To say there’s a public misconception around rats is an understatement, and the BC SPCA’s Jodi Dunlop is on a mission to change that. “The truth is rats make lovely, lovely pets,” says Dunlop . “They’re social, they’re affectionate, they’re clean and loving and, despite how some of us humans may feel about them, they love their people fiercely.”
As of late, the Vancouver SPCA has received an influx of pet rats – two of these sweet creatures, Charlee and Cynthia, have been waiting nearly a month to find their forever home. Both female and albino – all white, with pink eyes – they were surrendered as part of a group of, incredibly, 48 rats. “The person who owned all these animals started off with just a pair – a male and a female – and you can guess what happened,” she says. “Rats can have many, many babies. So between those two, nearly 50 were produced.”
While male rats can be neutered, the procedure tends to be an expensive option that not many people opt for. A better measure of prevention, says Dunlop, is to ensure pet rat pairs are of the same gender – problem solved. “Since rats are extremely social creatures, it’s nice to keep them as pairs so they can play and keep each other company,” she explains. “If you’re only able or only want to have one pet rat, that’s totally fine, but be prepared to spend that extra time with it yourself.”
No exception to this rule, Charlee and Cynthia are highly bonded and wish to be adopted together. According to Dunlop, these two rats, both of whom are just shy of four months old, are “super-friendly attention seekers” – so much so that staff and volunteers can’t believe they’re still at the SPCA. “We bring them to our reception area each morning and they spend time running between two of us on the couch we have there, getting treats and cuddles,” she says. “We’ve had our spring break programs for kids these past couple of weeks and the campers are enamoured with them.”
While keeping rats like Charlee and Cynthia as pets is relatively easy, Dunlop does like to have potential adopters come to the shelter to see how the SPCA keeps these animals happy, healthy, safe and comfortable. “They all have two-storey cages, as providing them with lots of room to scurry around is important,” she explains. “We give them hammocks and rope toys to climb and hang from, but people need to realize that these social creatures need to be spent time with beyond the confines of their cage, being handled, played with and cuddled. They’ll even curl up on you and sleep on your chest or shoulder while you’re watching TV.”
Dunlop adds that, due to rats’ pleasant, social personalities, she’d “recommend them over a hamster or a gerbil as a pet any day.”
Asked why she thinks Charlee and Cynthia have not yet been claimed, Dunlop can only guess that they’ve been passed over thus far because of their looks. “We see a lot of people come in for hooded or fancy rats, which are white and cream or black or brown, and these albino girls do not fit that bill,” she says. “But, honestly, you couldn’t find a nicer pair.”
In fact, Charlee and Cynthia only seem to have one vice: potatoes. “They love their hash browns,” says Dunlop, laughing. “They’re true sisters in that they are devoted to each other, but they will scrap over breakfast!”
Could you be the one to give Charlee and Cynthia a lifetime of love? For more information, visit spca.bc.ca/branches/vancouver.
