Ratscallions

Lyns update today (Sunday): After a long day yesterday, and an escapee in our garage (well done Nim for the rugby tackle catching) all are photographed. It was great fun and I am amazed at how they are starting to like me and become attached to me (and me to them :-) Photos of all are here - Females http://picasaweb.goo...1178/Females02# Males http://picasaweb.goo...371178/Males02# Babies http://picasaweb.goo...BabyRats240410# All mums gave birth within hours of each other as well. Nim and I took bets that the husky one was first as she was ginormous, then the white one, then the ginger one and then the agouti. The agouti gave birth first, then the ginger one and then the white one (whilst I got showered and dressed) and then the husky. Agouti had 7, PEW 11, husky 15 and ginger I not 100% but it looks like 10 or so (she is not too keen at being disturbed). Husky mum is very very tired and I will not be surprised if she loses a couple as they are very very small and not fed yet. If anyone would like more information on the babies that are available please contact me. Am happy to place reservations for those seriously interested. [email protected] (My own update): I dragged my long-suffering husband down to Lyns yesterday with tales of barbecues and geek-speak. Little did he know that he was going to be lugging cages around all day hehehhee. On a single run it takes about an hour and a half to get from my place to Lyns (unless I accidentally speed). Lyn had bought a couple of large cages from people in my area though, so we had to pick these up before making way, and then stop at an absolutely fantastic bedding supplier in Sutton Coldfield to pick up some Ecobed for her. We were amazed that everything fitted in our little car (Citroen C3). Lyn now has enough cages; she has them stacked alongside her garage lol. They'll act as birthing cages should it arise that anymore females are pregnant later on. We took each cage in turn, emptying all rats into a play pen, cleaning the cage, then photographing and checking each rat as we replaced them back in their newly cleaned cage. They are absolutely amazing. When I saw the feeder rats on Monday they were all skittish, and terrified of noise let alone handling. The vast majority of them are now happy to be handled, and as you will see shortly, even behave for photographs. Yesterday was the first time I met the second group of ratties though. Some are still a bit nervous, but given a week with Lyn I'm pretty confident that they'll all make fantastic pets too. This is the group the definitely pregnant does came in, so it was the first time I saw them too. I was amazed. I've obviously seen pregnant does before, but man ... I have never seen a rat as pregnant as the blue roan at Lyns. She quite literally looked like she'd swallowed a tennis ball. I was convinced she was going to drop her sprogs there and then. I was wrong ... all but her had dropped them by lunch time today apparantly lol. She's done her bit now though. I think between the four does, there are 39 babies have been born since yesterday. When I saw the feeder rats on Monday, Lyn and I both thought that some of the older ones (nb about 8 or 9 weeks old) were pregnant. However, neither of us seem to think that any longer. It's possible that they had gorged themselves because they'd not had such good food before, or that they were pregnant and have now reabsorbed. (I've taken in rats that age that were pregnant before, so it's definitely not impossible lol). Soooo .. I *think* everyone who will need a home has now arrived. ----- Sample of pictures for anyone who doesn't have time to view the albums / needs their appetites whetting ;) That's me holding the rats .. please excuse the yellow stains on my t-shirt; I got widdles on rather a lot lol. Females: Males: And this is Alistair Darling: He is the size of a mouse; probably about three weeks old. He had already been removed from his mother last weekend when Lyn took him in. He has a large lump on the side of his face. When I first saw him I thought he had a dislocated jaw, but given that he's not stopped eating since he arrived that seems unlikely. We think it's an abscess, but also that he may have a slightly malformed jaw. His teeth, at the moment, don't meet; if when the abscess (if it is one) goes, they still don't meet, he's going to need a very special human that can frequently clip his teeth. This is provided he survives; he's teeney, and he has diarea. We're worried for him.

