scared of future rats biting/scratching me

SQ said:

Btw, Rat-bite -fever, and Seoul virus are not the major concerns regarding pet rats, unless you are a breeder churning out litters. There is, however, a list of things used to judge if a breeder is ethical or unethical. The breeder TiffanyKei mentioned was BANNED from this forum and to my knowledge, Emergent Rattery is considered an unethical backyard breeder. TiffanyKei please stop mentioning and promoting her and her rattery.

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As your knowledge hasn't particularly impressed me so far SQ, I wouldn't trust your lists of things and therefore have to go with my vet' assessment over yours, seeing as he has an actual real education. Not to mention he has been to "that breeders"/ that rescue's home, treated their animals, and has the higher intellect to decide whether they are ethical or unethical (no offense) .

While I was not surprised to hear from my vet that amateur Rescues are the worst for testing and quarantine inadequacy, and subsequent disease outbreaks (fyi Sendai and SDA --sorry OP I know your post was about zoonotic diseases), I am surprised to learn such organizations and their supporters would see others as the "backyard rescue" and not themselves? You can't slander someone because you don't like them. Or from the repeating theme of unsolicited private messages, more likely because they don't like you.

Is this in Toronto? Which vet is so knowledgeable about rats there? I heard the best one moved away. Also, vets do not learn about rats specifically in vet school. They learn exotics through years of seminars and workshops. And I can tell you with certainty that an experienced rat owner can definitely know more than a vet who sees rats occasionally.
As for this breeder, there has been some distressing and unfavourable experiences with her from the rat rescue group dating back several years.

jorats said:

Is this in Toronto? Which vet is so knowledgeable about rats there? I heard the best one moved away. Also, vets do not learn about rats specifically in vet school. They learn exotics through years of seminars and workshops. And I can tell you with certainty that an experienced rat owner can definitely know more than a vet who sees rats occasionally.

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No he is not in the city but close enough, and I already mentioned endorsed by your own forum. I also know where my vet learned about rats, and a lot more that you don't know. I was actually bursting to share, but the problem is for some reason I get shot down every time I mention him, by certain people think they know everything, and stubbornly resolute in their ignorance. I was expecting more academic discussions of rats, not a disdain of education. When you suggest our DVM might be unqualified because he thinks well of Emergent both academically and personally, not to mention I'm a doctorate student, that's kind of disturbing that you don't consider us qualified to make up our own minds .

jorats said:

As for this breeder, there has been some distressing and unfavourable experiences with her from the rat rescue group dating back several years.

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Experiences so distressing and historical that there's no traces of it anywhere? Not a video, a screenshots, an e-mail? That's a little hard to believe. Surely not more distressing and unfavorable than all the pm's I got citing vague rumors, to trollish insinuations, to straight up nonsense like "there used to be evidence ...but Emergent is so sneaky she deleted it." To add not one of them I asked had even met Emergent, it's not rocket science to see where something stinks. My boyfriend is on at least 2 pop forums where she posts and people have actually met her. Emergent is very heartfelt outspoken, the type of person that pop forums love to hate. And we all know how forum-ers hold a grudge when offended.

First of all, maybe you should stop assuming and read my posts. No where do I state that your vet whoever he is since you won't share his name is not a good vet because he likes Charlie.
Second of all, the people involved in what happened several years ago are not all active in rat rescue anymore. Second, I have met her myself, in person. I have chatted with her a lot throughout the years so please get off your high horse.
Follow the rules or leave. It's really up to you.

I suggest finding out if there is a rat specific rescue anywhere near you. In my experience regular animal shelters that take mainly dogs and cats don't always have enough experience or knowledge in the area of rats/ rodents as far as adopting to the right person and especially helping to fix unwanted behaviors. In contrast, rat specific rescues generally have rat foster people who can socialize the rats and learn their personality, and therefore help select the right rat for the adopter so you don't end up with one you can't handle. They can also usually provide support when a behavior or health issue does arise because their fosters are experienced rat people, unlike the shelter where they are mainly experienced with dogs and cats.

And I know it's been mentioned so I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, but as someone who purchased rats from a pet store and had an awful experience, I would definitely suggest not making that mistake I did. At least if you go through a rat rescue, the rats will provably have originally been from a pet store, but they will have been socialized with the foster and they can teach you how to continue socializing properly, versus you getting them from the pet store you will be ending up with rats that have probably never been properly handled and could be very timid/skittish and impossible to handle like mine were.