First, WELCOME! The Fancy needs you and the pet adopting public needs you! Second, don't be scared away by the established breeders who would like to control every move you make. You don't need them to become successful. Really!
The Fancy's efforts to educate the public about the rat mills that produce the rats sold in pet shops and so then directing people to the benefits of getting their pet rats from good, responsible, breeders, has shown a lot of success. More and more, people are "doing their homework" and contacting breeders when they want healthy, social, pet rats. The problem is that there are not enough good breeders for people to go to and not enough rats being placed in pet homes by the ones that do exist.**** I do NOT advocate that any breeder simply "crank out" rats for the public, becoming "rat mills", so to speak. This does no good for the rat species as a whole OR for the Fancy, OR for pet owners.
As a new breeder or a wannabe breeder you no doubt have studied the websites of established breeders. You see how many babies in their litters are kept or placed with other breeders and how very few are being placed with pet adopters. (While certainly breeders need to keep back babies for future breeding, there is no need to keep as many as they do AND to ALSO place babies from these litters with other breeders. Only the best should be kept to potentially contribute to the gene pool.) I have had some of these other breeders actually tell me that pet adopters are not valued, that they are breeding for themselves only. Pet adopters are just a nuisance that must be dealt with in order to place the babies not kept or placed with other breeders. One current breeder's website even spells out that "We breed to benefit the rats, not the rat owners." Wow. The work that good breeders do to improve the quality of their rats SHOULD be done to ultimately benefit pet owners. Otherwise, what's the point of all the work? If you care about breeding rats of quality (and working to improve them, always) and believe it's important to share these rats with pet adopters, the Fancy needs you!
If your expressed interest in becoming a breeder hasn't exactly been met with open arms by some established breeders, here are some valid reasons why. Many wannabe breeders (or newbies) haven't thought things out carefully and made a plan for being successful. New breeders come and go quickly, all the time so it's hard to know sometimes who will really "stick around for the long haul" and be deserving of the time and energy a mentor must give. Unfortunately there are wannabes and newbies who are not welcomed for some not-so-valid reasons. There are some established breeders who seem to relish the "power" they believe they hold over anyone wishing to enter the breeders' clique. Jump through all their hoops, do things exactly the way they tell you to do them, with no deviation...(because everything is seen in terms of black or white, "good" or "bad" in their eyes), and then MAYBE, just MAYBE, they'll acknowledge your existence and work with you. Trouble is, rat breeding, just like life, is full of shades of gray. There is more than one way to go about things and still be professional and ethical. Within these breeders' cliques it's "their way or the highway" and so some people who would have been good additions to the rat breeding world become discouraged, feeling (mistakenly) that because they have been in effect shut out by these cliques, there is no way they can become successful breeders. I'm here to tell you that it's NOT TRUE!
I have been involved in the Fancy and have been breeding rats for over ten years. I have worked with other breeders, helped form rat clubs, and was the driving force behind making the first rat show in this area a successful reality. I have shown several Champion rats and have served as a show judge. Demonstrating myself to be professional, ethical, and responsive to adopters has always been my aim. Being able to share rats of high quality with pet adopters is my passion, the thing that keeps me going. My success and my reputation have never depended on my being a part of any clique but on my own efforts as a breeder and my responsiveness to would-be adopters. I know very well the "ins and outs" of the rat community and am familiar with the challenges that face new breeders and wannabes. If you reach beyond those breeders who want to control you (or refuse to work with you if you don't do as they direct, or have x, y, or z on your website---things that are mostly directed at other breeders anyway, and not pet adopters) you can get the advice and help that can show you how to become a successful, ethical, responsible, breeder. You do not need the support of the cliques to become a good breeder, only the standards, ethics and desire. It is what YOU DO as a breeder and HOW you do it that determines whether you will be a good, successful, breeder. Worried you can't get breeding rats if you aren't "in the clique"? Don't be! There are plenty of wonderful breeders out there who will help you.
When choosing a mentor, do your research. Not every breeder who "talks the talk" practices what is preached. Make sure your goals and theirs are compatible.