Some more pics. These pictures were sent to Lyn by the chap who surrendered Group2, before they went to her. It shows where they came from and what they were being kept in. As per my previous message the whole album for this lot is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/102147299750208371178/RattiesGroup1AndGroup2#

Todays update: Hello everyone, I have uploaded pics of everyone. http://picasaweb.google.com/102147299750208371178/RattiesGroup1AndGroup2# and http://picasaweb.google.com/102147299750208371178/BabyRats240410# I'd like to welcome Mr Alastair Darling who is my little fighter. He was about 3 weeks old when he came and the size of a garden mouse. He is called Mr Darling because he has eyebrows like his name sake and as much attitude. Mr Darling was as thin as a rake and I didn't think he'd make it as way way too young to have been away from mummy. But he is a fighter and has not stopped eating. Even though his teeth/mouth are so small he can't really bite into the rat nuggets he is determined to eat and live. He sits in the middle of the food bowl and just keeps on eating. He loves his lactol and kitten food and again eats for england...it is rare to find Mr Darling without some form of food in his mouth. I'll take a photo of him for you all later. Group 1 are doing very well. My lovely vet did a house visit yesterday to check them all and was pleased with them all. All the 3-4 week old ones in group 1 are thriving. Girls are no longer licking the bowl clean (they in the first 2 days ate as much as my adult group of 12 did in a week!) although I was 30 mins going to do morning rounds and the bowl was clean..... I was suitably told off by 24 chattering girls. The boys sit and wait patiently for the food bowl to be emptied. Group 2 are coming round. The guy they came from is a good guy who fell on very bad times and his rats ended up living in plastic storage boxes which has made a lot of them very shy. They are getting there though. The weaners are easy to work with and it will take a little bit more time to persuade the others life is ok. The ladies in waiting (pregnant ones) are HUGE and I don't think far off givng birth. I separated them last night into pairs whilst I wait for the hamster cages to come into me - I have 2 new ones coming today. Checking them today I am suspicious that another 3 of them are pregnant from Group 2. I found a girl yesterday in with the boys and she is round and so are two other girls. Ho hum! Nursing mummies are doing ok and babies are sooo cute. The topaz self bit me yesterday because I leant on the cage and it bled for an hour! Mental note not to do that again! Two of the litters have their eyes fully open now and are starting to explore the cage.... and both mums keep putting them back to bed. Adult boys are very skittish, so they will need taming a bit but today is get them out of the cage day into a playpen and see how they are with some freedom and toys. I don't think they have ever had that. In fact I don't think ANY of the rats in either of the groups have ever had that. So apologies for the appalling photos - they were how they arrived and I took photos in situ. I have helpers this weekend who will help me clean cages and take photos. Lyn (and zillions of ratties)

Ummm .. well in the US, the laws vary from state to state. I don't think any of them actually have a law that protect rats from being used as live food though. I've a lot of friends who 'rescue' rats from feeder bins in pet shops over there; but this obvioulsy just results in more being bred for the same use Woah. It's sad that pet stores are like that. I actually remember a pet store near my school when I was a child keeping puppies and kittens in very similar conditions (in the UK); you hardly ever see puppies and kittens in pet stores over here anymore. I think it's because the law now makes it very hard for pet stores to stock them; for example you're not allowed to keep puppies from different litters in the same pens. Baby rats are called kits or kittens. I call them babies hehehehe I think, in those pics, that the hairless ones are only hairless because they've not developed any fur yet lol; I could be wrong though as I've not checked the album yet today (she may have added some). Lyn was sounding very chipper this morning; she's got enquiries coming in, and help coming in, and she's loving seeing their progress

It's never a daft question if you don't know the answer Laurel lol. It's a silly answer, but .. rat food! lol. Wild rats, as you're probably aware, eat anything and everything. Rats are omnivores, so they pretty much eat the same as humans, which is why it's so easy for them to live where we live. The pet foods designed for rats contain a diet balanced for their specific needs (in theory). There are several brands of rat food, I personally use Pets@Home nuggets and Science Selective. Some people mix their own food for their rats. Then of course you can feed them part of what you eat as treats. Bedding, well, the biggest no no is wood shavings. They contain oils called phenols (which give pine it's unique scent); these have a corrosive effect on a rats respiratory tract which causes respiratory problems; often they don't show these problems til later in life though. There are a lot of other products you can use, though most of them aren't in pet shops. I have been using megazorb til recently, but it's a problem for one of my rats, so I use Ecobed at the moment. They then need stuff to nest with also; I use Safebed, but you can use shredded paper and other things. Most people give their rats hammocks though lol.

