The ASPCA has a great quick start guide to hamster care on their web site. It starts off with a little history about hamsters and where they were first discovered, then continues on to feeding and housing your wonderful new pet.
This is a pretty good article and will help you get on the road to taking care of your hamster properly.
Their website provides their recommendation about where to get a hamster for your home. “The ASPCA recommends that you get your hamster from a responsible breeder or, better yet, adopt one from a shelter or small-animal rescue group.” Though you can certainly pickup a hamster from a shelter, I would suggest that you stay with a responsible breeder. The breeder is going to know more about the parent hamsters and their temperament then a shelter or even a pet store will.
Though the hamster care article from the ASPCA is a great read, I would suggest that if you are really serious, you get the book Hamsters (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) for further information.
Ted
