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A Thousand Mice, One Shelter: New Hampshire Shelter Overrun by Furry Guests
What started as an average Monday at the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals turned into a logistical nightmare when a man arrived to surrender not 150 mice, but 150 containers of mice. The shelter initially took in 73 mice, but by week’s end, they cared for 450, with another 500 expected. This far surpasses their previous record of taking in 125 animals in a single day.
Executive Director Lisa Dennison described the situation as “crippling,” explaining that unlike past large intakes—like 54 goats or 39 cats—hundreds of rapidly reproducing mice present a unique challenge. Female mice mature at six weeks and can mate within 24 hours after giving birth, leading to exponential population growth.
The shelter converted part of its cat pavilion into a makeshift mouse haven, with containers of rodents stacked on tables, shelves, and even the floor. Logging each mouse into their database is painstaking, and keeping up with feeding, watering, and bedding them is no small task.
Despite the chaos, some mice are already up for adoption, with quirky names like Doug, Deputy, and Junior Mint. Animal lover Elisha Murray, who said, “No more rodents” to her kids just last week, couldn’t resist adopting four new tiny pets.
It’s an “exponential problem,” as Dennison notes, but with the help of local shelters, foster homes, and the community’s support, the team is making strides—one mouse at a time.
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