likeLemons
Junior Member
Hi folks. After a couple months of researching where to get pet rats, I came across this forum and decided make an account/introduction, since I'd like to rescue rather than go to a breeder of pet stores (wink wink, if there are any little guys needing a home in the GTA. I'll be looking through the forum shortly) .
I'm a first year college student studying film, and I've been blessed with the experience of small pets since I was around 5 years old; when my older sister got a pet hamster. Since then our household has had 2 guinea pigs, another hamster, and a rabbit. A few years back an adult rat was left in front of the doors of the animal shelter I volunteered at. The shelter doesn't take small animals, but they got him checked by a vet and was being fostered by an employee, who I think was the one to name him Ben (and I hope it was because of that 70s horror movie with the killer rat army). After extensively researching rat caretaking, I decided to take him in.
Despite being dumped outside the shelter in the crisp late fall, Ben seemed to have been raised well, very social and loving. I thought about getting him a cagemate, but he seemed happy and used to having the cage to himself - I didn't want to stress him with an introduction. I only had him for a little over a year before he passed on, but in that amount of time I realized what great companions rats can be. Even my mother agrees that Ben was a great pet, despite judging him for his spiny tail.
So it's been a couple years since there has been any furry guys at my house, because I had no idea where I might be after graduating high school. Now that I've settled into my program, I can safely say I have the time needed to take care of a couple of rats.
I can't promise I will be a very active forum user, but it's great to know that a resource such as this exist. Hope everyone's having a good winter so far!
I'm a first year college student studying film, and I've been blessed with the experience of small pets since I was around 5 years old; when my older sister got a pet hamster. Since then our household has had 2 guinea pigs, another hamster, and a rabbit. A few years back an adult rat was left in front of the doors of the animal shelter I volunteered at. The shelter doesn't take small animals, but they got him checked by a vet and was being fostered by an employee, who I think was the one to name him Ben (and I hope it was because of that 70s horror movie with the killer rat army). After extensively researching rat caretaking, I decided to take him in.
Despite being dumped outside the shelter in the crisp late fall, Ben seemed to have been raised well, very social and loving. I thought about getting him a cagemate, but he seemed happy and used to having the cage to himself - I didn't want to stress him with an introduction. I only had him for a little over a year before he passed on, but in that amount of time I realized what great companions rats can be. Even my mother agrees that Ben was a great pet, despite judging him for his spiny tail.
So it's been a couple years since there has been any furry guys at my house, because I had no idea where I might be after graduating high school. Now that I've settled into my program, I can safely say I have the time needed to take care of a couple of rats.
I can't promise I will be a very active forum user, but it's great to know that a resource such as this exist. Hope everyone's having a good winter so far!