Erm .. I'm uncertain of how to edit the message like you did. But .. the rats I've known frozen alive were not that young; I have no doubt that they do it that young too. I never said a snake did not have a right to life. I did not know the pain and suffering part of the law, can you tell me where that is please as I'd find it useful for future reference (PM me please). Ah, you hadn't said that you still breed, or that they were mice, hence the question.

What we've all been waiting for ... piiiiiictures!!! These are pics of the babies that arrived from Stockport yesterday. The full album is here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/102147299750208371178/BabyRats240410?feat=email# And here are just a few of them:

Sarah, It was precisely because I knew it would cause an argument that I didn't describe what happens with feeder animals. Obviously you have more experience than me since you've done it yourself, but as a rescue I've dealt with it several times, and every time the people involved have not even bothered with the C02 chamber (nb, straight in the freezer). I have to disagree with you slightly .. if the animals were treated with the respect they deserve they wouldn't be fed as food to start with. Also, you're not quite right on the live feeding; the law only states that shops cannot sell any animal knowingly as live food. You're allowed to breed them yourself as live food, and you're allowed to buy whatever you want provided the shop owner doesn't know what you're going to do with it. As far as I'm concerned the whole rats as food thing sucks .. but I'm a little biased Piccies will be coming in a bit Why would a rescue not rehome to someone who has mice? (Confused). Nim p.s I meant any vertebrate, not animal. Todays update: Update time:- Group 1 (feeders) are doing so well and growing nicely. The girls now starfish at me and quite a few of them seem really pleased to see me when I come in now. Judging by the amount of food they have eaten since Sunday I think their little tummies are very full now. Their food bowl this morning still had food in it, which is a first. Normally it is licked clean. The boys are also doing very well and a few of them are definite squishes in the making. Now they are settling I will attempt to do a photo shoot when I have some help passing two and fro. Group 2 (Stockport). These are lovely kits. Girls have been a bit skittish and one in particular is a screamer but hasn't bitten me. She will be better once I keep hassling her to be friendly. There are four mums about to give birth any day now so need to get more birthing cages. The three nursing mums have got lovely babies (see here http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/102147299750208371178/BabyRats240410?feat=email#) and I am already getting reservations for them. I'm not sure what sexes yet so will take another look later. There are four boys who aged 6-18 months who are skittish but I think they will be fine once they come out to play. I doubt they have ever had that luxury. He is a lovely breeder who owned them but his personal circumstances have meant they have not had his usual attention hence some are shy but nice natured. The baby boys from this lot are lovely and friendly. If anyone can donate any birthing cages and would like to donate food or bedding it would be very much appreciated. Any adoption enquires please through myself or Nim.

Well, if you see anything like that again it may be useful to know where the law stands on it. I don't remember which act it is offhand, but could look it up if anyone wishes to know. Shops are not allowed to sell vertebrates (animals with a spine) as live food. That means no rats, rabbits, etc, but they are allowed to sell locusts, brickets, mealworms etc. They are allowed to sell frozen though, or breed their own

Hi Laura, You know .. I didn't know until I bought some rats from one by accident a few years ago. Put it this way; some breeds of snake eat rats. Those rats have to come from somewhere. I could go into details about how they're kept and what they do with them, but I have a suspicion it'd be inappropriate for the forum. It's sad, put it that way The people giving up animals to rescues rarely seem to feel bad. I had a delightful couple surrender their daughters rat to me last year; she was in hospital undergoing long term treatment and they felt it unfair to keep the rat without her there to love him. They are the only people I've felt were doing it for the right reasons .. and the only people to surrender and donate at the same time lol. I've an update from Lyn that I'll post in a mo. Nim Update from Lyn this morning: Just had a text to say stockport ones were collected at 630am so are on their way here. Cages all have bedding in and bottles filled. Have ordered some clips for the hammocks so they should be here tomorrow. Have decided to call them Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 are the feeders and group 2 the stockport ones, lol. Group 1 are all doing well. Alastair was doing what he is always doing this morning, lol. He never stops eating, lol. His eye is looking better. Pippa's eye was closed this morning but I think it was sticky because of the tyacil. It is also looking better. Girls no longer are hiding away and are in hammock and sputnik as well as the igloo. I took out the plastic bowl and put in a ceramic bowl so they can't hide. They told me off this morning because their food bowl was empty... so empty they had to lick it clean. They even eat the alfa pellets! Boys on the other hand are watching their waistlines.

