As Saturday approached, I wondered if I'd be able to find homes for the girls. The plan was to take them to the AFRMA show and see if there any rat lover that might be interested in them. If not, I would continue the rest of this week trying to find homes and if I still couldn't, I'd start sending them to people who had asked for them out of state (those from alt.pets.rodents who I know are rat lovers). This of course, would cost me a lot of money, but if that's what I had to do to insure they'd end up in good homes, than that was that.
The Sock Twins on their last night at my place
On Friday night, I spent some time with the girls, letting them run all over me and play. To them, it was just another regular day in their life, just like the other days had been. I knew I would miss them if they went, but I couldn't keep them here with seven boys running around. It was just too hard to keep them and their mom separated, yet still give them time to run around.
I got the camera out and captured them. Their mom ran around and I almost couldn't tell the difference. They were all just about their mom's size, if you can believe that. I ended up putting Brook out with Felix for a while, so the babies could play themselves on their last night here. They enjoyed corn and peas, some cheeseballs and ferret treats. They climbed just about every inch of my body.
The girl I call Swan on her last night here.
Goldy sits atop the folded table behind the hallway door.
Goldy was climbing everywhere. She has her mom's climbing skills, more so than any of the babies. She also has her mom's habit for investigation. She wants to see and know everything.
They all played for hours until I went to bed, which was pretty late. They slept pretty soundly in their tank, unaware that the next day, they'd see things they'd never seen before. There was actually a world outside the bathroom, bedroom and hallway.
The next day, I popped out of bed, made a little coffee, let the girls run around the hallway one last time, and prepared them for their trip. I didn't want to haul their whole 25 gallon tank into my car, so I put them in the travel bag I use all the time when I'm taking my boys somewhere, an old tennis bag. In fact, I placed the bag in the hallway for a bit, so they could get used to it before I hauled them off. As the boys do, they seemed to love hanging out in it. Their uncle Oscar used to spend a lot of time that bag, even when he didn't have to. I guess the darkness and the comfortability is nice to them.
Once in the car, the baffled girls had no idea what was going on. They were outside for the first time in their lives. Although Brook had been in the car before on her initial trip to my place, that was so long ago I'm sure she didn't remember.
The girls all stayed in the bag. They wouldn't leave. The first time Felix and Oscar were in the car, they did the same thing.
As I drove, I'd put my hand in the bag and all of the girls would come to it and lie around it, not moving, not coming out, just sitting next to the hand they knew well.
I got to the show and went in, leaving the girls to run around my car until I needed them. I asked a couple of the people with rats in the show if they were interested in some new girls. They weren't. They were looking for specific show types, not general rats like mine. Odd eyed, dumbo, blue, etc..
I was getting worried. It looked like the people here would only want fancy rats, not nice, little, well-raised regular rats like I had. I asked one of the ladies at the main booth if she'd be interested in them. She said, let me check. She left and came back about five minutes later. There was a woman there who did rescues. She would want the babies and their cage and a $20 donation to take them. That was a great deal in my book. I'd gladly pay the money knowing they were going to a good place.
I met the lady and she wanted to see the rats. Since I didn't have their tank with me, I told her I'd bring it and them to her residence the next day. I went out to my car and got the bag so she could see the girls.
As I put them on the table, people started venturing over to the bag. As it was at my house, the babies were people magnets. People were coming over, petting them, inquiring about them, holding them. A couple people said the girls reminded them of other rats they once had. Of course, everyone was nuts about Goldy.
Donald and Linda Lafavor of Tuhunga, California wanted Goldy. They knew they didn't want her by herself, so they wanted one of the socks twins too. Linda held each of the twins and picked one.
They hadn't planned on buying and rats, they were just looking. But after seeing Goldy, they decided they might as well get her and a sister (and no charge of course).
They bought one of those great Fern cages made especially for rats, and all the accessories. They were going to take them with them on trips in their motor home. The two little girls had no idea how great their life was going to be. So much better than the hallway!
Donald with Goldy and the sock twin outside the show.
The lady at the show who was going to take the girls mentioned to me that I wasn't really allowed to do what it now appeared that I was doing, which was promoting my rats for sale (which wasn't my intention).
I totally understood as I didn't want to take any money away from the people who were there to sell rats. Another gentleman, Dave Tanaka of Downey, California asked me if I was selling the rats. I said I wasn't selling them, I was giving them away to good homes, but if he could meet me outside, we could discuss it.
Dave is a 5th grade teacher. He had two girls in class and one of them died. I asked him what he would be doing with the girls when the summer came and he said they take them home. His son, a big animal lover, was playing with (the rat I called) Swan.
And she appeared to be digging him too. They decided to take the other sock twin. They also bought one of those cool cages. It looked like all four girls found great homes.
I was also glad that they were taken in pairs, so that each girl would remain with at least one sibling, rather than with totally knew rats.
Their new owners also gave me their email addresses and said they'd let me know how the girls were doing, which was great.
Swan has a new buddy.
Brook sat in the bag and didn't move.
As I drove home, Brook would come out of the bag periodically, look around the car and then go back in the bag. I assume she was looking for the babies.
When I called her as I drove, she would just look up at me, then look away. I wasn't sure if she was mad at me, or wondering where her girls were or just tired.
When I got home, I put the bag on the couch. She sprang out and ran all over the place like she usually does. I let Felix out and she and Felix played. Right now, she's running around and seems pretty happy, so if she was sad about the girls, I hope she's not now.
I'm still not sure what to do with Brook. Since I have the seven boys still, she has to be separated from all of them except Felix (who's fixed of course)
Dave holds the other sock twin.
I'm going to try and find a home for her somehow. I don't know where it'll be, but if I'm lucky again, I'll find a good owner for her like her daughters got. I know she won't go to a petstore and I'll do my best, whatever it takes, to make sure she lives the rest of her life at a good rat home.
I hate to give her up too. If I can get her fixed for a good price, that might be an option too. If she could be with Claude, Luke and Oscar and not have to worry about getting knocked up, that would be okay with me.
Thanks to all those from alt.pets.rodents for their help.
The three sons of Brook are doing great. I lie on the couch and let them run all over me as I watch TV.
Goldy and the socks twin in their new home, way, way better than the tank they grew up in.
Stay tuned to this website. When I hear and progress of the girls, I'll be sure to update the site. And thanks again to the great owners who took the girls. Gives you a little faith in humanity knowing that there are other animal lovers out there too, who see rats as likeable, friendly creatures like I do.