I think I found someones pet rat!!! HELP!

Fran101

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#1
Ok, so I was walking down my condo's hallway and saw something..scuttle..
Mind you, I live on the 50th floor of a very clean building so it was a total odd moment

I turned the corner next to the elevator and saw this RAT!! My first instinct was of course to scream but I noticed that
1. It didn't run away or seem scared of me
2.It was white and brown
3. It was standing on it's hind legs looking at me and waving it's arms, like..begging..like a dog.

It looks exactly like this


Ok so I went into my apartment and got a cardboard box and put some carrots in it and called it over and it ran inside the box. Which ALREADY IS FREAKING WEIRD FOR A NORMAL RAT TO DO. My parents think it's just a pest rat but what kind of rat COMES WHEN CALLED?!

Problem? I now have a trapped rat in a box and I have no idea what to do.

I called the front desk and they said nobody has called about any lost pets and that they could send a maintenance guy to come get it but that that would involve killing the rat. and I really don't think it's just a regular rat.. it doesn't seem to be trying to escape or eat out of the box or anything..and when I lift the top of the box it just looks at me..like kind of.. oh god I sound like a crazy person.. but like a friendly kind of look lol

..oh and I don't think it likes carrots.. I gave it a few doritos and it seems to like those.

but any idea how to go about finding a rat owner?? I've got 24 hours before my mom has a nervous breakdown.

I can't make TOO MUCH NOISE about it as far as my condo building goes because rats are CERTAINLY not allowed. I've already been sitting in the hallway waiting for someone to come looking but nothing so far.

I also have no idea how to give it water. Preferably in a way that does not involve me touching it lol will a small bowl work??

I'm also kind of scared that this is just a friendly..diseased totally normal rat.
but even my mom agrees that it's too nice of a color to just be a rat rat.
 

Xandra

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#2
Put out a poster saying "have you lost your 'dog'?"

With this picture:


Type in weight, 10 oz etc

ETA or better yet, a poster with a picture of a dog/cat/whatever animal is allowed with a rat

eg (but maybe a little less obvious?)


saying "found pet" or something.

Or just do a "found pet" poster, anyone who lost their rat would probably clue in.

lol

I guess if you or your mom just cannot do the rat thing, give it to the humane society? Are there any small animal rescues where you are?
 

crazedACD

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#3
Someone I know has snakes and if the snake doesn't eat one of the weeks he buys rats, he throws them outside as he doesn't like to keep and feed them. Not saying that this rat isn't lost, that is also a possibility. Maybe put an ad on craigslist, if not call around to local (small) pet shops, maybe they will take it. It is possible it could be used as a feeder though.

Or you have a new pet :D.
 

Xandra

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#4
Could be a feeder, but coming running over to a person is pretty friendly even for your average FO(pet store) rat.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#5
Could be a feeder, but coming running over to a person is pretty friendly even for your average FO(pet store) rat.
As a previous rat owner most feeders are nasty tempered.

Fran awww good on you! Try a poster, if you have any rubbermate storage containers use that (with holes) for the night. If no one claims it try a rescue??
 

Fran101

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#8
CrazedACD.. if someone did that in an apartment building that would be the party foul above all party fouls!! LOL

I gave it some water and I'm pretty sure this is someones pet. But I can't think of a reason why it would be WALKING AROUND a hallway.
I put on some leather gloves and stuck my hand in to put the water bowl in and it sniffed my fingers and tried to climb on

I stuck some "FOUND PET" and my contact info post-its in all the elevators.
I drew a piece of cheese on the post-it. Hopefully that's enough for someone to get it lol
 

Fran101

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#10
Does it have the brown above the nose just like the picture? I am pretty positive wild rats do NOT come in Himalayan ;)
Ya. It's all cream colored with a brown nose just like the picture. That's why I figured it wasn't a regular rat.. it looks like a siamese cat!

and I sure hope they don't or else this is probably the dumbest thing I've ever done and my family is NEVER going to let me live it down lol
 

sparks19

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#11
Why wouldn't rats be allowed as pets? They are most often kept in a cage and aren't nearly as destructive as dogs can be. That is just weird.

Hope you find the owners.

And hope the elevator goes out lol 50th floor YIKES!
 

Xandra

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#12
I rescued a wild rat once.

I saw the janitor putting him over a fence with tongs... probably poisoned. He was still there hours later.

I syringe fed him broccoli until he recovered.

Considering he was a wild rat he was actually quite accepting of me. (once he got better, at first he really had no choice but to accept me).

Rats are salt-of-the-earth animals.
 

Picklepaige

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#14
Yeah, they can be little escape artists, especially the females! That is definitely a pet. Whether it escaped or got thrown out, I couldn't tell you :/
 

Fran101

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#15
Why wouldn't rats be allowed as pets? They are most often kept in a cage and aren't nearly as destructive as dogs can be. That is just weird.

Hope you find the owners.

And hope the elevator goes out lol 50th floor YIKES!
I think it's an insurance thing.. or just a paranoid landlord thing lol Like all the rats are going to get out and breed and take over and kill us all.

We are on the 52nd floor lol we are the point where it's like..if the elevator goes out...we are all just screwed haha no way I am getting down those stairs.

Amazing view of the ocean though! LOL priorities.
 

JessLough

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#16
Go door to door on your floor, asking if they've lost a pet, without going into details?

Sounds like the landlord is paranoid of a rat overrun... same reason rats aren't allowed in Alberta.
 

sparks19

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#17
I think it's an insurance thing.. or just a paranoid landlord thing lol Like all the rats are going to get out and breed and take over and kill us all.

We are on the 52nd floor lol we are the point where it's like..if the elevator goes out...we are all just screwed haha no way I am getting down those stairs.

Amazing view of the ocean though! LOL priorities.
Oh yeah getting down the stePs would suck... Especially in an emergency but if the elevator was out and i had to go UP... I would sleeP in the dumpster LOL. I would never make it.

"you dial 9-1 and when I collapse dial the other 1". LOL
 

Fran101

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#19
SUCCESS!!!! Got a call from a panicked rat owner who lives on the 10th FLOOR!!!

They were bringing their hurricane supplies/groceries in so the door was propped open and they guess she got out of her cage, slipped out, got in the elevator and I suppose someone rode up with her, didn't notice and let her out! LOL

YAY!! HER NAME IS ABIGAIL!! :D lol now that it's safe I actually held her.. she is quite cute.
I can't imagine how someone rode 42 floors with a rat in the elevator and didn't notice!! HAHA

and holy jesus.. why would she WANT to escape that cage?! lol I went over to deliver her and her cage is this HUGE ferret nation with fleece stuffs and she even has a friend! I'm just glad to is safe and home.. her family was like CRYING, I'm very glad I stopped to pick her up.

Nothing like a little Hurricane Ivan rat adventure lol
 

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