P6/7 have been doing a topic on Endangered Species, so Mr Troon and the class decided they wanted the experience of looking after such a species.  Our choices came down to a corn snake, Syrian hamster and a tortoise.  Mr Troon contacted Angus Council and asked which one of the animals we would be allowed, and they said we would not be allowed reptiles because they can carry salmonella.  So we were only left with the Syrian hamster.  The Syrian hamster comes from Syria (in Africa).  Hamsters are kept from becoming extinct by captive breeding.  Syrian hamsters are best to be kept alone as they can fight.

We got our hamster on the 12th January 2010, called Doris.  She seems to be settling in and having a great time.  Doris has been running on her wheel and exploring.  Whilst we were doing papier mache, a couple of balloons popped and she ran and jumped on the ceiling of her house and spun her wheel really fast.

 By Ellie P6/7

 Doris' Diary Week One by Daniel P6/7

I was watching the door as the three boys walked in.  I was hoping they would purchase me to get away from they guinea pigs. They just can't stop making so much noise!  Suddenly my owner walked over and picked me out of the cage that I've been in for a couple of weeks.  She handed me over to the boy with the blonde streaks and put me in a big box.

I was in a little car.  I was trying to bite a big enough hole to get some sun light then the car stopped at a school with a big yellow roof.  I bit a hole big enough to see out of then a big hand covered the hole.  Then I was jiggling about everywhere into a big classroom then a little cage.

The next day I woke up to the teacher of the class trying to get me into a little green ball and they let me roll about in it, then I got put back in my cage.  I was so tired I just went straight to my bed but I noticed that I had an even bigger cage.  This was the best owner I've ever had!

I was going to another class room and I got to roll in my little green ball again.  There were people crowding around me and I don't like it.  It makes me feel like they are predators coming to get me.

The next day it was Friday afternoon and a big tall man appeared in front of me.  I knew I was going somewhere esle when I was in the car with a girl in the class.  Then I arrived at a big house.  I heard people shouting on Ellie but that ain't my name, my name's Doris!  Or maybe Ellie is the one with short black hair.  Ellie took me into her house and she let me roll about in my green ball then she cleaned out my cage.  I met lots of Ellie's family.  I met Ellie's brother Robbie and her mum and dad.  It was the best day I've ever had!