Oh, Rats!
We like rats! But this fellow had 1300 of them.
Some folks think there are too many animals in our house. There are 5 cats, 2 dogs and a rabbit. That is a lot of animals. The Human never intended to have 5 cats, but cats being so darn cute, how could it be helped?
One of our Human's friends has 30 cats. She takes good care of them but she doesn't know how to say no. Now she doesn't let any more in but feeds the stray ones in her back yard. It's a tough thing when you want to help them all. It's a strain on her financially to take care of the lot she already has and it tugs at her heart to have to turn them away.
People who hoard animals to the degree of 70 cats or dogs in one house, or the fellow with 1300 rats generally don't intend to harm the animals. They need counseling.
In our neighborhood the vet patrol is coming soon. They will be catching, spaying or neutering and releasing stray cats. It isn't a perfect solution but it helps. Isis, who is the only one of the cats who goes outside is spayed, and she has a collar and a tag. She really doesn't want to be spayed again, thanks!
Trinity hasn't been spayed yet, but she doesn't go outside and all the guys are fixed so there's no danger of kittens. Don't worry, her time will come!
Can you spay or neuter rats? We have no idea! Usually they live in cages. Our rat friend Terrance died five years ago and there hasn't been another rat in this house since. He liked to eat pumpkin and sunflower seeds and would take them right from a person's hand with his hands, then crack the shells off and eat the middle. Some people think rats are ugly but he was cute. He was black and white and very long. When he stood up on his hind feet he could reach the top bars of his home and would pull himself up like a monkey!
Rats are actually nice animals if you get them at a young age and they are acclimatized to people. But 1300 rats is too many. We hope this fellow gets some compassionate help and that the adoptable rats find good homes where between 2-4 of them can live together. This is an optimal number for pet rats!
Your friends,
The Animals
Some folks think there are too many animals in our house. There are 5 cats, 2 dogs and a rabbit. That is a lot of animals. The Human never intended to have 5 cats, but cats being so darn cute, how could it be helped?
One of our Human's friends has 30 cats. She takes good care of them but she doesn't know how to say no. Now she doesn't let any more in but feeds the stray ones in her back yard. It's a tough thing when you want to help them all. It's a strain on her financially to take care of the lot she already has and it tugs at her heart to have to turn them away.
People who hoard animals to the degree of 70 cats or dogs in one house, or the fellow with 1300 rats generally don't intend to harm the animals. They need counseling.
In our neighborhood the vet patrol is coming soon. They will be catching, spaying or neutering and releasing stray cats. It isn't a perfect solution but it helps. Isis, who is the only one of the cats who goes outside is spayed, and she has a collar and a tag. She really doesn't want to be spayed again, thanks!
Trinity hasn't been spayed yet, but she doesn't go outside and all the guys are fixed so there's no danger of kittens. Don't worry, her time will come!
Can you spay or neuter rats? We have no idea! Usually they live in cages. Our rat friend Terrance died five years ago and there hasn't been another rat in this house since. He liked to eat pumpkin and sunflower seeds and would take them right from a person's hand with his hands, then crack the shells off and eat the middle. Some people think rats are ugly but he was cute. He was black and white and very long. When he stood up on his hind feet he could reach the top bars of his home and would pull himself up like a monkey!
Rats are actually nice animals if you get them at a young age and they are acclimatized to people. But 1300 rats is too many. We hope this fellow gets some compassionate help and that the adoptable rats find good homes where between 2-4 of them can live together. This is an optimal number for pet rats!
Your friends,
The Animals
Comments
Master Tom also said he knew a really nice guy who used to raise cockroaches as pets and had thousands of them and would reach in the cage and pick up a handful and pet them with his fingers and talk baby talk. You have to watch those Biology teachers!
Cockroaches--eeeeee!!! Hate 'em! Although the Malaysian hissing cockroach is interesting and actually a useful bug. It eats decaying wood. I once took my son to a class for children at the zoo when he was little, and he got to pet a hissing cockroach. I could have too but I was afraid I might freak out and hurt it. I've got a fair degree of insectophobia. I like looking at pictures of them sometimes or watching them in the garden but I can't stand to have them touch my skin at all!
Thanks for a really thought provoking post!
cie
I think people who let animals suffer need help, but also punishment.
weirsdo