Rats of Reading

When I try to explain my hobby to people, I usually get the same response... "Did you say... RATS!?!" 

The poor little critters get such a bad rap.    

Growing up, I was surrounded by animals.  I always had mice as a child, but never rats.  I just couldn't get past the tail.  Many years later, I attended a reptile show and was shocked at the conditions of the ... uh... live food.    I came across a bin of baby rats.  Most didn't even have their eyes open.  They had no food, no water, and no mother in the bin with them.  As I watched them, I discovered that there was one little baby who actually DID have open eyes.  She was very shakily exploring her cage.  After I saw her, I didn't have it in my heart to allow her to become snake food, so I brought her home and affectionately named her Ratnick.  With some TLC, Ratnick thrived and became my very first rattie.  I was hooked.  I scoured the internet for all the information I could find about rats, and adopted two more girls for company... Cloe, and Imogene.  I found, once I DID mangage to get past the tail, that they make excellent pets.  They really are almost dog like, extremely intellegent creatures. 

The rest is history. 

I started The Rats of Reading to promote rats as pets, and to try to improve the species both genetically, and socially. 

I'm always searching for more information about rats.  I want to know as much as I can about these magnificent critters.

Thank you, Ratnick, for being part of my life.  I will meet you again at Rainbow Bridge.

                                  Ratnick - 2005-2007