SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
Are you are looking for good homes for pet rats?
There are a few things you may want to consider, especially if you place ads on kijiji or craigslist.
1. Screen very carefully or they will likely end up as live snake food, breeders, neglected, dumped outdoors. or worse.
* Let potential adopters know there will be an application process
* Check references including a vet reference
* Ask questions about care
* Make a home visit as part of the adoption process
* Require updates, pictures, and visits after adoption
* Have potential adopters join your facebook page (to see the babies grow) so that you can see their facebook page and their friends
* Use a nonbreeding contract specifying good care, vet care, home visits, and containing a return clause in case the contract is not adhered to or the person no longer wants the rats
* Deliver the rats to their new home
2. Unless you are rehoming a single rat, make sure to only adopt out same sex pairs or groups.
3. Adopt out to homes having no more then one intact gender of rats in the household. Having two intact genders in the same household is an accident waiting to happen as rats are smart & very motivated, and people are not perfect. Many intact male rats are extremely stressed by having intact females in the same household and may become aggressive.
(Note, a few people have been able to successfully manage this type of situation.)
4. Ask a fee as this may deter snake owners. Asking a fee/pair is recommended.
5. You may want to include an adoption package with the fee.
Items might include: lab blocks, a handout on care, litter box, chew toys, a house, and/or a copy of The Rat Health Care book (book section at http://www.ratfanclub.org, but cross out the section on home euthanasia as it is inhumane)
6. You will want to make sure pets are not being given as Christmas presents, Easter presents, etc.
SPCA websites explain why this is a very bad idea.
7. Follow your intuition. If something doesn't feel right, it is a huge red flag,
Do not ignore it. Do not adopt, no matter how good the facts seem.
8. Give adopters links to internet resources, including this forum (LOL)
9. Make follow up visits after the adoption.
10. Keep in contact several times a year over the life span of the lives of the rats.
This will allow you to know how things are going, and you will be able to offer assistance if any is needed.
It also allows you to track the health of litters so other adopters can be aware of any potential health issues.
There are a few things you may want to consider, especially if you place ads on kijiji or craigslist.
1. Screen very carefully or they will likely end up as live snake food, breeders, neglected, dumped outdoors. or worse.
* Let potential adopters know there will be an application process
* Check references including a vet reference
* Ask questions about care
* Make a home visit as part of the adoption process
* Require updates, pictures, and visits after adoption
* Have potential adopters join your facebook page (to see the babies grow) so that you can see their facebook page and their friends
* Use a nonbreeding contract specifying good care, vet care, home visits, and containing a return clause in case the contract is not adhered to or the person no longer wants the rats
* Deliver the rats to their new home
2. Unless you are rehoming a single rat, make sure to only adopt out same sex pairs or groups.
3. Adopt out to homes having no more then one intact gender of rats in the household. Having two intact genders in the same household is an accident waiting to happen as rats are smart & very motivated, and people are not perfect. Many intact male rats are extremely stressed by having intact females in the same household and may become aggressive.
(Note, a few people have been able to successfully manage this type of situation.)
4. Ask a fee as this may deter snake owners. Asking a fee/pair is recommended.
5. You may want to include an adoption package with the fee.
Items might include: lab blocks, a handout on care, litter box, chew toys, a house, and/or a copy of The Rat Health Care book (book section at http://www.ratfanclub.org, but cross out the section on home euthanasia as it is inhumane)
6. You will want to make sure pets are not being given as Christmas presents, Easter presents, etc.
SPCA websites explain why this is a very bad idea.
7. Follow your intuition. If something doesn't feel right, it is a huge red flag,
Do not ignore it. Do not adopt, no matter how good the facts seem.
8. Give adopters links to internet resources, including this forum (LOL)
9. Make follow up visits after the adoption.
10. Keep in contact several times a year over the life span of the lives of the rats.
This will allow you to know how things are going, and you will be able to offer assistance if any is needed.
It also allows you to track the health of litters so other adopters can be aware of any potential health issues.
I've been going over all these things with my kids since we've had our two surprise litters. This is valuable life lesson information for kids when being responsible pet owners. You should post it on NB kjiji (If you don't already) since so many people post and have no clue about any of this information.
