Rattie Mom
Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2007
- Posts
- 230
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2007
- Messages
- 230
Recently, there was a hoarder situation in Washington State (about 2 hours north of me). An elderly woman was found in a home with a cat, several snakes (many dead) and hundreds of rats. She purchased the rats to feed to her snakes, only to fall in love with the rats. For whatever reason, the rats were loose and of course, mulitplied. I won't go into details about the horrid condition her house was in, when the authorities went in.
A few of my rattie friends from our local NW rat club called to help. Unfortunately, the exterminators had already gone in and killed hundreds of the rats. :weepy: (they took the snakes into rescue, but left the rats in the hands of the exterminators) A few folks from the club were allowed to go in and set humane traps in hopes of catching any remaining ratties. Over the following week, they were allowed to go in each day, check the traps, rescue ratties and continue the process. Then they condemned the house. During the trapping, 19 ratties were rescued. All were amazingly friendly and rather tame. The lady considered the rats "her friends" and interacted and fed them. Many appeared well fed.
Donations were taken and a wonderful local exotics vet offered to do low cost spays to help catch early pregnancies. Unfortunately, one delievered babies the day she was caught, one the night before her spay, and two more had litters in the car on the way to the vet for their spays. All in all, there were over 40 rats (now in quarantine) that would need forever homes.
Many are already finding new homes.
I have several rats of my own, so I couldn't take in anymore (or so I thought). But I gave in and offered to foster a young momma (2 months maybe) and her little family of 6 babies. This was our first ever litter.
The little family arrived here last Friday. We've had them just 3 days, and I'm absolutely in love! My husband adores them as well. It's so much fun to watch them change everyday. Due to the time they needed to remain in quarantine, they were 11 days old when they got here. This morning, a few have started to open their eyes.
We have 3 boys and 3 girls.
Momma Namphon already has a home with my good friend (who rescued her from that house), along with one of her daughters, once the babies are weaned. The three boys will be staying with my husband and I. I have two little girls left to find a home for. I'm hoping my vet will adopt them. She's been talking about being ready for ratties again...and now is a perfect time. If for any reason I can't find the perfect home for the two little girls, they will stay with us too. This of course is the main reason we've never fostered a litter before....I could easily cave for every single one.
Anyway, sorry to ramble on and on...but hope ya'll don't mind me sharing some pics of our dear little foster family?
A few of my rattie friends from our local NW rat club called to help. Unfortunately, the exterminators had already gone in and killed hundreds of the rats. :weepy: (they took the snakes into rescue, but left the rats in the hands of the exterminators) A few folks from the club were allowed to go in and set humane traps in hopes of catching any remaining ratties. Over the following week, they were allowed to go in each day, check the traps, rescue ratties and continue the process. Then they condemned the house. During the trapping, 19 ratties were rescued. All were amazingly friendly and rather tame. The lady considered the rats "her friends" and interacted and fed them. Many appeared well fed.
Donations were taken and a wonderful local exotics vet offered to do low cost spays to help catch early pregnancies. Unfortunately, one delievered babies the day she was caught, one the night before her spay, and two more had litters in the car on the way to the vet for their spays. All in all, there were over 40 rats (now in quarantine) that would need forever homes.
Many are already finding new homes.
I have several rats of my own, so I couldn't take in anymore (or so I thought). But I gave in and offered to foster a young momma (2 months maybe) and her little family of 6 babies. This was our first ever litter.
The little family arrived here last Friday. We've had them just 3 days, and I'm absolutely in love! My husband adores them as well. It's so much fun to watch them change everyday. Due to the time they needed to remain in quarantine, they were 11 days old when they got here. This morning, a few have started to open their eyes.
We have 3 boys and 3 girls. Momma Namphon already has a home with my good friend (who rescued her from that house), along with one of her daughters, once the babies are weaned. The three boys will be staying with my husband and I. I have two little girls left to find a home for. I'm hoping my vet will adopt them. She's been talking about being ready for ratties again...and now is a perfect time. If for any reason I can't find the perfect home for the two little girls, they will stay with us too. This of course is the main reason we've never fostered a litter before....I could easily cave for every single one.
Anyway, sorry to ramble on and on...but hope ya'll don't mind me sharing some pics of our dear little foster family?
