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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / August 2006Weird story.
So I'm calling pet stores yesterday trying to find one that is closer to me than the one I used last time so I can find a new friend or two for Agatha Scrat. I call one store where I don't get an answer so I hang up and call other stores. An hour later, someone from that store calls me back and says they have the rats I was looking for. I was confused by this because I didn't leave them a message or anything. As it turns out, they have a customer with my same area code who orders 400-500 rats at a time from them to feed to his snakes. The pet store owner had lost this guy's phone number, so when her caller ID showed my number with the same area code, she thought I was him calling about the rats. Needless to say, I cleared up that little misunderstanding right away! I don't know a lot about pet snakes having never owned one, but I thought that even a pretty big boa would only eat maybe one rat a week. How many mother freakin' snakes does this guy have? If he fed one rat to one snake a week, that would mean he had about 10 snakes and that's if he only buys rats once a year. I kind of doubt that he would only buy rats once a year, because then he's having to keep all of those rats alive which would be pretty expensive. It's all very unsettling. Someone within my area code has WAY too many snakes. Kim Eeww yeah I agree that guy must have A LOT of snakes. I like snakes... but I would never be able to feed it something that's a life.... mouse, rat...ect... While I was at the pet store this afternoon to get Rosie (the rat) there was a guy in there who was getting a red-tail boa and he was carrying it around with him. I was just thinking "Stay away from hereeeee" lol. But yeah thats strange a guy orders that many Rats at one time. Cause if he has Heavy bodied snakes they shouldn't need to eat more than once or twice a month. But... Thin Bodied snakes eat more. But still!!!! 500 to 600?!?!?! Jeez... "ratmommy" <kimbercv@hotmail.com> wrote in news:1154800007.501017.148870 @p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com: > So I'm calling pet stores yesterday trying to find one that is closer > to me than the one I used last time so I can find a new friend or two [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Kim Something odd there. I would suggest a call to your country's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty - "400-500 rats at a time" sounds more often than once a year. If they're live rats, there are some nasty possibilities.  SignatureRegards, Dave email: dave_ryman@hotmailNOSPAM.com My Homepage: http://homepages.tesco.net/david.ryman/ The F1 travel guide: http://www.zdp06.ukgateway.net/f1_travel.htm > Something odd there. I would suggest a call to your country's Society for > the Prevention of Cruelty - "400-500 rats at a time" sounds more often [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Regards, > Dave Dave, I'm so glad you said that because that's exactly what I was thinking about doing. The more I've thought about it, the more it bothers me. It just seems so unlikely that someone would use all those rats for snake food. I live in a rural area, and I'm envisioning illegal bloodsport perhaps with fighting dogs. I've heard that rats are used sometimes in that arena. Thanks for backing me up. I'll post any news after I speak with authorities. Kim >> Something odd there. I would suggest a call to your country's Society >> for the Prevention of Cruelty - "400-500 rats at a time" sounds more [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Kim I thought that dies out with the Victorians - but probably wishful thinking. SignatureRegards, Dave email: dave_ryman@hotmailNOSPAM.com My Homepage: http://homepages.tesco.net/david.ryman/ The F1 travel guide: http://www.zdp06.ukgateway.net/f1_travel.htm >>> Something odd there. I would suggest a call to your country's Society >>> for the Prevention of Cruelty - "400-500 rats at a time" sounds more [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > I thought that dies out with the Victorians - but probably wishful > thinking. Is it possible that particular poster was a troll? or just someone who posted in the hope someone would get upset by his post? Just an idea seeing as we have heard no more.... Regards Kate SignatureToday I may meet with injustice, ignorance, denial, all of which are due entirely to the other's lack of knowledge of good and evil and the difference thereof. http://community.webshots.com/user/ollieogg > "ratmommy" <kimbercv@hotmail.com> wrote in news:1154800007.501017.148870 > @p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com: [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > than once a year. If they're live rats, there are some nasty > possibilities. that's what i was thinking. some weirdo who likes to kill them or something. > So I'm calling pet stores yesterday trying to find one that is closer > to me than the one I used last time so I can find a new friend or two [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Kim What a horrible thought. I'd be right concerned too. SignatureJoanne Owned by 22 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* I'm by no means an expert on snakes. However, an ex-girlfriend used to have a corn snake, and it fed on frozen mice... once they'd been defrosted. She bought them from a local reptile store. (Possibly because of my lack of snake knowledge), I can't see why live feed would be necessary if they're just as happy eating defrosted mice instead - perhaps some snakes have to have live feed? Otherwise it seems a little on the sadistic side... Dave Signature(remove spamblock or reply to group) Today I made some calls regarding the guy I heard about that orders so many rats for snake food. I haven't heard back from the SPCA because they are closed here on Mondays. However, I did make some headway with my state wildlife authority. I know it might seem strange