No, I think it would be best for you not to know how they treat their fur babies. I could go on for hours about it but probably best not to leave it on the public internet. It upsets and angers me sometimes that my fiance gets to hear all about my rants on how they care for their animals. I absolutely understand what you mean, with the comparison of the care for a dog to a rat. /: I have never seen what I did was spoiling, after learning and researching proper care for my ratties. I just do what's best for them, I guess some people just see bare minimum as acceptable.
Maybe, I'm an art student so most people I interact with are artsy sort of people. Granted the rat owner friends are also artsy people but I guess it doesnt make them the best pet owners. Most of my friends, even the one who tell me insensitive jokes, are okay with the idea of owning rats. I just think it's a combination of how they were raised, generally I see people putting rodents, fish or birds lumped into a category as lower priority compared to a dog or a cat. (Maybe because they dont live as long, are seen as prey usually or are less expensive?) They will never truly understand the love that can come from a rat until they've experienced it themselves, but sometimes I fear they still wouldn't get it. I find kind and accepting doesn't always go hand in hand with responsible pet ownership. Especially with the younger crowd, no offence to my age group.
Aww, man, that is a bummer. I thought the 20 something crowd was a cooler, new generation of forward thinking people, but...dang. I am so sorry you have to be exposed to other people with rats that do not treat them very well.
Why have animals in the first place?? I guess it is that, "just pets" mentality, and that always kills me. Grrrrr. I will never understand how some people do not see their pets as living, breathing creatures with emotions and needs. I always think, "Fine, get a stuffed animal and throw it in a tank and call it your pet...just don't get a live animal, pleeeeze." You know what I mean? :sad2:
I am sorry you have to be around that kind of thinking. At least you can come to the Rat Shack to feel vindicated about your babies and be around others who feel the same way you do. I hope that is a comfort to you. :cheerful: