It’s Furry Friends Friday, sponsored by Pets Add Life (PAL), whose mission is to spread the joy of multi-pet ownership. We love this mission and we’re here to help!
Each week, we feature a new multi-pet household and today we’re featuring our friend, Nikki Moustaki, who is a huge advocate of multiple pet – and multiple species – households!
Nikki’s current family includes: Pearl, a chubby, fluffy rescued mutt who is 3 1/2 years old; Zoey, a rescued Miniature Schnauzer who is 5 years old; Captain and Tennille, Teddy Bear Hamsters, who are about 2 years old and Professor McFishypants, Comet Goldfish, whose age is unknown.
Nikki adopted Pearl from Miami Dade Animal Services when Pearl was 6 months old. Nikki adopted Zoey from the same shelter when Zoey was 3 years old. Nikki has had the hamsters for about a year, and Professor McFishypants for 5 months.
There is no doubt in Nikki’s mind that the multi-pet household is the way to go and plans on adding more pets of different species soon, particularly birds.
“I think it’s wonderful to have multiple pets, not only for the pets’ sake, but they create a lively home. You can never be lonely with a lot of pets around. If you believe in the Chinese concept of ‘Qi’ (pronounced ‘chi’), pets can help to move the stagnant Qi around and keep the energy in your home moving. Pets help the ‘flow.’ They are the best living feng shui,” says Nikki. I love this!
Nikki says her two dogs are soul mates. They do everything together — eat from the same dish, chew on the same bone, wrestle, play, nap on each other — so cute. She also fosters dogs and her dogs get along with the newcomers as well.
Hamsters, on the other hand, Nikki explains, are solitary animals and do not like to live together, so Captain and Tennille each have their own habitat. “Obviously, I don’t let my dogs interact with the hamsters,” Nikki says. “But sometimes I will put the hammies in a ball and let them roll around, and the dogs get a kick out of that. Professor McFishypants is in his little tank, just watching us all and musing about the universe.”
Here is Nikki’s philosophy on multiple pets: “If you have just one pet, know this: There’s always room for one more! Isn’t there a corner of your home for a little rescue Chihuahua? How about a cat that needs a home? There are so many homeless animals out there, and if everyone who already has a pet (or more than one) decided to get just one more pet, we’d greatly reduce the pets in our shelter system, at least for a while.”
See why we love Nikki? She is very smart gal and has written lots of books and articles about pet care too so she knows her stuff. Best of all? She has a terrific initiative called the Pet Postcard project to help pets in need. Check it out and get involved! It’s a free way to help feed shelter pets!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I have had two hamsters before and they got along great. Maybe its like any other animals not getting along. Depends on the animals and the situation. Keep up the great work.
Sara
We’re a multiple species rescue home too. At one time we had a rescued Golden Retriever, 3 cats and two hamsters. Currently we have a beautiful black cat we adopted from the local shelter and two hamsters who also needed a home.
Add us to the insanely long list of people who love Nikki!!! What a fantastic philosphy and we could not agree more!!
That sounds like a great family of animals. I didn’t know that hamsters didn’t get along. But I have never had hamsters before. It really is nice to have more than one pet. They do keep each other company. My two dogs are almost inseparable.