Bereft degu finds new friends

Sad and alone after the death of his brother, degu Han Solo arrived in Blue Cross care in hope of finding a fresh start and a new companion.

The one-year-old had previously lived happily alongside his sibling and another older degu friend, who died in close succession to each other.

Knowing Han Solo needed company of his own kind, as all degus do, his owner brought him to our Burford rehoming centre in the hope he would find happiness again. 

Our team arranged for the young degu to be neutered – so that he could be rehomed with females – and set about finding him a home.

To bring him some comfort in the meantime, Han Solo had a toy lamb which he liked to snuggle up to and sleep with while he was feeling lonely.

Katie Stiles, Animal Welfare Assistant, says: “Han Solo was quite bright considering the loss he had been through. But I knew he was struggling when I gave him the toy lamb. He started snuggling with it and wasn’t keeping up his exercise or eating; he could just be found sitting with his lamb.”

The team ensured the cuddly toy had no detachable or dangerous parts, as degus are prone to chewing.

Katie continues: “We made sure Han had lots of things to do in his environment, like giving him boxes to chew and we got him working for his food by popping it in forage so that he had to find it. 

“We also did some hand feeding so that we could spend some extra time with him. He loved to have a small pinch of oats, so this was a little occasional reward for him.”

She adds: “It was just about keeping him busy as he was so lonely.”

And, after 22 days in our care, Han Solo found the new family he deserved. He now lives in a large, three-storey cage filled with enrichment and areas to explore, and has two new lady friends he is slowly being introduced to.

New owner Hana, who has renamed Han Solo Ash, says: "He is incredibly active and vocal and gets involved in absolutely everything.

"He is in his wheel first thing in the morning and is usually last to stop running and go to sleep. He is also an amazing jumper and climber and seems almost fearless.

"He is excited to be handled and often calls you to the cage when he feels you don’t give him enough attention, in which case you get the angry degu grunt noises and have to pick him up immediately. He keeps talking to us and to all our other degus."

Katie adds: “We were very sad to see Han leave as he was such a lovely character but so happy that he found a loving home with companions.”