Home wanted: Rats make good pets

By JULIET ROWAN

Rats make excellent pets. Just ask SPCA hospital manager Sam Skelton, who is happy to list the virtues of the rodent that is some people's worst nightmare.

"They're easy to train. They don't smell like mice do. They have a lot of personality. They're more people-oriented than mice," she says.

This is hard to deny when you see the tame mother rat up for adoption at the SPCA Animal Village in Mangere comfortably sitting on a staff member's shoulder.

The grey-and-white Hooded rat was found in Papatoetoe and brought to the SPCA at the beginning of November. A week later, she surprised staff by giving birth to six babies.

The mother, her four girls and two boys are all up for adoption. Both males have been de-sexed, but not the females because it is too risky to perform the operation on their tiny bodies.

The SPCA will not adopt rats of different sexes together.

Rats make good pets for people who do not have space for a dog or cat but who want a pet with which they can interact.

The rodents need daily handling to remain tame.

* Here is an update on pets we have featured: Noel the 3-week-old kitten is in a foster home for several weeks until she is old enough to go to her own home.

A german shepherd-blue heeler, 18-month-old bitch has been adopted by a Mangere couple.

The stray male lop-ear rabbit was adopted on Christmas Eve.

The mastiff-german shepherd puppy was adopted soon after New Year.

Tabby, the 11-year-old cat, was adopted on Boxing Day by a Mt Wellington woman.

The cameo-coloured cat which survived a house fire has been adopted by Hayley Minter, of Manurewa.

But the 2-year-old female labrador cross featured yesterday is still looking for a home.

* Each day over the holiday period the Herald is featuring a pet which needs an owner. To help, call the SPCA on (09) 256-7300.