I am now the only actively breeding rattery in my area. And, though there are a small number of ratteries in nearby states, they breed for themselves and to share with other breeders, leaving very few babies available to pet adopters. Over the 11 years I have been breeding rats I have seen breeders come and go, some just "burning out", and others quitting when they discovered the amount of time, effort, and expense involved in the hobby. (Back yard breeders will always be around but the GOOD breeders are few and far between.) The hobby needs new breeders who are dedicated to working hard to improve upon the health and longevity of pet rats AND to offering the pet-seeking public rats of a much higher quality than they can find at their neighborhood pet shop. As more and more people are doing their homework and learning that they can get friendlier, healthier pets from a good breeder (and are trying to seek them out), it is becoming harder and harder to FIND a good breeder.
In my breeding I always work to improve upon the rats I have, and to continue to produce rats of the highest quality. I take great pleasure in placing these rats in loving homes, giving pet owners the opportunity to purchase healthy, sweet-tempered rats. After all, the whole POINT of working to improve the species is so that PET OWNERS can experience the joys of having healthy, sweet pet rats, that they cannot get from the mill-produced animals found in pet shops. At least that's my philosophy. There are breeders who do not share it and these are the breeders who raise very few litters and who share babies amongst themselves, placing a rare few with the public.
Whether would-be breeders are being discouraged because they cannot locate mentors or because they cannot locate pedigreed breeding stock to start their ratteries, or because the prospect of the time, effort and expense involved is too daunting, I do not know. Maybe they have been turned off by the antics and philosophies of breeders I have described above. All I know is that the fancy very much needs more good breeders, both to improve the rats themselves (and enlarge the pedigreed gene pool) and to provide quality pets for the public. If more people don't come along who want to become (good) breeders, eventually there will be none, and adopters will have only BYBs and pet shops to turn to for pet rats. That would be such a shame!
I always have a waiting list and often find it is quite long due to the difficulty adopters have in locating breeders near them. (Of course people contact me because "Only the SWEETEST pet rats come from Sweet Genes!") After 11 years of breeding I would like to slow things down a bit, breeding fewer litters, and spacing litters out more, but there are no breeders to whom I can refer adopters. I have met many individuals and lovely families over the years. The rats I placed with them have been much-loved and spoiled rotten! It has given me so much joy to get updates, funny stories, and pictures of their "furkids"! It is because of these wonderful people and more like them, seeking rats from a good breeder and wanting to avoid pet shop rats, that I continue to work hard at what I do. Pet adopters, please know that I will continue to produce rats of the highest quality and help all the people I can. I cannot (and will not) breed more litters than I am comfortable with raising, and will breed and raise all rats according the high standards I have always set. Mother Nature is in complete control of how many babies arrive, how many of each sex, color, ear-set, etc. Because of the shortage of breeders (good ones, not BYBs), getting quality rats may entail a wait of several months. Start looking early for a breeder, and get added to a waiting list. For those who choose to be added to MY waiting list, please know that you WILL get rats and they will be WORTH the wait!
Debbie
