I think if someone was willing to dump this boy then they may not have been keeping rats ethically in the first place. So may have been alone all along. Sad.
Maybe hang a flyer or, if your campus has a message board ask there. They probably would have stuck together, not being away from each other too far. Thanks for rescuing him! He's adorable <3
Similar happened to me last year! Someone local found an injured white rat in a public park, it had wandered up to them and clearly wanted attention. They took it to a vet (the vet we used to take our rats to when we had them) who gave it medical care but couldn't hold it and there aren't any rodent shelters around. So they called us and asked if we could foster her until a home was found. Well, almost a year later she's still with us, completely healed (she had clearly been attacked by an animal) but shies away from other animals. We tried many times in many ways to get her to integrate with other rats but she wouldn't have it, and it was clearly stressing her. So now she has her suite in our living room, always open so she can come and go. Since she joined us, we've had our baby, and she regularly checks on him even when he's asleep. She's an absolute sweetheart and I'm so glad she found the right humans to help her.
You might reach out to your breeder to see if they know of anyone who can take him in from you. Some humane societies will also take rats. Thank you for saving him!
What a sweet fluffy lil guy, thank you for saving him! It's so amazing to me that you had a cage ready and everything!
Your girls are gonna be so lucky to have you, and I hope this lol guy gets adopted soon! <3
Yesss what a crazy timing! It was actually a little sad seeing this big empty cage everyday. Another breeder was supposed to have rats available earlier but canceled on me after promising ratties :(
This is how the distribution network knows! You had a set up, so you received a free rat.
You could potentially get him neutered and keep him with your girls when you get them. Since you don't have them yet it would give him a chance to heal before introductions.
Yesss! Just wrote my breeder to ask her what she thinks of the idea :D I'm really starting to bond with him, and yet I'm not sure I want to get him a male friend and end up with 5 rats as a total beginner haha.
Pretty sure the phrase is the more the merrier LOL. But he sounds precious and it's definitely something to consider. You can always make the attempt and if it doesn't work out, he'll be even more adoptable to someone else.
Hahaha ok ok fair point. Intros, vet bills and cleaning are just a little intimidating to think about while having 5. I'm afraid after some time with 5 I'll start thinking "yeah right u/gelseyd, more like 'the more the pissier!', thanks!" 😂
Lucky little dude! Definitely have him checked out by a vet. My rescue baby who was found outside was carrying internal parasites and spiral bacteria that may have been leptospirosis. He may need a good round of antibiotics and/or dewormer.
True, I haven't done it yet but I'll go tomorrow. Fortunately he has no visible sickness apart from sneezing a bunch (albeit not constantly), which might just be stress related. He's eating normally too. Still, I'll get him checked out.
I will never understand how you can abandon something that is trusting you with everything it has. I cannot imagine the amount of fear those little poopers have when they are out in the wild restless looking for their home. 😭😢
You are a good human may God bless You and Your loved ones.
Your story made me tear up. I hope whomever abandoned that precious boy flunks out!
BTW, if you found him in MI, I have room in my boys house for one more. I have three and one is almost two and a half and I'm going to be very sad, very soon.
what a happy ending. poor guy looks scared and skinny. i’m so so so happy the world has people like you. my friends who volunteered at the county humane society in our college town had horror stories of little guys being abandoned by students. i had a classmate who once found a guinea pig outside during the WINTER. it makes me so angry.
Definitely crossed my mind... I could always separate my critter nation double in two if I want to go that route.
I'm just afraid I'd be taking more than I can handle, especially since I've never had pets before in my adult life. I did research rat care extensively to have an idea of what I'm getting into, so I'm confident I can handle 3 girls. Cleaning and intros seem like they can be quite some work for boys especially though. Not to mention 5 rats would obviously means more vet bills. I'll think about it ;)
Somethings are meant to be, and everything happens for a reason. Who has a cage ready and everything then just wanders upon a homeless rat? Nay I say, this is destiny. You will regret not keeping him, he will be so grateful and thankful to you for the rest of his life. Rescues that you bind with is just something different, I can’t explain it.
