where can i surrender my rats in los angeles?

[katheeve]

i need to surrender my two rats. i have been trying to introduce them for the last week and haven't been able to get past the neutral area stage.
unfortunately my circumstances have changed and i can no longer offer my pets a proper home and care. i need to find somewhere where i can surrender my two rats before january 28th. i do not want to take them to a shelter. i want to make sure that someone else can adopt them and take care of them the way i know they deserve.
please, if you know of anywhere i can take my pets let me know. i havent had any luck.

 

[victoria]

I don't know of a rescue to suggest to you, but I would also try posting on Goose Moose as it is more US based than we are (we are mostly Canadian) and there may be more potential more potential homes on there.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

In the meantime, if you are able to explain what issues you are having with intros maybe we can help and get them living with each other.

 

[katheeve]

currently i am on my winter break from college and am back at home. while i was here i decided to get my rat a new cage mate because i know its not good for the rat to keep them solitary. unfortunately its been difficult introducing them. after a week, even neutral territory (the bath tub) isn't going 100% smoothly. i have to go back to school on jan 28th and once i'm there i wont have the time to work with both my rats as often as i am right now. i do two thirty minute sessions with them everyday, giving them treats and tying to break up any major fights with a spray bottle. it seems like the newer rat (who is also the younger and smaller one) wants to be alpha, but my older rat isn't having it. i would love for these two to get along and to bring them both up to school with me, but if i cant successfully introduce them in three weeks, i think giving them to someone who can give them more attention might be my only option. i am very attached to my older rat though, which makes this very hard.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

What are you considering major fights? And what behaviours are the exhibiting leading up to these fights (puffy fur, shoving her bum in the others face)?

 

[jorats]

Males? and how old is your older guy?

 

[Kolkri]

Have they drawn any blood? You shoud of heard mine last night you woudl of thought they were kiling each other but they were just having a good time. If they are not drawing blood don't see why you can't try letting them share. Do a super good cage cleaning and put them in the same cage.
Is that the only reason your not keeping them?
Sure hope you can find a good home for them.

 

[MomRat]

Our first intros took months. Partially because of neuter abscesses putting a break in the middle, but still. One week is barely time to tell anything. Take it slow! And yeah, anything short of blood is really just part of the process.

 

[katheeve]

i'm so relieved.
i decided i wouldnt give up my rats without a fight and worked with them all day. i cleaned their cage piece by piece and slowly added more of freidas usual play things to their neutral territory and as of now, they are cuddling up in a rat bed together
it's fair to say i overreacted. i was just very stressed and pessimistic, but now that everything has turned around, i'm so happy and excited to move back up to school with my babies and come home to them everyday
thank you for all the advice!

 

[MomRat]

That's wonderful! Congratulations! :joy: :dance: :joy: :dance: :joy:

 

[SQ]

:joy: :joy:
great news.
Hope you stick around

 

[mamarat]

That's fantastic!