[Greysard]

Releasing a domesticated animal to fend for itself is a cruel thing to do.

That hamster was anything but domesticated, that's why the author had to get rid of him. I am also unsure if killing the animal outright is better than letting it live as it was meant to be:

"In the wild, they burrow underground in the daylight to avoid being caught by predators. Their diet contains a variety of foods, including dried food, berries, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables." (here).

This means that the hamster will be in his new burrow before you walk away, and will have a good chance of survival. It's not like parks in London are full of foxes.

[goldfinch]

This means that the hamster will be in his new burrow before you walk away, and will have a good chance of survival. It's not like parks in London are full of foxes.

The hamster was purchased in a pet store. It has no idea how to forage for food. The author purchased the animal and was, therefore, responsible for it. If he could not keep it, he should have had it euthanized instead of condemning it to a painful death. His action was irresponsible and cruel. I cannot see why any conservative would condone his action.