to call them, but they were very interested. There are several state laws governing snakes and the breeding of them. I should back up a little bit. First, I called PetSmart and told them the story. They agreed that the guy would have to have a LOT of snakes to need that many rats, and they thought he was probably breeding snakes or other larger reptiles. They also told me that they don't sell snakes that require live food because it is against the company philosophy. They don't want to sell animals as food, so they also don't sell animals that require live food. They do sell frozen arctic mice for some of the other reptiles. Next I called the state wildlife authority. I thought they would laugh at me, but they were interested because in the spring they busted some guy for the illegal breeding of venemous snakes. It is illegal where I live to even have a venemous snake from the wild unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. The guy they busted had about 24 snakes including rattlers and a COBRA! I think I read that the most he can face for having a cobra is a $500 fine. Anyway, they got the information I had about the pet store in question and they said they would contact them and call me back if they found out anything. I'll keep trying. Kate, I'm really not a troll, but I can see why you might suspect that. I'm not trying to upset anyone. I am however, excited about the possibility of saving some little ratties if this guy is doing illegal activity. Kim > Today I made some calls regarding the guy I heard about that orders so > many rats for snake food. I haven't heard back from the SPCA because [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Kim LOL.... Kim, I wasn't meaning you , I meant the guy who posted the original offending post..LOL This is a pet loving group so why would a guy post saying he is breeding and caring for Ratties just to use for food...? Regards Kate SignatureToday I may meet with injustice, ignorance, denial, all of which are due entirely to the other's lack of knowledge of good and evil and the difference thereof. http://community.webshots.com/user/ollieogg > LOL.... Kim, I wasn't meaning you , I meant the guy who posted the > original offending post..LOL This is a pet loving group so why would a > guy post saying he is breeding and caring for Ratties just to use for > food...? OH! That guy! I had a laugh actually when I read his "methods". They may work for him but I felt like asking, "So do you have any other areas of your life where you get to exert control or is being the R*t L*rd pretty much it?" Thanks for clearing that up. LOL Kim >> LOL.... Kim, I wasn't meaning you , I meant the guy who posted the >> original offending post..LOL This is a pet loving group so why would a [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Kim i'm sorry you feel that way. i guess if someone doesn't look at rats and rat ownership the exact same way that you do then they are wrong? i've owned rats for about 17 years now. i don't need to care about the opinions of "noobies" who think they can tell me how to raise them. p.s. "raisins" are *not* cute. > >> LOL.... Kim, I wasn't meaning you , I meant the guy who posted the > >> original offending post..LOL This is a pet loving group so why would a [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > p.s. "raisins" are *not* cute. For the record, I also do not think "raisins" are cute. I like a clean house, clean rat cages, and clean, well-mannered rats. I believe domesticated animals should be well trained in order for their owners to enjoy them the most. My mother indulged very large, untrained dogs and it used to drive me crazy. I am new to rats and I have a lot to learn without a doubt. I made no attempt whatsoever to tell you how to raise your rats. I didn't even say that your methods were wrong. In fact, I have a background in equestrian sports and I am familiar with the importance of establishing myself as the alpha with horses who are uncomfortable and dangerous if they don't know their place in the herd. My admittedly smart-a.s comment was not so much about your actual methods as your description of them. It seemed as though the amount of control you were able to exert on your colony was the thing you enjoyed the most about rat ownership. That seemed really sad to me. Am I mistaken about you enjoying the control aspect? Finally, you seem intelligent and fully capable of engaging in a reasonable and civil debate. Therefore, I apologize very sincerely to you for making a smart-a.s comment about you to other posters instead of directly to you. If I have anything to say, you will find it as a direct reply from now on. Sincerely, Kim >> Today I made some calls regarding the guy I heard about that orders so >> many rats for snake food. I haven't heard back from the SPCA because [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > guy post saying he is breeding and caring for Ratties just to use for > food...? Yeah - I was suspicious of that guy, too, but I thought hey, I might as well get my views out there without needing to get too upset about it. I tend to watch and wait with those types of posters - more often than not they soon reveal any serious troll-like tendencies, in which case the easiest thing is just to block their posts so I don't have to read them. The reason I didn't kill-file straight away is because I feel he has a good point - I think it is important with rats, as wth dogs, to assert alpha status on behalf of all humans - okay, it isn't as big a deal getting savaged by a cocky rat as it is being mauled by a dog that thinks it's top dog, but the principle remains important. As soon as someone can tell me an effective and humane way to do this with every single rat, please tell me! Rosemary I think it > is important with rats, as wth dogs, to assert alpha status on behalf of all > humans - okay, it isn't as big a deal getting savaged by a cocky rat as it [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Rosemary I agree with that part completely