Oops .. apparantly it's 39 coming from Stockport, not 9 .... OMG!!!!! :-o

I've spent the last few days helping lady, Lyn, in Northamptonshire who runs a small rescue. She's in a very difficult situation. Firstly, she was contacted last week by someone in Stockport wanting to surrender 9 (I think) rats to her. 9 seems like quite a few at one time, but she agreed, since she had the space at the time. She's arranged for a courier to bring them down this Wednesday coming. [Lyn, if you're on here, feel free to jump in and correct me anywhere I get it wrong]. Subsequently she was contacted by a feeder breeder near her who has decided to stop breeding. I know many of us have been through the feeder breeder thing, and it really is an argument with yourself whether you help or whether you don't. From what I understand this guys wife has had a baby, and the expense and responsibility has come as somewhat of a shock to him; he's selling everything, including the racks etc. Hopefully that means he won't ever start again. He told Lyn that he had 75 rats needing somewhere, so she told him to bring them over. He turned up with about 100 rats all in one of those tiny racks, crammed up together. She couldn't take them all; it was just undoable. So she took the ones she knew wouldn't survive without help; babies who were away from their mothers already but only a few weeks of age. 39 of them. I've run a couple of my spare cages down there for her to use for the moment, but it's not enough really. I picked up some Ecobed on the way and donated her some hammocks, water bottles, food bowls etc, but it's still going to cost her an absolute fortune. We talked about it, and we decided that we would try and take the rest from him .. we knew he had the rest that he'd taken to her and she'd turned away, plus he'd told her that he had 15 pregnant does at home still. But sadly he's already dealt with the rest of them. We can only speculate over what that actually means. It's such a nightmare. What are rescues supposed to do in situations like this? If we do take rats from these people we're sentencing ourselves to weeks / months of stress, and inevitable financial torture, plus they so often go back to breeding anyway. But if we don't take the rats from them we know they're all going to die I feel so bad for her that she had to turn the others away .. and obviously so does she. She said she felt like the Grim Reaper. Anyway. I don't have pictures of them yet; I forgot to take pics while I was there yesterday. But they are GORGEOUS. A lot of the boys are dumbos, most of the girls are top eared oddly. There are roans in there, variegateds, siamese, and a lot of blazes. Sorry I can't remember them better lol. They vary in age from about two or three weeks to six weeks I'd guess. The smallest little boy has a strange lump on his face; it looks like his jaw is dislocated but he's eating for england so I don't think it is, but there again it's not squishy, but could still be an abscess. Poor tiny fella. There's a girl with an eye problem too; her eyeball may be smaller than usual or something. When they arrived with Lyn they were all screachy and terrified of people; the guy had been picking them up by their tails. They were better at being handled yesterday, and she told me that they're even better today. I think they'll make fab pets when they do find homes. Sooo .. provided I remember, I'll update you on how they're doing as they go

Ronnie: The first day he did test bite abit but now as soon as the cage door is open he is first to climb straight out onto my knee and would quite happily stay out all day as long as he is being cuddled and it is actually quite difficult to get him back in the cage lol. He's adorable. Reggie: Reggie is Ronnie's brother. Is test biting a little, but will hopefully have stopped by the time he's homed. He is quite timid at the moment, he will climb out of the cage after a while though and seems fine when he is out, loves exploring. Charlie: Charlie is Ronnie and Reggie's other brother. He is still test biting when in the cage but fine when out of the cage though he does squeak when you pick him up. He will climb out the cage then run back in so to get him out you need to pick him up. He is fine when he is out though but very jumpy. He has a few old fight wounds on him that are healing well. Nibbles: Nibbles seems to be very skittish but is ever so lovely. He test bites sometimes but he really likes cuddles, he's a dumbo boy and climbs out the cage himself no problem but abit jumpy at sudden movements. Si: Si is Nibbles' brother. He is extremely shy. He wont come out by himself for a very long time, he is very nervous and jumpy when held but enjoys being talked to. He needs alot of handling to get used to it.

