I was packing up the hamster paraphernalia when a teary Claire said she wished she could have another hamster, but "wouldn't want to be disrespectful to Teddy." Exact words. Man, that girl knows how to play me. After several years, I had like one entire week off from cleaning that blasted plastic rodent cage...
Nonetheless, the new girl (a female hamster - a first for us!) is settling in nicely to her suddenly charmed life. She makes the cutest crunching noises when I hand her treats and already knows to meet me at the door - clever for a 6-week-old who hasn't been socialized. As long as she doesn't attempt a Houdini in a house with 3 cats, Lizzie's future is bright.