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Why the Website?
I want to get the word
out to people in Central Maine about what super pets rats are. Maine's economy is terrible and people don't
slow down collecting cats and dogs that they can't afford and don't have time for. A rat takes up little space
and can live comfortably on a cheap bag of lab blocks and your table scraps. If you don't have a lot of time,
that's ok too. Get two or three rats of the same sex and throw them lots of cloth, cardboard, wood and other assorted
things to play with and home decorate with and the rats are fine left alone while you complete that big project at work and
catch up on those days you need to spend with your kids.
Why Rats!?
Rats are often like little people, often like little dogs and believe it or not, often like kittens! When
properly socialized, fed, housed and loved rats like to cuddle, wrestle with your hands, play tag, grab any available shiny
or bright colored thing to hide and covet and they develop personalities and tricks that most people never believe until they
see it. Rats come in an unlimited number of body types, coat colors, coat types and even have two different ear types.
Any color your dog, cat, horse or mouse can come in, the rat comes in.
Why Me!
Due to a lot of love for animals and a special soft spot for rats I have kept them off and on for 12 years. I could
never have an established rattery due to being in the Army from 1994 to 2004. Now that I am settled down I find
myself able to keep 20 or so rats comfortably. My life is fairly simple and I have at least 2 days a week to just sit
home, organize things and be obsessive. When I found from my Veterans Administration Mental Health councilor that my
constant headaches, fatique and mood swings were highly due to stress that I impose on myself he told me to get a hobby.
I jokingly told him I'd always wanted to start a rat lovers group. I had to laugh out loud when he got all
excited and told me to go home, do just that, and come back in a month to tell him how it's going. Then I thought
about it and realized, that is perfect! That is exactly what I want to do. The ideas of what can be done
to make rats more accepted are endless and there is a huge following on the internet of people with the same desire.
So, now I spend my 2 plus days a week working on this website, taking pictures of my rats, building newer, better rat cages,
thinking about potential breedings, observing and playing with the rats and thinking up new ways to publicize my "Rattery"
and rats in general. I have had no success finding interested parties in my area but I won't give up, at least
not in 2008 since it's my first year really building up and getting established.
See my Blog to find out my latest
plans, ideas and happenings as I update at least once a week, usually twice.
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