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.
Today’s feature follows three rats that were rescued at different times and through different circumstances before finding their way to Rattie Ratz Rescue and, ultimately their forever home with Esther and her daughter. Rattie Ratz is a rescue located in the Bay Area of Northern California that specializes in rescuing and rehoming domestic pet rats.
Ginny was abandoned in an empty apartment and gave birth in the rescue after being saved. To learn more about her story and how she came to Rattie Ratz, you can check out the Rattie Ratz June 2023 column: Rattie Ratz: From Discarded to Devoted, The Story of Bean, Cheese & Chip.
A year after Ginny and her daughter Gaia were adopted, Nezumi joined their family. Nezumi’s previous owner found her on Craigslist and enjoyed her company for six months before her roommate brought home a cat that was far too interested in her rat companion, prompting her to reach out to Rattie Ratz in order to ensure Nezumi had a safe and happy life. Nezumi is most definitely living her best life with Esther’s family and her new rattie companions!
The below is a special recounting from Esther of her intentions to adopt and how all three girls have enriched her family’s life.
Our journey as rat owners began over a year ago, November 2022, when we decided to adopt pet rats for our 8-year-old daughter. They would be her first pets, so she was very excited to learn as much about rat care as possible. After doing much research, we decided on rats because they fit so many of our criteria and what we were looking for in a pet.
After sending in an adoption application to Rattie Ratz, we received notification of a pair of rats available They were, a sweet mama rat, 9- month-old agouti hooded that we renamed Ginny and one of her daughters an agouti Berkshire named Gaia, just born. Ginny, along with two other females and a male, were found abandoned in an empty apartment, and all three were pregnant. Despite this rough start, Ginny turned out to be incredibly sweet, gentle, and loving, both to her baby daughter and to her new adoptive family. Both girls were adopted at the end of December, just in time for the holidays.
Life with Ginny and Gaia has been wonderful. They are affectionate and loving, gentle and playful with my daughter who has even taught them tricks, such as how to spin. Ginny loves giving kisses and stashing food, while Gaia specializes in sitting on shoulders, exploring, and sneaking out of her cage when she thinks her humans aren’t watching.
After a while though, we began to think about the fact that Ginny was already reaching an advanced age, and that Gaia would be left alone once her mama passed away. We decided to adopt one more female rat around the same age to keep Gaia company, so put in another application.
In August, Rattie Ratz let us know about a rat in foster care that might fit what we were looking for. Nezumi, a beautiful year-old fawn dappled Berkshire, had been kept as a solo rat for over 6 months before she was surrendered. Our hearts melted when we saw her adorable photos and felt very sad for her because she had been solo for so long, so we agreed to adopt her and picked her up in mid-September.
Introducing Nezumi to the girls
Nezumi’s 1st Christmas with her new Family
From there, we slowly used the carrier method until finally they were fully bonded. It was not an easy process, but worth it. Now, all three rats snuggle together, play together, and groom each other. We are so happy that Nezumi is no longer alone, and that Gaia has a companion her age to keep her company once her mama passes away. One year into rat ownership, we couldn’t be happier with our three wonderful girls from Rattie Ratz!
Christmas 2023
Esther and her family have opened up their home and hearts to three little rattie girls and in doing so have given these girls the best gift possible, a beautiful life full of love, laughter, and security. This December will be Nezumi’s first Christmas with her new family and I know without a doubt it will be a special day for everyone. The volunteers at Rattie Ratz rescue are so thankful for Esther and her family for loving the girls, and for providing such a fantastic home to Ginny, Gaia and Nezumi.
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.
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