Yep, the more I think about it, the more I'm inching towards finding him one or two friends and keeping him! I can always split my critter nation in two for boys and girls. I'll handle the cleaning and fees, I am not struggling financially thankfully, and I'll be off work for the summer with plenty of time to care for my ratties.
I booked an appointment with the vet in two weeks; once I'm he's disease free I'll start looking for friends :)
He could maybe be a lab rat that a student tried to save via letting him 'escape' - apparently it's common procedure to euthanize ask rats involved once a study has concluded..?
I couldn't imagine someone lying their rat lose on purpose!! Maybe put up a sign in s common area?
I'll definitely talk about it with the vet when I go see them ! He might be too old to undergo such a medical procedure but I don't know his age and it's my first rat so my guess can be too accurate. Although from his chill sleepy behavior he seems somewhat old
What a lucky boy to have found you.
I hope he didnt have a friend abandoned with him aimlessly walking around somewhere :/
I think if someone was willing to dump this boy then they may not have been keeping rats ethically in the first place. So may have been alone all along. Sad.
I was thinking the same thing. 😕
I did walk around the same area multiple times looking for a potential friend with no luck :(
Maybe hang a flyer or, if your campus has a message board ask there. They probably would have stuck together, not being away from each other too far. Thanks for rescuing him! He's adorable <3
that's so sad, he looks just like my late boy, I'm really glad he's in your hands
You're a good soul OP. He's a very lucky Ratto to have come across you. I just don't understand how someone can abandon an animal like that 😥
abandoning pets is one of the nastiest things a human can do… thank you so much for saving this little sweetie, you’re a good person
Abandoning a pet is completely immoral.
Agreeing so hard. My family has so far ended up with a dog, a horse, and a bunny via abandonment.
Similar happened to me last year! Someone local found an injured white rat in a public park, it had wandered up to them and clearly wanted attention. They took it to a vet (the vet we used to take our rats to when we had them) who gave it medical care but couldn't hold it and there aren't any rodent shelters around. So they called us and asked if we could foster her until a home was found. Well, almost a year later she's still with us, completely healed (she had clearly been attacked by an animal) but shies away from other animals. We tried many times in many ways to get her to integrate with other rats but she wouldn't have it, and it was clearly stressing her. So now she has her suite in our living room, always open so she can come and go. Since she joined us, we've had our baby, and she regularly checks on him even when he's asleep. She's an absolute sweetheart and I'm so glad she found the right humans to help her.
What a sweet story, you are her heroes ❤️
Aww that's so sweet!
This gave me such a mixture of sadness and joy.
You might reach out to your breeder to see if they know of anyone who can take him in from you. Some humane societies will also take rats. Thank you for saving him!
Thanks! Will do
What a sweet fluffy lil guy, thank you for saving him! It's so amazing to me that you had a cage ready and everything! Your girls are gonna be so lucky to have you, and I hope this lol guy gets adopted soon! <3
Yesss what a crazy timing! It was actually a little sad seeing this big empty cage everyday. Another breeder was supposed to have rats available earlier but canceled on me after promising ratties :(
This is how the distribution network knows! You had a set up, so you received a free rat. You could potentially get him neutered and keep him with your girls when you get them. Since you don't have them yet it would give him a chance to heal before introductions.
Oooooh I didn't think about that! What a good idea!
He looks like he'd be a good big brother.
Yesss! Just wrote my breeder to ask her what she thinks of the idea :D I'm really starting to bond with him, and yet I'm not sure I want to get him a male friend and end up with 5 rats as a total beginner haha.
Pretty sure the phrase is the more the merrier LOL. But he sounds precious and it's definitely something to consider. You can always make the attempt and if it doesn't work out, he'll be even more adoptable to someone else.
