The Hunter RSPCA shelter has become home to an unusual and adorable group of residents, with more than twenty mice now urgently seeking new families. This rare influx of tiny creatures at the Rutherford facility offers a unique opportunity for potential pet owners in the region.
A Rare Rodent Arrival
The Rutherford shelter is hoping to find homes for more than 20 mice, a situation manager Ashley Gray-Wallis describes as uncommon. "I've been with the company for the past five years, and we've probably had a couple of groups, but not to this extent," Ms Gray-Wallis said. The mice arrived through the RSPCA's inspectorate team, with some having been born in the shelter's care.
Alongside the mice, the shelter also has rats available that are currently in foster care. To manage the numbers, some of the mice have been dispersed to other shelters. While the RSPCA Hunter primarily cares for cats and dogs, and recently opened an equine centre, it regularly welcomes a variety of animals including rabbits, chickens, geese, and ducks.
Social Creatures Need Company
Ms Gray-Wallis emphasised the social nature of mice, who live best in groups—appropriately known as a "mischief of mice." This is particularly crucial for female mice. "It's always best not to adopt a single female mouse," she advised. "We always recommend that they go home with a friend or two. They are social creatures; they like to have some friends."
The dynamic is different for adult males, who can be territorial. "They can live next door to other ones, but being in cages together, they do tend to fight unless they have been raised together from a young age," Ms Gray-Wallis explained.
An Uncommon Adoption Opportunity
Promoting the mice as low-cost and relatively easy pets, the shelter is keen to raise awareness about this atypical adoption option. "Mice are low-cost pets, they are quite easy and it's something we don't always have. It's not what people usually come in here for," Ms Gray-Wallis said. "We would really love to find some homes for them."
The call is now out for compassionate individuals or families in the Hunter region to consider providing a forever home to these tiny, sociable animals. The shelter's team is ready to guide potential adopters through the process of welcoming a mischief of mice into their lives.
