by Stephanie Cameron

Stephanie Cameron is a volunteer with Rattie Ratz Rescue in the bay area of California. Each month KRL will be featuring a column from Rattie Ratz.

Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to find your place in the world, and whether you walk on two legs or four, we all want the same thing––a place to call home. When two rattie brothers made their way to Rattie Ratz Rescue, a home of their own is exactly what they needed. The boys were surrendered to the rescue (along with their four young brothers) in December 2023 where they briefly enjoyed the names Grinch and Kevin. Although the first home Rattie Ratz found for the boys didn’t work out, it was for the best, because the second home was exactly what they needed. Anne, a wonderful human who has been both a volunteer and adopter with Rattie Ratz for many years, took the boys home and the rest was history. The following is a lovely recounting of the brothers’ journey to their forever home as they aged into sweet old men, in Anne’s own words:

Harris and Oliver (originally named Kevin and Grinch—you can tell who the troublemaker was when they were young!) were fostered by so many different Rattie Ratz volunteers that they’re basically local celebrities around here. They were returned to the rescue after their first adoption didn’t work out, and bounced around various foster homes before and after a well-deserved neuter, which transformed them from hormonal and occasionally nippy youngsters to mature gentlemen with a peaceful vibe.

They joined our family last summer, and they were the perfect additions, bringing their calm energy to our cage of three busy girls, two of whom were frenemies with a complicated relationship. (Stevie wanted everyone to know she was top rat, and Willow was very sure she was a human who’d been mistakenly put in the rat cage. And Lena, Stevie’s daughter, was a sweet but nervous lady who was also prone to squabbling.) The boys weren’t all that interactive with people, according to their foster, but that was fine with us as long as they could get along with other rats. I got my first rats in 2006, and my husband and I have been volunteering in various capacities with Rattie Ratz for more than a decade, so there aren’t many rat behaviors we take personally anymore!

After we brought them home, the boys were so low-key compared with our girls, I wondered if the girls would even recognize them as rats when we introduced everyone. Maybe they’d just think the boys were slow-moving pillows, or, say, Ziploc bags full of soup? But amazingly, after everyone had been introduced and proved that they could coexist in one cage, the boys became much more interactive and interested in what was going on. They’d immediately run to the door along with the girls anytime we showed up with treats or just to say hi.

Harris and Oliver certainly had some quirks, and I’m glad they ended up in a household willing to work around them. Oliver wasn’t wild about being petted—and if he couldn’t escape, he’d try to move his coat out of the way of your hand in a way that looked a lot like disgust. Harris was OK with being on my shoulder as long as I was stationary, but the minute I tried to walk anywhere with him, he’d start gearing up to take a flying leap into the unknown if I didn’t stop him. Also, he was the only rat I’ve seen interact with a phone screen. Once, he walked purposefully over to the phone in my hand, used his paw to scroll down my Facebook feed, and opted me into receiving Old Navy ads. A scathing fashion critique, but fair.

Because the boys spent so much time with Rattie Ratz, I’ve been able to hear from all their fosters about every phase of their lives and how their personalities have evolved—from skittish youngsters to troublemaking young guys to chilled-out, rotund adults. It’s funny to hear how they’ve made such different impressions at different times. And I’m extremely appreciative of all of the many people who helped the boys along the way! Rats are vulnerable little critters, and things could have gone so much worse for them at so many points, but my wonderful fellow volunteers kept the boys safe and cared for until they found their forever home, just like we do with the many other rats who end up with Rattie Ratz. They’re a great example of why it’s important to match a pet’s personality with the home they’ll be going to—Harris and Oliver might not have been suited to every situation, but they were just what we needed to complete our ratty family. Right now, we’re fostering two skittish young boys who have been challenging to connect with—but it helps to remember that maybe, someday, they could be someone else’s Harris and Oliver!

It’s clear from Anne’s writing how loved and appreciated the boys are. Whether you believe in fate, luck, or divine intervention, Harris and Oliver got the home they were looking for. They may have taken some twists and turns to get there, but they found the family they were meant to be with in the end. Sadly, while putting together this feature, Anne had to say goodbye to Harris. His time with Anne may have been cut short, but his memory will live on and his steady man-rat energy will be remembered fondly.

If you would like to know more about Rattie Ratz Rescue you can visit their Facebook page. If you are interested in adoptable rats or volunteering for Rattie Ratz Rescue you can visit their website: www.rattieratz.com.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories from Rattie Ratz every other month. You can also keep up with our pet articles by joining our KRL Facebook group. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to Rattie Ratz.