Sometimes the greatest gifts come in the smallest packages, and for Maggie, this rang true when she met the newest addition to her fur family… a charming, peach-coloured hamster named Peter!
Peter was surrendered to the Cape Breton SPCA in January 2025. Maggie, the pet parent of one cat and two dogs, knew this ball of fluff was destined to join their family, and in February, Peter was home!
Maggie has been volunteering with animal rehabilitation for years and has been a pet parent her whole life. If you ask anyone who knows Maggie, they will attest to the deep love and care she provides to everyone she encounters, furry friends and humans alike!
Maggie, having not cared for a hamster since childhood, wanted to make sure she knew everything she needed to give him the best life possible. She spent weeks researching enrichment, nutrition, and ideal habitat, gathering all the important information to help provide Peter with the most enriching and fulfilling life.
Peter has a variety of homes, including his main home for nighttime, a travel house for movie nights, a beach house for expansive sand bathing, and a spacious playhouse complete with handmade bridges, platforms, and plenty of enrichment items to simulate a hamster’s natural environment and stimulate his instincts to forage. He has even learned how to solve puzzles to find his favourite treat, pumpkin seeds! 
“Peter is very food motivated and it turns him into a hamster-genius! With the right snack, he will solve any puzzle and find every piece of hidden treasure I place around his house.” Maggie said.
Peter is as much a member of the family as anyone; he has even become Maggie and her mother’s good luck charm for sports. He watches every Blue Jays game, using his Petey powers to try and get a win!
Now, a year and a half post-adoption, Peter is two and a half years old and still living his very best life. Maggie hopes to inspire other pet parents to go that extra mile to create a fun and engaging space for their small critters and showcase what a wonderful addition these tiny friends can make to your family!
About Peter, Maggie says, “I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how open he is to new experiences and how much he seems to enjoy engaging and spending time with people. He’s a really cool little guy, and we love having him in our family!”
If you’re searching for a new best friend… why not have a look at our adoptions page! We have plenty of incredible furry friends, big and small, waiting to find someone with a heart as big as Maggie’s to welcome them into their home. If you’re not ready to adopt, consider donating! A monetary donation is great, but our critters would be just as happy if you were willing to donate some of your time to pay them a visit and give them love!