Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am wanting to get rats as pets again after 6 years of not having any. I use to get mine from the petstore.
Now I am trying rescues and breeders and can not find any.

What are your opinions on buying from a pet store? I know they are ratty mill babies. But I am running out of options.
Our local pet store keeps the cages clean and they seem to be well taken care of. What should I do.
Thanks! Niki

The best place to check for rescues that have rats is trying the search engine here:

www.rescuenetwork.org/

You can also check with your local humane society. Some do have rats as pets available.

Rescues and humane societies often have rats that are babies which resulted in buying pet store rats that were either already pregnant or incorrectly sexed. OR bought by people who didn't realize just how difficult it is to find nice homes for baby rats or just how much rats breed.

For rat breeders in your area, here are a couple good sites to look through.

www.justrats.com/breeders/

www.rmca.org/Resources/breeders.htm
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks so much. I am checking those sites out.

We've gotten our rats from breeders, petstores, chain stores like petco, rescues, shelters, etc. I personally have no real preference. I do try to avoid petco and the likes just cause of the mill aspect but we've had loving wonderful rats from there too.

another rescue is www.kimsarkrescue.org they're based in the Boston area but do travel trains all over if they have volunteers. I've worked with them for a few years and they do good stuff

Good luck and let us see the babies wherever you get em!!!

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~Meg~
~~(XX)8:> Have you hugged a rat today?