I need help...

I hope nobody close this thread. The girl really needs help and advice.

Actually, she looks as though she has reasonably clean cages, adequate space for the leisure and health of the animals she has taken responsibility for, and she's possibly tread a good distance ahead already.

There's a firm difference between hoarding in squalor and attempting a rescue without funding. Rescues run out of funding all of the time- I don't mean to make a generalized statement, but it's a tragic truism. I don't want to believe there is a fine line between rescue-situation and hoarding- they should be distinctly separate entities.


Oh wait, we're dropping it!

Except she is NOT a rescue. Rescues (or, I should say, good rescues) have back up plans.


Sorry, pet peeve.

And helpful advice is sprinkled all throughout the thread!

This is actually a totally manageable situation! It's just going to take some clear headed thinking, time, and of course- hard work! It is probably not a one person job, but this is where the internet is amazing, and people are sometimes even more amazing.


I don't know if its an option for you, OP, but if you can happen to sell or Camera or any other personal items that may not be of need- a bulk-sized bag of Nutro natural choice dog food at the appropriate protein-content might let your ratties coast for quite a while. You might even be able to buy bulk Harlan Teklad/Native Earth(nutritionally appropriate lablock) near your area, and have it delivered or picked up.

What are they eating right now? Do you have access to lots of canned veggies, or anything like that?

As well, you can make bedding out of newspaper that resembles carefresh- you can do a search for that on GM as well.

Here's another useful post:
Does anyone need revolution?
I have several tubes of Revolution that I have no use for. Would love to swap for hammocks/cage liners/etc!
http://www.goosemoose.com/rfc/index.php?topic=4099485.0

Dive further into Goosemoose. Because rats are, in fact, very similar to dogs, the people who care for them tend to care a whole lot- they're very receptive little animals. And seemingly because the rat-community is so much smaller than the myriads of dog communities that exist, the community at Goosemoose is very forward and very discerning in their ethics, so be aware and just as forthcoming in your circumstances. I believe not long ago, someone was attempting to give away free hammock sets to rescue situations or I believe simply those in need- and generous situations as such arise semi-frequently. Make a post in Rat Tails detailing your situation, ask if anyone has vet-hook ups, or any rescues have space. Do exactly as you did here and more- pictures, care card information, everything. Let people know you're compassionate and serious, and that you're in over your head and mature enough to admit you need help, and you need it as soon as it can come. Just reach out as hard as you can. I know it seems as though you're in over your head, but much more serious situations have come up with promising outcomes. At the very least, contact your local rescues and reputable breeders for reputable/knowledgeable rat vets in your area. Possibly you know that not all vets will charge rats as exotics, some have been known to do group discounts, and some are known to have soft spots for serious situations.. see what you can find. I'll see if I can get my guy to the vet this month, and maybe turn my duo into a trio..

I would absolutely agree, and I do think this should be noted- thank you.


I just feel like it's reaching *really* hard to refer to this situation as "hoarding" when it clearly isn't that. Hoarding is a really uncool term to use as a blanket-alternative, and can give a lot of situations a bad name- even with actual, legitimate rescues.

Just to add...there was a comment about people not wanting to adopt from me and would rather buy cheap rats from pet stores...actually, rat people are MORE than happy to adopt rather than buy from pet stores...I ask a very reasonable and cheap adoption fee and sell cages to people that need them as well and I have cut the population of my rats IN HALF AT LEAST, and have made difficult decisions already...all of these rats are completely adoptable, and will get adopted after I nurse them back to complete health to where they can be adopted out. And actually, I do have back up plans and have used them but I'm in a tough spot right now.

I have sold tons of personal items...snowboard, camera, smart phone, etc. and have applied to tons of job and will do more of that tomorrow. I'm not going to continue asking for donations over and over again - I was simply reaching out for help for this vet appointment.

What should I say on these forums? This is my home forum where I feel comfortable reaching out for help...I don't really know how to word it on these other forums.
I have a 40 lb bag of Harlan Tekland, and I do mix low protein senior dog food in with it as well as dry pasta and natural cereal with no added sugars. I bought a 10 for $10 deal of frozen veggies - not canned because I don't want the added sugars and salt in there.
I use newspaper and paper towels in the cages with deep trays...and I use towels from Goodwill in the Ferret Nations because they can just be tucked right under the trays and washed when they get a little stinky.

the fact that seven was banned til APRIL for this is a bit ridiculous.
Worse things have been said on this forum. I think it's unfair that the ban hammer is brought down only when mods or certain mod-loved members get told things they don't want to hear.