All the education of the public towards getting their pet rats from good breeders should not have been done in vain. There is a very real need for new breeders (GOOD ones, NOT BYBs!) for pet adopters to go to. There is a REASON for improving rats through responsible, thoughtful, ethical breeding and that is to be able to allow pet owners the opportunity to steer clear of the poorly-bred pet shop rats and buy healthier, sweeter, pets. If you agree, the pet owners and the Fancy NEED YOU!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Signs you may be dealing with a bad (or a backyard) breeder
I have recently been contacted by several people who have had bad experiences dealing with breeders they've found so I feel it is important for me to explain a bit further the signs that may indicate a breeder who should be avoided. While it's wonderful that an adopter recognizes the importance of buying from a breeder (or a good rescue) rather than getting rats from a pet shop, it must be noted that all breeders are not the same. Anyone can call themselves a breeder, pair rats up and produce babies. When adopters buy from a poor quality breeder or "backyard breeder" it may forever cause them to view all breeders in a poor light. Determining who is a good breeder and who is a bad breeder (one to avoid) is not something the average person knows how to do. They think they are doing the smart thing by just finding a breeder to deal with. The people who have contacted me regarding their bad experiences with breeders had no way to know not to deal with the breeders they'd found. They were badly bitten by the rats they adopted and then burned when the breeders refused to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, and either refused to take the rats back and/or refund the money the adopters had paid. PLEASE heed the following warning signs to avoid similar scenarios:
A breeder asks for extra money before giving you a pedigree.
A breeder is also a rescue.
A breeder cannot show you pedigree records or any other records related to her/his breeding of rats.
You can smell the odor of urine outside the house, before you knock on the door.
Cages and premises are dirty and unkempt.
Rats are heard to be sneezing or bodies are covered with scabs.
Rats do not have at least three generations of known pedigree information. (You may note this on the breeder's website when looking at her/his rats OR if you inquire to see pedigree information.)
Breeder claims her/his rats are tumor free, megacolon free, live 4-5 years, etc.
A good breeder knows her/his animals and keeps careful records about their health and breeding information. The rattery should be clean and well kept and rats should appear healthy, with no sign of sneezing or scratching (or scabs) which could indicate mites. Good breeders will readily share information, be willing to provide references, and will always tell you that she/he is willing to take rats back at any time (and in fact may ask that you return any unwanted rats to the rattery rather than the adopter rehoming them) and/or refund your money should there be some health or temperament related issue that shows up.
If a breeder makes claims that seem "too good to be true" regarding the health or longevity of their rats, a "red flag" should definitely be raised. No breeder who has been around for any length of time can legitimately claim not to have had rats who developed tumors, for example. The normal life span of a rat is 2 1/2-3 years. Claims of having rats who live to the ages of 4 or 5 years are not to be believed. ( Rats CAN live as long as this but it is very rare and certainly not something you can expect, no matter what kind of claims a breeder makes.) There are no special diets that can keep rats tumor free or extend their normal life spans. Unless you are able to confirm a breeder's claims by research you do online, and from well-known studies, be extremely leery. One thing I cannot stress enough is that no matter how far you have driven to reach a breeder, or how eager you are to get rats, if you see anything that leads you to question the quality of the breeder or her/his rats (and their temperament or health), LEAVE WITHOUT GETTING RATS. The people who contact me about their bad experiences knew things "weren't right", ( smelled ruine before entering the breeder's home, saw cages piled high, overcrowded cages, rats kept in unclean conditions, were asked to pay extra for pedigrees, etc, etc), but because they were eager, had driven a far distance, had children with them who were eager to get rats, etc, they disregarded their better judgement and bought rats anyway and were later very sorry they had done so. These people "found out the hard way" and learned some painful lessons. I hope potential adopters will read (and heed) my warnings when looking for a breeder from whom to buy good quality pet rats. Adopters who get their rats from a good breeder have told me on more than one occasion that they can really "tell the difference" in quality (temperament and/or health) from rats gotten from pet shops or poor/backyard breeders.
Debbie
A breeder asks for extra money before giving you a pedigree.
A breeder is also a rescue.
A breeder cannot show you pedigree records or any other records related to her/his breeding of rats.
You can smell the odor of urine outside the house, before you knock on the door.
Cages and premises are dirty and unkempt.
Rats are heard to be sneezing or bodies are covered with scabs.
Rats do not have at least three generations of known pedigree information. (You may note this on the breeder's website when looking at her/his rats OR if you inquire to see pedigree information.)
Breeder claims her/his rats are tumor free, megacolon free, live 4-5 years, etc.
A good breeder knows her/his animals and keeps careful records about their health and breeding information. The rattery should be clean and well kept and rats should appear healthy, with no sign of sneezing or scratching (or scabs) which could indicate mites. Good breeders will readily share information, be willing to provide references, and will always tell you that she/he is willing to take rats back at any time (and in fact may ask that you return any unwanted rats to the rattery rather than the adopter rehoming them) and/or refund your money should there be some health or temperament related issue that shows up.
