then born without eyes.

“At AARCS, no life is too small,” said Amy Corpe, director of animal health, in a Tuesday news release.

The organization is hoping for the donation of 20-gallon aquarium tanks with lids, small animal bedding (paper bedding only, no wood shavings), hamster feed, solid hamster wheels and apple wood chews.

Donations can be dropped off at AARCS Safe Haven, located at 5060 74 Ave. S.E.

Corpe says with the holidays quickly approaching, the organization also wants to discourage people from giving animals as gifts, saying this helps ensure everyone involved in an adoption is prepared for the responsibility.