This picture is of Ike, who is married to my niece Sylvie. Ike is a very interesting hammie, and we are all proud of him. He came from a pet store where he was bought in early February of 1997. His unusual looks -- the dalmatian-looking spots and the white streak down the middle of his face -- must have made him attractive to customers. But he was a bit on the aggressive side. He bit four people in one day. Our human overheard an employee saying "that damn hamster" should be taken out of the cage and kept for snake food (they sold big, horrible snakes there, too). This was before I was born. But they bought him to save his life. And he's been a most grateful, humble, charming, and gentle member of the family ever since.

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