[email protected]

In a message dated 4/5/2002 9:14:49 AM Eastern Standard Time,
starsuncloud@... writes:
> These types of practices are exactly why I think I'll always rescue animals
> rather than buy a purebred from a breeder. Not that I've owned a dog in
> years.....I'd love to rescue a greyhound though, we'll see when dh has his
> basement space done.

A deaf dog does not make a pleasant pet. Unilateral deaf pups must be
neutered to avoid perpetuating the deafness problem. Purebred breeders with
the breed's best interest at heart will do their best to eradicate these
kinds of problems (such as deafness and dysplasia and von Willebrand's and
Fanconi's syndrome, and, and, and...) even when it involves culling. And
nobody's EAGER to do it!

Puppy mills and backyard breeders and pet shops do the most damage to
purebred animals: stay away from THEM. A reputable breeder's responsibility
is to breed sound animals, mentally and physically so that you may have a
healthy, beautiful family member for many years. And they are there for the
LIFE of that puppy.

Rescue is a wonderful option, but it does not guarantee a healthy pet either.
Nor does it guarantee that that pup doesn't come with "baggage".

>
> Would a rat be happy enough if we just bought one? I know they're a
> communal
> animal.
>

NO. Rats MUST have at least one other rat to remain mentally healthy. A rat
that is kept alone will become neurotic. No reputable breeders will sell you
a single rat. (A pet shop will though! And some will also tell you that it'll
be used for snake food if you don't make a pet out of it!)

We've found that the snakefood rats tend to be a bit smellier than the fancy
rats from breeders. (Selective breeding again! <g>) They're also not well
socialized (those "breeders" again!) and may bite more readily.

And how big of a space is necessary?

Pretty big, compared to hamsters. My two (a lavender Irish and a champagne
rex) share a 3'x18"x 3.5' condo. They don't do well in a fish tank unless
it's huge, and they like to climb and sleep in hammocks.

Also, can you keep the stink down? I remember my friend that owned a
rat...her room always smelled funny!!

Change the cage often. You should never use shavings either--they suffer from
respiratory ailments. Get recycled newspaper (Carefresh? I forget the name.)
And buy from a breeder!


Kelly





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nancy Wooton

on 4/5/02 7:38 AM, kbcdlovejo@... at kbcdlovejo@... wrote:

> Change the cage often. You should never use shavings either--they suffer from
> respiratory ailments. Get recycled newspaper (Carefresh? I forget the name.)
> And buy from a breeder!
>

Our breeder suggested our blue rex's fatal respiratory problems might have
been caused by Carefresh; although it is environmentally nice, being made of
recycled paper, they use concrete as some part of its ingredients. I posted
elsewhere that we use aspen shavings with great success; in fact, the
cinnamon blue we still have has no more symptoms since we switched. Aspen
shavings used to be hard to find, but Petsmart is carrying it now.

(People must think we're nuts, buying rats from breeders... <g>)

Nancy

Scott P. Cook

Very nicely said about deaf dogs, Kelly. You know what you're talking
about! And I should say that I've only had a single rat when our oldest
rat was our only one left, and my daughter lavished attention on her. I
was reluctant to say someone should never get just one, because I'm
always the one advocating hyper responsible dog practices, but you are
probably right in just saying rats should go in 2's.

Laurel

-----Original Message-----
From: kbcdlovejo@... [mailto:kbcdlovejo@...]
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2002 10:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] dog breeders/rat breeders


In a message dated 4/5/2002 9:14:49 AM Eastern Standard Time,
starsuncloud@... writes:
> These types of practices are exactly why I think I'll always rescue
animals
> rather than buy a purebred from a breeder. Not that I've owned a dog
in
> years.....I'd love to rescue a greyhound though, we'll see when dh has
his
> basement space done.

A deaf dog does not make a pleasant pet. Unilateral deaf pups must be
neutered to avoid perpetuating the deafness problem. Purebred breeders
with
the breed's best interest at heart will do their best to eradicate these

kinds of problems (such as deafness and dysplasia and von Willebrand's
and
Fanconi's syndrome, and, and, and...) even when it involves culling. And

nobody's EAGER to do it!

Puppy mills and backyard breeders and pet shops do the most damage to
purebred animals: stay away from THEM. A reputable breeder's
responsibility
is to breed sound animals, mentally and physically so that you may have
a
healthy, beautiful family member for many years. And they are there for
the
LIFE of that puppy.

Rescue is a wonderful option, but it does not guarantee a healthy pet
either.
Nor does it guarantee that that pup doesn't come with "baggage".

>
> Would a rat be happy enough if we just bought one? I know they're a
> communal
> animal.
>

NO. Rats MUST have at least one other rat to remain mentally healthy. A
rat
that is kept alone will become neurotic. No reputable breeders will sell
you
a single rat. (A pet shop will though! And some will also tell you that
it'll
be used for snake food if you don't make a pet out of it!)

We've found that the snakefood rats tend to be a bit smellier than the
fancy
rats from breeders. (Selective breeding again! <g>) They're also not
well
socialized (those "breeders" again!) and may bite more readily.

And how big of a space is necessary?

Pretty big, compared to hamsters. My two (a lavender Irish and a
champagne
rex) share a 3'x18"x 3.5' condo. They don't do well in a fish tank
unless
it's huge, and they like to climb and sleep in hammocks.

Also, can you keep the stink down? I remember my friend that owned a
rat...her room always smelled funny!!

Change the cage often. You should never use shavings either--they suffer
from
respiratory ailments. Get recycled newspaper (Carefresh? I forget the
name.)
And buy from a breeder!


Kelly





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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