Oddly, there's been an upswing of rat breeders in Ontario, as well as demand for rats. As I'm booked (to private adoptors), I refer them all to this forum, but advise them when looking to make sure breeders and/or rescues will disclose bloodwork. You are paying equally much in rat vet bills as you do other pets (eg. dogs) that live 10x as long ...so why should you accept so much less?
At the time I had Zen Rattery and Bumpus Place Rescue back in 2001-2005, still young and foolish (20s!), I had the basic sense to get my vets onboard with Elisa-testing (@400/piece --a whole paycheck for me at the time!) all new rats entering both facilities (not my fosters).
Now with Idexx technology cutting the serology testing cost from $400 to only $100, there's no reason for a breeder (or rescue) not to protect their charges by newcomer (or general) testing. I wish I'd the courage to say this before, but logically speaking, if one can't (or is too cheap or lax to) budget the $100 for a disease test, one should not be pumping out animals.
I feel we as fanciers need some sort of cohesiveness, a creed, in order to stand up to the garbage breeders and reduce their patronage. Even as a breeder, I've been scammed by fellow breeders electronically doctoring their test results and killing my rats I've stated my case but I want to hear from what standards and policies the rest of you desire to see from a breeders (and rescues)?
At the time I had Zen Rattery and Bumpus Place Rescue back in 2001-2005, still young and foolish (20s!), I had the basic sense to get my vets onboard with Elisa-testing (@400/piece --a whole paycheck for me at the time!) all new rats entering both facilities (not my fosters).
Now with Idexx technology cutting the serology testing cost from $400 to only $100, there's no reason for a breeder (or rescue) not to protect their charges by newcomer (or general) testing. I wish I'd the courage to say this before, but logically speaking, if one can't (or is too cheap or lax to) budget the $100 for a disease test, one should not be pumping out animals.
I feel we as fanciers need some sort of cohesiveness, a creed, in order to stand up to the garbage breeders and reduce their patronage. Even as a breeder, I've been scammed by fellow breeders electronically doctoring their test results and killing my rats I've stated my case but I want to hear from what standards and policies the rest of you desire to see from a breeders (and rescues)?
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