Contact Details: H&NPaws [email protected] Does the animal have rescue back up?: Yes Location: Southend Number of groups: 1 Number of animals: 5 Type/Breed: Rats Sex: Male Age(s): Approx 8 months Name(s): Unknown Colours: Unknown Neutered: No. Reason for rehoming: One of them bit Nats son through the cage bars. He's a toddler, and despite the injury keeps returning to the cage, which is scaring her as she doesn't want it to happen again. Temperament: Tame; love cuddles and coming out to play. Medical issues: None known. Will the group be split (if more than one animal): Preferably not. Transport available? Unknown (I'll check) Hopefully pictures to come.

Contact/organisation details: PM Ratscallions / [email protected] Does the animal have rescue back up?: Yes Location: Staffordshire Number of groups: 1 Group: 1 Number of animals: 2 Type/Breed/Variety: Rat Sex: Male Age(s): Approx 1 year Name(s): Harlan and Uncle Arthur Colours: Chocolate Self Dumbo, Chocolate Berkshire Neutered: Harlan yes. UA no. Reason for rehoming: Previous owner passed away. Temperament: Friendly, sweet, playful. Medical problems: None known. Will the group be split: No. Transport available: May be arranged Other: The two of them were in a terrible emaciated state when they arrived. They had been mistreated, starved, and dehydrated. They have been at the rescue for two months. Harlan was castrated due to hormonal issues. No pyschological, or further medical issues have become apparant, but I would want their new owner to be mindful of their past. Mini Clip of Harlan and Uncle Arthur Harlan: Uncle Arthur:

Congrats to all these girls .. they went to their fantastic new home yesterday.

Reserved, pending collection. Reserved, pending collection.

Meet Loopsie, Oosha and Maybeline: Meet Loulou and Hesta:

Contact/organisation details: PM Ratscallions / email [email protected] Does the animal have rescue back up?: Yes Location: Nr Lichfield, Staffordshire Number of groups: 2 Group: 1 Number of animals: 3 Type/Breed/Variety: Rats Sex: 3 x female Age(s): 2 x approx 6 months. 1 x approx 12 months Name(s): Loopsie, Oosha and Maybeline Colours: 1 x himilayan. 1 x himalayan dumbo. 1 x chocolate self / berkshire dumbo Neutered: No Reason for rehoming: Previous owner passed away. Temperament: Friendly Medical problems: No Will the group be split: No Transport available: May be arranged. Other: All three girls were completely emaciated when they arrived at the rescue. They are now virging on the podgy side. Despite their sorry history they have all been happy to be handled and play with people, from the moment they arrived. Maybeline had a nasty wound on her tail when she arrived; there is a slight scar there now, but it is clearing up nicely. Maybeline is outgoing and wants to explore everyone, everything, and everywhere. Loopsie, is curious and interested in her surroundings, but wants the security of her human nearby. Oosha is nervous and prefers to stay on your lap or under a cushion, where she feels safe. These three girls will not be seperated. Group: 2 Number of animals: 2 Type/Breed/Variety: Rats Sex: 2 x female Age(s): Approx 1 year Name(s): Loulou and Hesta Colours: 1 x black hooded. 1 x siamese Neutered: No Reason for rehoming: Surrendered to pet shop. Temperament: Friendly. Medical problems: No Will the group be split: No Transport available: May be arranged. Other: Loulou and Hesta were surrendered to a pet shop in the week approaching Christmas by the mother of their owner who didn't like the way they smelt. They had been kept in an unheated garage for several months, and were not fed for four days before being surrendered. As a result they were a mess, and Hesta was very underweight. They are both slightly podgy now, and their fur is starting to shine again. Loulou is an outgoing friendly rat, who wants to explore and play. Hesta is very nervous of coming out of her cage. These two will not be seperated. They will go to a home with someone who has the time to bring Hesta out of her shell, or who will love her despite her remaining nervous.

