Today I went to the pet shop to buy some new toys and treats for my three female rats. I also went in the back to coo at the new babies. However, there was a tiny cage tucked away at the side with two adolescent female rats in it. The sign said they'd been there a long time...I asked the girl at the counter and she said they were 3 months old, 2 and a half of which had been spent in that cage that was barely bigger than a shoebox. No toys, no nestbox, just sawdust and a bowl of dry kibble. They have two weeks before they're sold on for experimentation.
I have a rat cage 5'5" high that already houses my three grown-up girls. Females are easily integrated with each other. The cage can be divided into two living quarters until the new pair are quarantined and introduced. The only additional expense will be two more spoons of kibble a night.
But my mum will go stark raving rabid mental.
What should I do?
2007-04-15 07:56:41 · 14 answers · asked by Spazzcat 5 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Try talking to your mom about it and let her know why you want to take them in. Once you have 3 what's 2 more. PLead your case and show her that you have worked through all of the details. See what she says.
You can try to find a rat rescue group in your area too. There are a few of those around.
2007-04-15 08:02:33 · answer #1 · answered by PBullyLuv 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Oh my God, talk about a tough one!
I think if I was in your position, I might see if I could get a shelter to take this rats on - depending on how brave you are I spose! Perhaps if you just take the rats home and put them in this cage your mum might not notice....?! That is a pretty large sized cage after all!
I think reporting this pet shop might be a good idea, I'd certainly try. It can't be the done thing to just sell unwanted pets on to experimentation, and if it is it shouldn't be!
Keep it in mind tho - pet shops often say things like this to try to sell their animals. I think sometimes they keep animals in less than ideal conditions to try to encourage people to buy them to 'save them'. This might be the case here.
So basically your options are:
1) risk your mum's wrath for the sake of these pets.
2) find a rescue place, or someone else that will take the rats on
3) Leave the rats at the shop, but report the owners
I think I'd report the petshop in any case, that'd teach them to have their pets experimented on - or to pretend that's what they're going to do! And I'd take the rats home if I was feeling brave, or find another home for them if I wasn't.
Hope all this rambling has helped you decide!
Chalice
2007-04-15 15:13:47 · answer #2 · answered by Chalice 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
show your mom the conditions that the girls are being kept in. i'm sure that if your mom is human, she will be sympathetic. explain how easily females can be introduced to each other. tell her that you would like to do whatever you can to make their lives easier. living in a shoe box sized cage for a good part of your life, then moving to get experimented on and tinkered with? what kind of life is that?
good luck, and if you can bring them home, make sure you quarantine, because pet store animals can carry some nasty stuff.
2007-04-15 15:14:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say present your argument to your mom the way you did to us, and maybe suggest a trade - maybe you could vacuum or dust or whatever on a weekly basis, in addition to whatever you might currently be doing. This shows your mom that you are serious about this, and that you are willing to put in some extra effort to give these little guys a good life. If I were your mom I'd be so proud of you that I'd cave in a heartbeat - you seem to have a big heart, take good care of your animals, and be an excellent writer :) Best of luck!!
2007-04-15 15:03:02 · answer #4 · answered by carnelionne 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As harsh as this will sound, don't buy them. If you do, you would be rewarding the abuser and buying into their game.
While you will save those two, the store will order hundreds more. It would be much more effective to try to get this message out there. If the stores are abusing these poor animals, try to organize a protest or boycott. Even write to the local paper about it.
2007-04-15 15:59:30 · answer #5 · answered by Annie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you could easily integrate the two new rats, but before you take them home, bring them to your vet to be checked out. Chances are, if you tell your mother that you saved them from being experimented on, she won't mind so much, and also offer to buy them with your own money.
2007-04-15 15:03:05 · answer #6 · answered by Skyler 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you should let her read your question and answers on here and it just might help your case. Good Luck, I also love rats and am proud that you would save these two young girls from experimentation.
2007-04-15 15:09:52 · answer #7 · answered by Kat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DEFFINATLY save them, but to convince your mom show her some pictures and sites that show the cruel treatment of experimental animals. Also the cruel treatment petstores have... peta would be a great website. They have some pretty informative stuff and lots of pictures, good luck!
2007-04-15 15:09:56 · answer #8 · answered by kittensunlimited 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you should get the two femals. You don't want them to go off to experimentation do you. Expllain that to your mum. And hopefully two extra spoonfulls of kibble wont be to much to provide
2007-04-15 15:05:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have room and want to purchase them...do that! Ask if you can have experimental price, should give it to you. Give them lots of love and attention.
Is your mother living in same house? If not who cares what she thinks...If she is, is it your house or hers...Yours once again who cares what she thinks...if it is hers you realy should at least make sure it is okay with her, even if she thinks your nuts she may not mind extra room mates.
2007-04-15 15:07:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