| So , you've decided to get a pet rat? You've done | | | | By avoiding breeders and pet shops you are not |
| your research and you know they make great pets. | | | | supporting the impulse buying they encourage. This |
| Where will you get them from? Most commonly | | | | impulse buying is why the ratties end up in the |
| people go to the local pet store, or try and find a | | | | rescue centers in the first place. You are also not |
| breeder, but have you thought about rescuing your | | | | supporting the notion of animals as commodities that |
| ratties from a rescue centre? | | | | can be bought and sold and discarded at will. |
| There are some rescue centers that specialize in | | | | Some people prefer to buy feeder rats, even if it is |
| rodents. They have abandoned rats, whose owners | | | | from a pet store. It is a hard decision to make. On |
| no longer want them, ex-lab rats and even rescued | | | | the one hand you want to save the rats from their |
| feeder rats (those normally used to feed pet | | | | inevitable fate, as live snake food, but on the other |
| snakes). By getting your pet rats from a rescue | | | | hand you don't want to support the pet shop. Follow |
| center you will be helping them by giving a small | | | | your heart and do what you think is right. I know |
| donation. You will also be freeing up space, so they | | | | how hard it is to walk past an animal like this, when |
| can take in more rescues. You will also be giving your | | | | all you want to do is help it. |
| new pets a second chance. | | | | If there is not a rodent rescue near you, check out |
| The animals that get a second chance after being | | | | your local RSPCA, or even the local paper's free to a |
| tested on in a lab are few and far between. If you | | | | good home section. |
| get a chance to re home one of these marvelous | | | | As a final note, make sure you get two rats. They |
| creatures, please do. You would be surprised how | | | | are very sociable animals and although they often |
| naturally confident a lot of rescue animals are, despite | | | | love people, they love to have another ratty to |
| their past treatment. | | | | snuggle with, tumble with and chatter too. |