Tucked away in a suburban Bloomington home is an animal rescue center unlike most others. The Pipsqueakery is one of the nation’s few hamster rescue facilities. Shelters from Illinois to Florida send sick and homeless hamsters to the center, founded by Alex Hernly, 28, and her husband, Jason Minsterketter, 31. The Pipsqueakery also takes in guinea pigs, gerbils, rats, degus (rodents common to Chile), and chinchillas—as well as the occasional sugar glider (a small marsupial) and, recently, a vole named Norma.

Video by B. Tyler Margison