Thank you for your reply Rykat. And thank you for that link; that will be very useful for future reference. But no, there are no rabbit rescues in the area. There was one in Lichfield, but she's closed down; otherwise I'd have just taken them straight there. I do not have the cage space for rabbits; I am a rat rescue, and have had to turn away rats recently because I'm full. We don't have any space for dog crates either I do know what to look for in homechecks .. since I do them myself obviously lol, but thank you for the offer. There is an RSPCA near here, but I would never take animals from a pet shop, on the whim of hoping the RSPCA would take them. They wouldn't take them! The pet shop in question is worse than useless. They keep their rats on dirty wood shavings, and seperate them all into seperate containers; it doesn't matter how many times I tell them or what literature I give them, they still do it. So, I can only imagine what they get wrong with the rabbits. The darker of the two bunnies they said is definitely female; the lighter one they weren't sure. I think it was female. I have found someone to take them. A rescue in northamptonshire; so I'm going to pick them up and run them down there ... hopefully the shop won't have given them to someone unsuitable in the meantime. Fingers crossed. Thank you for your reply, and your help. It's very much appreciated Nim

I hope this is the right place to post this. I am a rescue, but I am not a rabbit rescue, cannot offer rescue backup for these, and they are not here. So basically I'm hoping that someone rabbity can help. I went into a pet shop in Rugeley today. This one: http://www.yell.com/b/The+Pet+Shop-Pet+Shops-Rugeley-WS152BY-1457841/index.html They have two rabbits in there, in seperate enclosure / cage things, that both are labelled as free to good homes. I want to get them to a responsible rabbit loving home before some random person walks in and sees the word 'free' and then neglects the poor critters for the rest of their lives. The shop is about ten minutes from me. So if anyone can help, but can't get there asap, I could go and pick up one bunny; only one at a time coz of cage space though This one they said is definitely female: Pic of first bunny They don't know what gender this one is, but I would guess at female from the dewlap: Pic of second bunny Thank you for looking, Nim

Long story short .. these girls no longer need a home so this thread can be closed.

Contact/organisation details: Ratscallions Does the animal have rescue back up?: Yes Location: Nottinghamshire NG5 Number of groups: 1 Group:1 Number of animals: 3 Type/Breed/Variety: Rat Sex: Does Age(s): 2 x 1 year & 1 x 6 months Name(s): Skittles, Aero, & Rolo Colours: Black hooded, Mink capped, Agouti hooded rex dumbo Neutered: No Reason for rehoming: Allergies Temperament: All very friendly Medical problems: None known Will the group be split: No Transport available: Can be arranged yes Other: Their cage is available to go with them

Contact/organisation details: PM Ratscallions or email [email protected] Does the animal have rescue back up?: Yes Location: Staffordshire, but transport can be arranged Number of groups:1 Group:1 Number of animals:1 Type/Breed/Variety: Rat Sex: Male Age(s): Approximately 4 months Name(s): Henry Colours: Roan Neutered: N/A Reason for rehoming: Missexed by pet store Medicalproblems: None known, though his mate who is probably his sister has noeyes; so he may also have unseen congenital issues Will the group be split: N/A Transport available: Can be arranged Other:He was given up because he'd been bought as a 'female' but fairlyobviously isn't, and his mate was pregnant. He is now alone. I wasplanning to match him with one of his sons when they're old enough, butthat will be in five weeks time, and he is desperate for company NOW.He adores people. He likes to groom you; he nibbles when doing so, soif you're nervous of teeth he may not be the rat for you, though Iemphasize he does NOT bite. He is very playful; it takes me betweenhalf an hour and an hour, twice a day to wear him out. I'mlooking for someone who has a small group of boys they can integratehim with; someone who is used to and confident in introducing rats toeach other. Preferably someone who gives their rats a lot of time too.