God help me where do I even start....

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We food-colored their foreheads so I could be sure to tell them apart (and I'm debating a funky spelling for "stock", any ideas? I liked the odd spellings for the other two), but I'm getting pretty good at identifying them mostly on-sight. Locke is more independent and energetic than the other two; I think Stock is slightly bigger than the others and Beryl is definitely the sweetest and softest. He's kind of *fluffy*, his fur seems longer than normal. Stock and Beryl are always attached at the hip.

It'll be fun when intro-time runs around to see how they fare with my own tilty Wesley.
 
Most of the rats are going to be euthanized with carbon dioxide.
As we know from the information provided by Jorats, this method is inhumane. viewtopic.php?f=26&t=18828
Perhaps one of the people dealing with this shelter can let them know how to humanely euthanize rats since we know many will be euthanized.
 
Unfortunately, it's still recognized as a proper form of euthanasia for all shelters and even labs. I doubt very much they will listen or even care.
 
And I seriously doubt they have the funding and staffing to get lethal injections manually administered to that many rats, much less the ability to isofluorine gas them first. Given the circumstances, CO2 is probably the best we can expect.

From the last I've heard, the rats coming in on Monday aren't being immediately destroyed but instead are being given "first come, first serve" to anyone who comes along for them, and won't hold for a rescue. I tossed out an email to the local no-kill and am currently sending to a few other nearby any-type-of-animal-at-all-rescue that might have space to foster if I can get cages and food donated.
 
Well, about half of the 20-something emails I sent out to various rescues came back undeliverable, so I'll have to do some research to find working email addresses. But that'll have to wait for the morning, as I am exhausted and sore and don't quite trust my percoset-addled brain to send anymore mails.

So on that note, Beryl bids you all good evening. It's a miracle that I could even wrangle such an enormous, vicious beast....

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I am so sick after reading the newest posts and news stories! This is absurd, I just hope you are to save as many as possible!!! Honestly, I don't know what else to say except some people suck big time!

On a happier note, maybe you could spell Stock, Stoch? Just an idea? And thank goodness for people like you being in the right place at the right time or this could have been much worse!!!
 
Just spoke with Lynn up in Rio Rancho (my dedicated driver who delivered the 8 up north) and she's found foster homes for at least 20 and said as many as we can fit into carriers & into her sedan, she'll find temporary housing for until Travis can take them. So now all I need is someone to pick up the rats on Monday and drive them halfway; I'd do it myself but I'm not allowed to drive yet and my house-watchers are none-too-keen on it. But I'll send out some messages to all of the local people that had contacted me saying they want to help but can't take any in, and see what I can do.

Just when things start to look bleak, they pop right up in the realm of possibility again.
 
Murphy's Law - Fenshae had surgery and is basically bed ridden... and now Lynn broke her ankle when she went for a hike to de-stress from this crazy rescue. Travis who is so so willing to help out is stuck in L.A.

We've been trying to convince the shelter to hold on to "our rats" (60) for a week until Travis can go and get them either next Friday or Saturday. We've offered donations.... So far they are not budging and it's still first come, first serve.... All we need is a week and 60 of them would get a second chance.... It breaks your heart.
 
Got a call a little while ago from someone inquiring as to a Craigslist ad I had begging for someone who could transport rats to Albq/Los Alamos; I've passed along his information to the folks up north as I don't know exactly where he'd need to drop them off or anything, hopefully they get it in time to call him first thing in the AM. I was kind of baffled by the call beause I was half-asleep when I got it and I tend to be very skeptical when people call with solutions to my problem (trust me, I kinda thought Travis was a myth until he sent me photos of his rats and his airplane!) but hoping against hope this guy is legit and he can pull these rats out for us.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed guys, we're not out of this yet....

but I seriously need to take a painkiller and get some sleep. I didn't get my mid-day nap today and ho-damn am I sure paying for it now. You should see the lovely bruises I've developed around all my incisions!
 
Your doing such a wonderful job.
Me & my ratties are keeping our fingers and toes crossed!
Make sure you take time to rest as well :hugs:
 
Well, we're currently in a holding pattern waiting to see if the city brings in anymore rats. Still trying to line up transport and everything, just in case more become available.

Here at the homestead, the boys are doing OK, although they've started scrapping a bit. Their favorite hammock can only hold two rats, and they're always fighting over which two get to be in there. Never mind that there's three other hammies they could be using, they all want to be in THAT one. Beryl just got a little cut on his tail, so he's chilling in his carrier with some blankets, food and water so I can keep an eye on him just in case. The bleeding's stopped, I just feel bad for him.

Gonna have to confiscate that damn hammock now....
 
No news so far from the shelter; I think LMR is going to call the city and see if we can get a definitive answer: Are you trapping more rats or not? so we can go from there. On the bright side, IF there are more rats to be had, I got an email earlier from a local rat-lover who would be willing to foster a large group of rats until we can get them out, which was a major missing puzzle piece -- we didn't have any fosters here in town before, makes it a LOT easier if someone rat-oriented can go to the shelter (since I currently can't) and pick up rats and such.

But of course the whole thing is in vain if the rats aren't even there.

Apparently I was on the news again last night, although I can't seem to find it online anywhere. I guess the shelter is trying to defend their choice of releasing so many rats to snake and raptor rescues and were clarifying that those groups do *not* live-feed. Whether or not they've been releasing to PRIVATE PEOPLE as live feeders is a separate issue though. But I digress. I wish I could find the footage online though, I'm rather enjoying seeing myself cuddling these vicious monsters.

Speaking of vicious monsters. *sigh* Beryl's tail-cuts sealed up nicely, and I removed the offending hammock and replaced it with a larger one so every hammie can hold all three rats. But I noticed last night that Locke is favoring one paw a little and has a little scab around his knee area. He's the most skittish of the trio and wouldn't let me give it a very thorough look, but from what I could tell it doesn't appear to be swollen or oozing or obviously infected. Concerns me a little though so I'll have to keep an eye on him. Don't want to stress them out anymore with a vet visit unless they really, really need one. Which reminds me though that I should give Dr. Cook a call about the whole situation....hm.
 

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