What do I do with older pet rats that have health problems when I have to move?
May 4, 2012 by Foot Health
Filed under Foot Health FAQ
Question by ladybugg: What do I do with older pet rats that have health problems when I have to move?
I’m moving internationally and there’s no possible way to take my pet rats with me. I don’t think anyone will want them because they’re older (nearing 3 years old) and not cute anymore. They have thinning hair, one has a mammary tumor, and one has a tumor on her foot with a sore that refuses to heal (the vet has said he can’t do anything for her). The girls are tame and don’t mind being picked up. I have a boy rat that is balding and doesn’t like to be held, but doesn’t bite. His cagemate is a year old and is active and healthy, but also shies away from people, but is not aggressive. They all get around just fine, are active and eating well. I didn’t want to have them put down at the vet because I heard it would be too painful. What should I do?
VirtueofIntolerance: That line of thinking would go along with feeding your ailing dog or cat to a hungry lion because they’re lower on the food chain. People that have never raised small animals, such as rats, don’t realize what good pets they make. Just because they’re rodents, have a shorter lifespan and don’t “bark” or “meow” doesn’t mean that they are less of a pet.
Best answer:
Answer by hippocampus
flush em!! But seriously try a pet store or an add in the newspaper.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
http://www.croydonfoot.com/staff.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Podiatry-Training-Worldwide&id=4005540
Jeez, I’d think a good vet could put them down painlessly.
Rats don’t live much longer than 2-3 years.
I’ll tell you, the risk you run by giving them to a pet store or individual is a worry.
They could end up snake food (the petstore will promise they won’t sell it as food but they lie) or with a neglectful or oblivious owner.
As you can probably tell, I don’t have much faith in people.
Where abouts do you live?
You can find a Rodent Rescue in your local area on the internet… Try Yahoo! Groups… I am a member of an Aussie one…
These people are used to taking care or rats that are getting on in years that can no longer be looked after, or that have been confiscated by an animal protection society due to mis treatment, or abandonment…
Otherwise, as someone else said… put an ad in the paper, and that way you get to meet the people, and see how they are with the rats, and then if you wish, you can keep in contact to see how they are as well!
Where are you moving from, and where are you moving to?
hmm… ok I know this won’t be popular, but there are people with hungry pet snakes out there and your rats tumor is probably not going to get any better.
What’s wrong with them being snake food? Excuse me… that’s what they are in nature, so let nature take its course.
If you’re really concerned you can have a vet put them down first but they’re rats for goodness sake… let them be rats.
My pet store takes in rats and will resale them as pets not feeders.
Also local kids in the neighborhood. If of course their parents agree to take them in. We’ve had rats for 5 yrs or so and i never realized they were so popular. Alot of kids in our hood have a bunch.
Also newspapers that offer freebies, you could place them in the ad.
Depending on where you live there are rat rescues that take in rats of all ages. Many rat lovers will take in even sick and old rats (trust me I’m one of them, age never mattered to me). I only know of a rat rescue on the east coast.
http://www.kimsarkrescue.org/ Even if you’re not on the east coast she may have fosters where you are, or know of other rescues.
http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat This message board has a place for pet adoptions, there are many great people on here from all over the country.
Also, please do not give the rats to a pet store. First off they probably will not take them(since they are old and sick) and most likely they will end up as snake food, even if they tell you otherwise. Pet stores are in business to make money.
The 2 rats with tumours i think you should due right by them and put them down…they have lived a good life. Unfortunately no one but a rescue will take an older rat so try to find one. The girls you might be able to sell but make sure you ask alot of questions you don’t want them to be dinner.