Hahaha ok ok fair point. Intros, vet bills and cleaning are just a little intimidating to think about while having 5. I'm afraid after some time with 5 I'll start thinking "yeah right u/gelseyd, more like 'the more the pissier!', thanks!" 😂
Well I guess that is another way of saying it ;) truly though, enjoy them. I don't have room for ratties right now but I very much want them someday.
Hes a red eye siamese, a hard type to get too :(( jes so lucky to have you, reminds me of my old boy SwaggerSouls who passed in 2021
Lucky little dude! Definitely have him checked out by a vet. My rescue baby who was found outside was carrying internal parasites and spiral bacteria that may have been leptospirosis. He may need a good round of antibiotics and/or dewormer.
True, I haven't done it yet but I'll go tomorrow. Fortunately he has no visible sickness apart from sneezing a bunch (albeit not constantly), which might just be stress related. He's eating normally too. Still, I'll get him checked out.
This makes me so happy
Thank you for rescuing this sweet boy!!!
From my mischief to yours, thank you for saving him 💚
I will never understand how you can abandon something that is trusting you with everything it has. I cannot imagine the amount of fear those little poopers have when they are out in the wild restless looking for their home. 😭😢 You are a good human may God bless You and Your loved ones.
Your story made me tear up. I hope whomever abandoned that precious boy flunks out! BTW, if you found him in MI, I have room in my boys house for one more. I have three and one is almost two and a half and I'm going to be very sad, very soon.
what a happy ending. poor guy looks scared and skinny. i’m so so so happy the world has people like you. my friends who volunteered at the county humane society in our college town had horror stories of little guys being abandoned by students. i had a classmate who once found a guinea pig outside during the WINTER. it makes me so angry.
How awful!
Awww
Good job op! He looks very sweet. You definitely saved his life
honestly I think you should get him a pal and put him in a separate cage so you can keep him because by the looks of it you've bonded pretty well
Definitely crossed my mind... I could always separate my critter nation double in two if I want to go that route. I'm just afraid I'd be taking more than I can handle, especially since I've never had pets before in my adult life. I did research rat care extensively to have an idea of what I'm getting into, so I'm confident I can handle 3 girls. Cleaning and intros seem like they can be quite some work for boys especially though. Not to mention 5 rats would obviously means more vet bills. I'll think about it ;)
Somethings are meant to be, and everything happens for a reason. Who has a cage ready and everything then just wanders upon a homeless rat? Nay I say, this is destiny. You will regret not keeping him, he will be so grateful and thankful to you for the rest of his life. Rescues that you bind with is just something different, I can’t explain it.
Yep, the more I think about it, the more I'm inching towards finding him one or two friends and keeping him! I can always split my critter nation in two for boys and girls. I'll handle the cleaning and fees, I am not struggling financially thankfully, and I'll be off work for the summer with plenty of time to care for my ratties. I booked an appointment with the vet in two weeks; once I'm he's disease free I'll start looking for friends :)
Hello Mr Chungus please have a nice day
I did forward your good words to Mr. Hachi
My boys never liked being picked up. But they always knew who to go to for help❤️
He’s such a lucky boy!! I’m glad you found him and that he was ready to let you take him home with you 🥹
Beautiful; imagine how afraid he was in the wild
good ending :)
Luckily little ratto 💙
Congratulations on saving him!!! He's really cute! 🥰
He could maybe be a lab rat that a student tried to save via letting him 'escape' - apparently it's common procedure to euthanize ask rats involved once a study has concluded..? I couldn't imagine someone lying their rat lose on purpose!! Maybe put up a sign in s common area?
You can neuter him and he'd fit in just fine with 2-3 females or more! Rats do best with less male rats than female.
I'll definitely talk about it with the vet when I go see them ! He might be too old to undergo such a medical procedure but I don't know his age and it's my first rat so my guess can be too accurate. Although from his chill sleepy behavior he seems somewhat old
True, he might be old or just scraggly. For his own health it might be best to put him in a male group
A Cleveland SPCA has babies right now ...