Quote:
Originally Posted by RichKlit
Thank everything holy for that rule!! Disgusting, vile, putrid things of my nightmares.
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LOL. The domesticated (aka "fancy") ones are pretty cool. Very smart critters too.
Rats used to be used for blood sport - rat baiting. They'd toss a hundred or so of them in a pit, and then toss in a terrier breed and bets would be made on how long it would take the dog to kill all of them. Illegal in most countries now.
Fancy rats are great pets. They are largely self-caring and affordable pets. They are considered to be on par with cats/dogs in terms of intelligence. Easy to train, loyal, intelligent (as mentioned), self caring (independent), and if they're from a reputable breeder, pose no more of a health risk than any other pet you might own.
Friends in Sask have 2 of the fancy rats. Sweetest animals and now their favorite pet ever, out of any pets they've owned. I'd own a couple if Alberta allowed it, but I'm not keen on shelling out $5K/rat in fines.
We grew up with a fairly big variety of animals over the years, even looked after a squirrel monkey for a couple of months when I was about 7, for friends of the family, while they were overseas. Us kids enjoyed it, not sure about my parents, haha. I'm game to own almost any pet I'd legally be allowed to - there are a few exceptions, big honking spiders being one.
Now, whether or not I could is a whole other story, given the severe allergy I've developed in the past couple of months. I suspect a lot of critters are out of reach as pets now.