If a breeder makes claims that seem "too good to be true" regarding the health or longevity of their rats, a "red flag" should definitely be raised. No breeder who has been around for any length of time can legitimately claim not to have had rats who developed tumors, for example. The normal life span of a rat is 2 1/2-3 years. Claims of having rats who live to the ages of 4 or 5 years are not to be believed. ( Rats CAN live as long as this but it is very rare and certainly not something you can expect, no matter what kind of claims a breeder makes.) There are no special diets that can keep rats tumor free or extend their normal life spans. Unless you are able to confirm a breeder's claims by research you do online, and from well-known studies, be extremely leery. One thing I cannot stress enough is that no matter how far you have driven to reach a breeder, or how eager you are to get rats, if you see anything that leads you to question the quality of the breeder or her/his rats (and their temperament or health), LEAVE WITHOUT GETTING RATS. The people who contact me about their bad experiences knew things "weren't right", ( smelled ruine before entering the breeder's home, saw cages piled high, overcrowded cages, rats kept in unclean conditions, were asked to pay extra for pedigrees, etc, etc), but because they were eager, had driven a far distance, had children with them who were eager to get rats, etc, they disregarded their better judgement and bought rats anyway and were later very sorry they had done so. These people "found out the hard way" and learned some painful lessons. I hope potential adopters will read (and heed) my warnings when looking for a breeder from whom to buy good quality pet rats. Adopters who get their rats from a good breeder have told me on more than one occasion that they can really "tell the difference" in quality (temperament and/or health) from rats gotten from pet shops or poor/backyard breeders.
Debbie
Monday, September 6, 2010
Why should I get my rats from a breeder? What's wrong with just going to my local pet shop?
Most of the rats sold in shops will be sold as "food" for reptiles, while a lucky few will be sold as pets. (It is only relatively recently that some shops have been aiming to sell to the pet-buying public.) This means that the rats do not need to be "nice", or socialized with people before being sold. They don't need to be healthy, beyond the first short days, weeks or months, since they will not be living long anyway. The large population of reptile owners demands a constant supply of "pinkies" (rats less than a week old), "fuzzies" (rats one-two weeks old), and older animals, often labeled as "small", "medium" and "large", in the cages or "feeder bins" of pet shops. For all these reasons, most pet shop rats come from facilities where there is mass production of rats. Breeding any and all females (regardless of age), over and over and over again, is the norm. It doesn't matter what males father litters, so rats are all jumbled together, producing litter after litter, which then go out the door and into the shops. Rats can be fed on poor quality food, just what is needed to get them to live for a while, and no veterinary care is given, as this would be too costly, and is not necessary, given the goals of mass production. There is no selection for future health or temperament, and no handling/socializing of babies.
I have heard many sad tales, of people adopting rats from pet shops, only to have them fall ill shortly after, or even die within a very short time. Many are purchased already sneezing from respiratory problems, and carrying mites. Many are skittish and afraid of people. Others, who appear friendly, can "turn mean" or bite a few months later, as a rat's hormone levels change. Sweet, healthy rats can be purchased in shops, and may even live long lives. (Rats normally live 2 1/2 - 3 years.) The odds though, are stacked against this happening.
A good, responsible, reputable breeder carefully chooses healthy, good-tempered rats as breeding stock. In fact, the rats will have pedigrees that are known for many generations. Records are kept on the health and longevity of each animal, which a breeder then uses to choose which rats to pair. A good breeder wants to produce healthy, people-friendly animals. Some, who also show their animals, work to improve type (conformation) as well. Babies are handled from the day of their birth and are well socialized by the time they are placed in new homes, no earlier than 5 weeks of age. (Most breeders place babies at anywhere from 5-8 weeks of age.) Breeders put in a lot of time and effort raising their rats, so they naturally have a desire to see that babies are placed in homes where they will be cared for properly (appropriate cage, bedding, diet, and lots of playtime with their human(s)), and with owners who will keep the breeder updated as to the health of the animals. (This is to aid the breeder in being aware of any health issues which may affect the future use (or not) of a particular breeding line.) When you contact a breeder about wanting to adopt rats, expect that you will be asked a series of questions about how you plan to care for your new pets. Responsible breeders will also require that you adopt in same-sex pairs (due to rats' social nature) unless you have other rats already. You will be asked to sign an adoption agreement too, where you agree to provide proper care (and veterinary if ever needed) of your new rats, agree not to breed (anything sold as pet only...breeders have special requirements of those to whom they sell breeding stock) to sell to pet shops or to produce "food" for reptiles.
Many people call themselves breeders. Sometimes sorting out the good, responsible, reputable ones from the uneducated, irresponsible ones can be tricky. The best breeders will be established, meaning that they have been around for at least a year, and ideally, several. They will have good reputations. Ask around! Don't ever be shy about asking a breeder for a list of references, either from other breeders, or from people who have adopted pet rats from them before. A good breeder will eagerly advise prospective buyers as to what constitutes proper caging, bedding, and diet, and will answer any questions about rats as pets. She/he will be able to tell you about the parents and relatives of any babies you are interested in adopting, and will be able to show you a pedigree. Their breeding rats will all have at least three generations of known pedigree, and will be registered on NARR (North American Rat Registry -- http://www.ratregistry.org/) Any babies the breeder produces who do not find new homes will be kept by the breeder, and are NEVER given/sold to pet shops. Any breeder who raises so many rats that they can't keep what doesn't get placed, or who gives/sells rats to pet shops is NOT a good breeder. Responsible breeders will also tell you that they will take back any rats they have raised, at any time, should the adopter ever feel compelled to re-home them.