too. I come from a family where my mother babied large dogs without any obedience training whatsoever. It used to really get on my nerves. I also have a background in equestrian sports, so I've seen a lot of people get hurt by horses who didn't know their place in the pecking order. Horses are just too big to be overindulgent with them. My main disagreement with his methods is his seeming lack of compassion or affection for his rats. From how his posts were written, it appeared that being in control was the only thing he really enjoyed about having rats at all. If I'm reading between the lines correctly, he even gets to decide if they live or die, based on their ability to control their bodily functions. If that's the case, I think that's pretty lame. All of this is something I'd be glad to write directly to him if I thought he was a serious poster. I'm still undecided on whether he's serious or if he's just trying to shake people up. I guess time will tell. Kim > I think it >> is important with rats, as wth dogs, to assert alpha status on behalf of [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Kim my rats seem pretty happy to me. their cages are next to my desk and as i look at them, they are contentedly nibbling on some rat blocks with eyes half opened. mini-beast is nursing her babies while lying on her back. the cages were just cleaned about two hours ago, as they are every second day, so everything is nice and clean. my girlfriend and i both regularly shower them with all of the foods they love. yup, my rats seem pretty happy to me. my ways of raising rats raise happy, healthy , obedient rats that respect each other and my authority. based on what i have read, many people here seem scared of being bitten by their rats. lol. that sort of thing is unheard of in my house. who has the better rats? > based on what i have read, many people here > seem scared of being bitten by their rats. You have to take into account that many of the rat owners here buy largely from pet shops or take rescue rats of unknown temperament. Our rats don't bite either - however I don't think that's got a great deal to do with us, but rather the lines they're bred from (we buy from local breeders concerned with temperament, health & then show qualitiies). AIUI most/all your rats are bred by yourself. This might explain the difference. SignatureMichael m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t >>> Today I made some calls regarding the guy I heard about that orders so >>> many rats for snake food. I haven't heard back from the SPCA because [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > Rosemary We've established alpha in this house, Art (the smaller of the two) keeps Tar in line, and Tar beats me up every night, he runs around giving me little nips until I pick him up and place him back on the bed or couch upside down, then I let him go and he does it all over again. They both mug me for food (luckily they have stopped trying to remove my toungue piercing now) my trainers all have holes in the toes .................... oh well at least I know my place :-) >>> Today I made some calls regarding the guy I heard about that orders so >>> many rats for snake food. I haven't heard back from the SPCA because [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > Rosemary well i know this may spoil your image of me but i actually do care for my rats quite a great deal. the ones that are my pets are treated like gold. the ones that go to the pet store are forgotten as soon as i walk out the door. i'm sorry if that offends people. <snip> >>>> Kate, I'm really not a troll, but I can see why you might suspect that. >>>> I'm not trying to upset anyone. I am however, excited about the [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > the ones that go to the pet store are forgotten as soon as i walk out the > door. i'm sorry if that offends people. You will notice I never said you were a troll, just that I was suspicious, because trolls often begin with fairly normal posts with the odd opinion stated that differs from that of the majority - I pointed out that IF you were a troll, you would eventually reveal it. So far you are not displaying obvious troll-like tendencies, but with any poster if I feel they are being gratuitously offensive I block them, to save my time. I didn't kill-file you, because I was interested in one of your points - but other aspects of your posts, taken alone, would have been enough of an indication of possible deliberate offence to make me not want to bother reading your posts. You should realise it is not considered normal here to express total indifference to the fate of rats you've bred. I do not agree with censorship - when I kill-file it is simply intended to let me avoid wasting my own time. I have no definite "image" of you as yet, which is why I have suspended judgment as to kill-filing, so I can read your posts to find out if you are a fellow rat-lover or a troll. I am sure you are intelligent enough to take no offence when someone discusses ignoring your posts - as a matter of fact I have posters kill-filed not out of some form of personal censorship or moral outrage but because I find it more time-efficient to ignore some posts. I want to get the best out of the group as concerns the care of my rats - anything else is a secondary concern to me here. I don't see anything wrong if somebody tells me they will block or kill-file me - why should I assume that what I have to say is so important everybody should read it? Apologies for the long message - I hope to clear up any misunderstandings. Rosemary > Today I made some calls regarding the guy I heard about that orders so > many rats for snake food. I haven't heard back from the SPCA because [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Kim Oh this is very interesting!! Keep us posted. And good for you for making those calls! SignatureJoanne Owned by 22 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* |
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