We get it..bre is a long time member and it's a touchy subject with her and the mod (because let's face it, if anyone else came onto the forum with a "rescue" situation with 40+ rats and sick animals.. this would not be as civil as it is now).. and I get the stephy issue is a bit..personal as well. but what happened to not picking favorites?

But there is a lot of talk and hot topics and name calling and heated discussion that goes around chaz (all part of having opinions and all).. and I don't think it's very fair that some get banned and some don't based on what they say towards whom.

Wow...

Thanks Fran.

"WHORING HERSELF OUT?" That's an absolutely DISGUSTING thing for someone to say. He has stepped past the boundaries MANY, MANY times - recurring events one after another where he treats people like ****, NOT just me.

But ya know, there's always gotta be a devil's advocate.

I agree with Fran actually.

I don't think it's ridiculous, because she wasn't just banned for this. She was banned because the majority of her posts are extremely rude, condescending, and downright nasty. She takes her ideas (which aren't all that ridiculous) and puts them forward by ridiculing other people's decisions, often times twist their words and skewing the entire situation. On top of that, nothing she posts is remotely helpful because she's so intentionally hurtful, no one with any sense of dignity would take her seriously.

I've seen A LOT of people banned on Chaz, for all sorts of reasons. IMO, this poster has been one of the worst, and I've been waiting for her to be banned for weeks now.

It really isn't a reflection on your issue. I just don't think people getting banned over expressing their opinions towards certain members/about certain issues is ok.
I'm not saying everything he said is true obviously.. but worse things have been said to others and members haven't been straight up banned for months at a time.

Considering this person was referring to post who was openly posting about selling their body for sex as an illegal prostitute, I don't think it was that disgusting....completely irrelevant to the conversation, but not that terrible to say in general.

ETA: To Fran....the difference is yes, people say worse things and don't get banned, but those people are not continually, regularly, horrifically demeaning to others in nearly every thread they post in, and many of them contribute helpful information to the forum. This poster may not have said anything downright horrendous in this thread, or any thread, but they're far from civil and nasty in the majority of their posts.

It really isn't that WILD of a thing to say.
The person in question really was..selling their body. and people were condoning it.

He wasn't referring to you.

I know he wasn't referring to me, but to say that about ANYONE is what I was calling disgusting.

Oh Lord...must have missed that.

:hail::hail::hail:

completely agree. I do not think SevenSins was particularly sensitive or understanding of the fact that these are pets... but especially considering what's gone on on this forum in the past? Til April is way too long, unless we want to set a precedent where every time people are blunt or insensitive they get banned for 1/4 of a year...

Perfect! It sounds like you're doing great so far.. I'll see if I can pull up some example posts from rescues.

Okay - Here is the situation I referenced earlier - hundreds of homeless ratties that weren't exactly ideal - they came from a mentally unbalanced man who adopted I think three(?) rats and it literally just bent out of control from there - hundreds of barely-socialized and sick animals in his home - a sincere hoarding disaster.

http://www.goosemoose.com/rfc/index.php?topic=4078390.0

The thread is super long, but you can see how it begins, what questions people are asking, how people came together to help, etc.

This one might be a little less overwhelming, this is a situation that happened just a little while ago on the East Coast. It seems like a pretty good example.. and you're in luck, it's on the opposite side of the country, instead of over here
"NYC (Brooklyn, Bay Ridge)-30 rats need homes, asst., 9 mos."
http://www.goosemoose.com/rfc/index.php?topic=4097079.0



To start, people will like an introduction - Name, city.
Then, the scenario. How many rats, types, age rage, how you came to have all of them, and of course- conditions and temperament. How dire are these straits- when will you completely run out of resources, how many or which rats are at their threshold before being euthe'd. As many pictures of potential adoptees as possible - and pictures of conditions don't hurt either - if you are showing you are doing the best you can, others will be more motivated to help you! I would mention how far you've gone to keep yourself afloat - care credit, cutting means, etc. Express how far you are willing to go in means of transportation, if at all. Linkdrop Operation Roger as I referenced earlier, see if you can request a rat train along the PNW or Western Region of the states- this actually happens semi-frequently according on GM. Reach out and ask where your local reputable rescues are, as well as veterinarians. And honestly, it couldn't hurt to mention your other animals in need, either. This is a hub of a lot of people who sincerely care about who they adopt into their home and what happens. And of course, be as grateful as possible with everyone who chooses to help you, even in the smallest ways.

Oh, and remember to join and cross post everything here, too!
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/RatsPacNW/join

Blunt and insensitive is an extreme understatement.

ya lol he wasn't referring to you.
not sure by what kind of stretch asking for donations for animals would be equated to prostitution :rofl1:

You clearly don't understand what he was referring to, or else you would understand that it was not you.

Other than that I agree with Fran.