Buying rats from a good breeder gives adopters the opportunity to add healthy, socialized pets to the family. While there are never any "guarantees," responsible, reputable breeders will have done all in their power to produce rats that will live out a normal life span with good health. Should an adopter's rat(s) become ill – respiratory problems are common, unfortunately – the breeder should "be there" to offer help and advise as to care you may be able to give yourself, or to tell you when to take your pet to a rat-knowledgeable veterinarian. Good breeders KNOW what they will produce in terms of health and temperament. Adopters of animals that have such relatively short lives, deserve to start out with rats that have been bred with care. If you choose to buy from a pet shop, you are playing a kind of "rat roulette"!
© 2008 Debbie Fratini
I have heard many sad tales, of people adopting rats from pet shops, only to have them fall ill shortly after, or even die within a very short time. Many are purchased already sneezing from respiratory problems, and carrying mites. Many are skittish and afraid of people. Others, who appear friendly, can "turn mean" or bite a few months later, as a rat's hormone levels change. Sweet, healthy rats can be purchased in shops, and may even live long lives. (Rats normally live 2 1/2 - 3 years.) The odds though, are stacked against this happening.
A good, responsible, reputable breeder carefully chooses healthy, good-tempered rats as breeding stock. In fact, the rats will have pedigrees that are known for many generations. Records are kept on the health and longevity of each animal, which a breeder then uses to choose which rats to pair. A good breeder wants to produce healthy, people-friendly animals. Some, who also show their animals, work to improve type (conformation) as well. Babies are handled from the day of their birth and are well socialized by the time they are placed in new homes, no earlier than 5 weeks of age. (Most breeders place babies at anywhere from 5-8 weeks of age.) Breeders put in a lot of time and effort raising their rats, so they naturally have a desire to see that babies are placed in homes where they will be cared for properly (appropriate cage, bedding, diet, and lots of playtime with their human(s)), and with owners who will keep the breeder updated as to the health of the animals. (This is to aid the breeder in being aware of any health issues which may affect the future use (or not) of a particular breeding line.) When you contact a breeder about wanting to adopt rats, expect that you will be asked a series of questions about how you plan to care for your new pets. Responsible breeders will also require that you adopt in same-sex pairs (due to rats' social nature) unless you have other rats already. You will be asked to sign an adoption agreement too, where you agree to provide proper care (and veterinary if ever needed) of your new rats, agree not to breed (anything sold as pet only...breeders have special requirements of those to whom they sell breeding stock) to sell to pet shops or to produce "food" for reptiles.
Many people call themselves breeders. Sometimes sorting out the good, responsible, reputable ones from the uneducated, irresponsible ones can be tricky. The best breeders will be established, meaning that they have been around for at least a year, and ideally, several. They will have good reputations. Ask around! Don't ever be shy about asking a breeder for a list of references, either from other breeders, or from people who have adopted pet rats from them before. A good breeder will eagerly advise prospective buyers as to what constitutes proper caging, bedding, and diet, and will answer any questions about rats as pets. She/he will be able to tell you about the parents and relatives of any babies you are interested in adopting, and will be able to show you a pedigree. Their breeding rats will all have at least three generations of known pedigree, and will be registered on NARR (North American Rat Registry -- http://www.ratregistry.org/) Any babies the breeder produces who do not find new homes will be kept by the breeder, and are NEVER given/sold to pet shops. Any breeder who raises so many rats that they can't keep what doesn't get placed, or who gives/sells rats to pet shops is NOT a good breeder. Responsible breeders will also tell you that they will take back any rats they have raised, at any time, should the adopter ever feel compelled to re-home them.
Buying rats from a good breeder gives adopters the opportunity to add healthy, socialized pets to the family. While there are never any "guarantees," responsible, reputable breeders will have done all in their power to produce rats that will live out a normal life span with good health. Should an adopter's rat(s) become ill – respiratory problems are common, unfortunately – the breeder should "be there" to offer help and advise as to care you may be able to give yourself, or to tell you when to take your pet to a rat-knowledgeable veterinarian. Good breeders KNOW what they will produce in terms of health and temperament. Adopters of animals that have such relatively short lives, deserve to start out with rats that have been bred with care. If you choose to buy from a pet shop, you are playing a kind of "rat roulette"!
© 2008 Debbie Fratini
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