My best friend has two pet rats that i really can't stand, they really are horrible things and even he doesn't have any time for them so I am considering letting them go free outside one day while he is at work. They eat pretty much anything but I feel a bit worried that I'm being cruel. Will they survive? I live on a city full of them.
2006-09-28 08:51:02 · 46 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
common sense
2006-09-28 08:54:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pet rats would not survive in the wild as they don't know how to search for food. Rats make lovely pets and are cleaner than hamsters etc. If your friend really has no time for them I would suggest you encourage him to take them to an animal shelter where they will find the best home for them. Rats like company and don't do well confined to a cage all the time.
2006-09-28 10:59:24 · answer #2 · answered by Janmac 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They would be killed and eaten by wild rats - domestic rats are a different creature altogether. The fancy rat has been bred to be a social and domestic pet.
I am sure that you must just be trying to wind us up. Rats make great pets - I never had my own but used to help care for the school pet rats and they were magic. So clean and intelligent.
People get very upset about potential cruelty to animals. Human baiting is cruel.
2006-09-28 09:08:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it's cruel. Pet rats are domesticated, so they don't know the ways of the wild. They may find enough to eat because they eat everything, but they are not predator savvy so will be picked off easily.
Plus you have no business letting his rats go free. Tell him to list them on Craig's list if he doesn't want them anymore, or bring them to shelter.
Or, find someone with a large snake and he can give them to the snake owner for food.
2006-09-28 08:59:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Find a life and leave the pet rats alone, or talk to your friend about finding a new owner for them. Plenty of people love pet rats.
Leaving them loose in the city would be like letting a domestic dog loose with the dingo's in Australia. They will be eaten by the wild ones. A pretty grim way to go.
2006-09-28 09:03:27 · answer #5 · answered by Animaholic 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, they should be offered to a good home for free or for a small fee. NOT AS FOOD FOR SNAKE'S! Do not set them "free" as they have become 'domesticated' and could not live in the wild. Yes, that would be cruel. Although rats in the wild are gross and spread disease, domesticated rats are really cool pets. Highly intelligent, also.
2006-09-28 09:01:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
it will be cruel and probably illegal too. They will not survive in the wild, wild rats will attack and kill them. Besides, it isn't up to you to decide what to do with your friends pets. They are not your property. If you ask your friend if they want to find them a new home, simply advertise them and someone is bound to take them. I keep pet rats and love them to bits. All of mine have come from adverts from people wanting to get rid of theirs.
You would very soon be an ex friend of mine if you took it into your own hands to make decisions as to what pets I can keep and you started deciding to get rid of any of my belongings. It isn't your place.
2006-09-28 10:49:13 · answer #7 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes its cruel!! What would ever make you think that was OK???
Could you imagine if you had a pet and one day came home to find that it was missing cuz your room mate or friend thought you couldnt care for it anymore??? I would hurt somebody!!
Dont be so selfish and think about your friends feelings.
If its really that big of an issue, why not talk to your friend about it and let them know your concerns??
2006-09-28 09:03:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you let them out invariably they are likely to be killed but surely that is really not the issue Find a new home for them then approach the subject diplomatically take him round to the new likely owners get his approval and off they go you will regret for the rest of your life that you have been deceitful I think deep down you know this
2006-09-28 09:04:21 · answer #9 · answered by retroman 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How can you call yourself best friends when you would take something of theirs which is not yours and dispose of it whether it is livestock or material goods? Just because you do not approve of the rats. I am opposed to caging any animals whose natural instinct is to explore and be territorial and I am told that rats are extremely clean in their personal habits. I personally wouldn't have one but go and get yourself a friend who has no rats...that is till you come along.
2006-09-28 09:23:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It probably is cruel. Because their so used to living indoors and having their food given to them. They don't have the skills to defend themselves and get their own food. You could put ads in the paper to give them away. But in order for that to work, you may have to conivince your friend that he doesn't really care for them anymore, and should give them to a loving home that would be more and happy to have them. But if the paper ad doesn't work maybe a relative like a neice, nephew. Hope this helps.
2006-09-28 08:58:05 · answer #11 · answered by asprinfree_braindamage_please 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