Fanklin's (Epic) Story

The epic story of Franklin's rescue started when I was chatting with a fellow rat-lover (ratmondo on the Rat Shack) about something completely unrelated. I made a silly comment, something like, "well, at least there haven't been very many rats being posted on Kijiji lately..."

Big mistake, because ratmondo (who subscribes to any Kijiji ad with the word "rat" in) mentions this one, extremely sad ad she saw a few days ago.

The ad was posted under the wrong section and had the most HORRIBLE spelling. It literally read:

"Wanted: I am seeling my male rat with id cage"

I was duped into clicking on the link and met with one of the saddest, most unhealthy looking rat and cage I've ever seen.

ratmondo said she desperately would like to take in the little guy, but that she had all females and didn't want to add a male to that mix. I immediately jumped in and said I would take him.

We immediately called this ad-poster and set up a pick up time for noon the very next day. She was asking for $50 for the rat and his disgustingly tiny cage. We managed to talk her down to $15 for just the rat (still an outrageous price considering rats are $9.99 in most places).

About 1 hour before the pick-up time, I receive a call at home from ratmondo. She's pissed, because the ad-poster could not be reached by phone, and then she suddenly sent a text message saying she wouldn't be home that day. We manage to text back, saying, how about 8:00pm the next day? So a new time is set. Again. We anxiously wait.

1 hour before the pick-up time, again, this woman cannot be reached. She texts back stating that her grandmother has died and that she will not be home. I'm livid at this point. ratmondo is calmer and immediately arranges yet ANOTHER pick up time: 4:00pm the next day.

4:00pm approaches and we are about to tear our hair out as the B*TCH (as we were caller her at that point), would not pick up her phone and didn't reply to texts. She texts back, FINALLY half an hour before the pick-up time telling us that "the rat is dead my cat ate him".

I could have committed bloody murder at that point, I think.

Thankfully, lilangel (again on the Rat Shack) who had been watching this entire ordeal from aside was the only one thinking clearly. She suspected that after all the delays and excuses, that the woman was lying. She contacted the ad poster via email this time, and asked one simple question: "I'm interested in the rat. Is he still available for sale?"

The answer came promptly: "Yes".

So finally, after 4 LONG days of anxiety and waiting and worry, ratmondo finally drove out to the B*TCH's home (an apartment downtown over a burger joint), and picked up Franklin.

We paid $50.
A worthwhile price, I think, to help a sweet and lovely rat get a second chance at life.

Franklin BEFORE (picture in the ad)

Franklin NOW :)

And with his new Family:

Don't buy when you can change a life!

You know you're rat-obssessed when...

The person delivering the cage you just bought asks if you "collect" cages. >.<

Yes, I just got my second Ferret Nation cage. Including my Critter Nation and Ferret Playpen, I now have 4 cages that are tall enough for my little brother to stand in.

I've already mentally justified the purchase with the reasoning that... well, it never hurts to have a spare cage. Right? >.<

Mite Boy + Faux Couple UNITE!

SOOO much has happened since my last update. And this is LOOOONG overdue.

It's been almost exactly 3 weeks since I took in Louis. His scabs are now completely gone, his fur is nice and soft, and his bad case of ratty dry skin and bleeding blisters has become a merely annoying case of rump dandruff XD

Missing progress pictures:

Week 2

Yesterday

Since he's so much better, I also started intro-ing him to the "Faux Couple", known as Gamer and Clancy, the albino pair from a few posts ago. Well, so much for being incredibly aggressive with other rats! The intro took a grant total of 5 days.

Yummy veggie/out-time together now :)

Night-Time Scare

Got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.
Stepped on something slimy and wet.
Nearly had a HEART ATTACK.

Fumbled on the lights and found...

A slice of half-eaten banana.

-__-

Only when you have free-ranged rats. Only then.
XD

MITES

Some people are just ... so IGNORANT. Or just willingly blind.


I just took in a 6 month old male rat this afternoon. After nearly 3 weeks of negotiations and organizing transportation, I FINALLY got my hands on "Louie". He was supposed to be "friendly with humans", hates other rats, and "healthy".

And THIS is what I'm dealing with right now:

Poor boy's sides and even under his forearms are COVERED in scabs and gaping holes that were self-inflicted due to the tremendous discomfort he must have been forced to live in for weeks.

I bathed him in baby shampoo and tea tree oil right away, hopefully smothering most of the mites currently infecting him. He's also been given a dose of Ivermectin. A treatment that will last 3 weeks, but hopefully get rid of the mite problem for good.

HOW could ANYONE not notice this?!

KIJIJI - 1 male & 1 female rat for FREE

Don't those sorts of ads just make you panic? They make me pick up the phone going OMFG! And then praying, "please pick up please pickuppleasepickup!"

So, I responded to one of these ads recently. He picked up. 1 minute into our conversation, he tells me he needs to put me on hold, and we disconnect.

I figure. Damn it. That's it. Then he CALLED BACK. He tells me that a person who had previously emailed him about these two just called him, and said they would be able to pick them up tomorrow at 8pm. I asked are you sure they're RAT owners, and not snake owners? He says, yeah, they wanna breed them.

I start panicking. I basically make him realized how stupid and risky and uninformed someone must be to think that it would be a good idea to BREED two rats they get for free on KIJIJI. He says, he'll tell the other person he's changed his mind and that he's giving them to me instead (I do a little celebratory jig).

He tells me he's on his way to my place... like... RIGHT THERE AND THEN. O.O

The drama doesn't end though. Cause this other guy calls... and is like... uh. "Are you the one who stole our rats?"

It's the wanna-be breeder boyfriend/girlfriend. These 2 alternate giving me grief over the phone (although the boyfriend wasn't that upset about not getting the rats, just upset that his girlfriend was upset -__-). They already have a male/female pair who aren't having babies. I asked:

Q: Are you sure you have a male and a female
A: (the guy) Uh... we think so.
Q: Have you seen the female go into heat?
A: (the guy) What's that?
Q: Are you sure both are old enough?
A: (the guy) Uh... they should be old enough... (the girl) Hang up on that B*tch already!


Just in time to invite the ad-poster up to see my cages and the separate cages I've set up.

They were living in a bin. I noticed right away in the elevator that... get this... they BOTH had... bits.

BOYS. TWO BOYS.

*sigh*.
People. Really? REALLY?

The 'boy' is a dumbo eared albino named Gamer. He's noticeably bigger than the 'girl'. Also albino, with THE CUTEST little standard ears EVER. "Her" name is Clancy.

Gamer

Clancy

Best Christams Present. EVER.

Look look look!

It's a teapot... shaped like a rat! *Squeeeeeeeee*
I love my friend, and her family! They are the best. :)
Hugs and kisses to Anna, Sophie, Glen and Laura <3