Mouse in need of a house: West Berks Rescue in Thatcham appeals for safe homes for pregnant mice

West Berks Rescue has recently taken in several mice that were being bred as live bait for snakes.

The Thatcham-based not-for-profit organisation agreed to take in 22 mice, some of whom are pregnant, after being contacted by another organisation.

Vikki Harris, who runs West Berks Rescue from her home in Thatcham, said that she took in the mice from a batch of 72 that had been rescued from being bred and used as live bait for snakes.

Miss Harris said: "I was contacted by South East Small Animal Rescue asking me if I could help. I agreed to take 12, but when they turned up and I could see some of them were pregnant I took in a few more."

Although she has cages for them, the very tiny mice can still escape through the bars so Miss Harris is asking animal lovers to fund safe cages for the babies.

"I've already had a couple of escapees. Fancy mice [domesticated mice] can have between three and 14 pups a time and we have three that are currently heavily pregnant.

"The cages that they are all in are suitable for adults, however the babies/young mice can escape through the bars."

She has asked if people could donate to her Amazon wish list in order to buy safe cages for the pregnant mice and their pups.

"A pregnancy lasts between 19 and 21 days," she said. "And I have no idea how far along these ones are – the babies could appear any day."

Miss Harris, a full-time mother to her five children, took over West Berks Rescue – which takes in small animals – about 18 months ago and she currently has around 20 other visitors, including guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters, in addition to the newly-arrived mice.

In a post on Facebook Miss Harris said: "I am going to need a few tank style cages until they [the mice] are big enough to not be able to escape. I’ve added a tank that would be suitable for a mum and pups to our wish list and I’m going to need a fair few of them, they are £23 each.

"I’ve ordered two from our donations but still have a few animals I need to keep some money aside for the vets, but if any of you lovely people can help with one or two I would be sooo incredibly grateful. I also need a bag of back to nature bedding as the wood chip I normally use will be too rough for the tiny little pinkies.

"Any help will be very VERY much welcomed."

If you would like to donate click the link here.