Yes, I’m calling them puppies. My young crew, 12 months old now are such a sweet group of puppies. They come to me the minute they sense me near, they climb on me and give me kisses and cuddles.
The last time I had puppies (rats) with such tender and sweet characters was back in mid 2005. My Oshawa rescues were puppies. I often wondered if I would get that particular personality back in my colonies. The Oshawa crew: Felix, Dallas, Andy and Simon were wonderful… they loved belly kisses. I haven’t had a rat love my belly kisses in so long, until now. Sawyer, Desmond and Benjamin actually look forward to the belly kisses. They will climb on me, position themselves, wait for the scoop of the hand, flip and smooch smooch and smooch. I put them down only to have them come right back for more. 
Then I have Bronco, Fox and Pony my explorers, my hounds. Bronco is everywhere. He is not scared of anything and loves to explore new territory. He’ll run to me for a kiss and back on the grounds, climbing, jumping and leaping through the air without a care where he lands. It’s a sure good thing these 6 boys were here to help guide the Science North boys. I’m sure the SN boys would have been lost to a world of noise and movement if they had not taken their cue from the puppies. The SN boys are much happier, sweeter and softer because of the puppies. They do remain cautious but life is not darkness for them no more.
Here is Ben… dangling without a care in the world, not even asking when I’m done with him. Truly heart rats my puppies.
