April 15, 2011 What Happens If You Get Sick?
This is a topical post for me, because I am currently sick as a dog. And today is my usual cage-cleaning day. I’ve got zero energy, my joints hurt, my head is throbbing, my eyes are dry, and I’ve got a nasty cough. I think if I tried to clean cages today it would not go well.
Luckily for me, I have an awesome husband who’ve very invested in my rats, who I can always count on to help. But not everyone has that. I hear from a lot of rat fanciers about how their husband or parents hate, or barely tolerate, their pets. And I also know that a lot of fanciers are disabled, since these little creatures are great pets for someone who just can’t have a large pet who needs letting out or who might knock things off shelves.
So what happens to your rats if you are too sick to clean their cages, or even feed and water them for a couple of days? What if you go to the hospital and have to be away from home for a period of time? Have you made arrangements for someone to care for your pets in an emergency? Do you have a friend or family member who is willing and able to come and take over your pets’ care for an extended period of time?
I’ve heard about fanciers who’ve gotten into accidents or suffered a sudden illness whose family has summarily rid them of their pets – and not always in the best ways. Do you have a rescue specifically lined up so that your family members know that if they MUST get rid of your pets, they go somewhere safe?
What about rats you’ve gotten from breeders? All ethical breeders have clauses in their contracts stating they want to get their rats back if the owner can no longer care for them. Do you have paperwork clearly identifying which of your rats are from breeders and the contact information?
I’ve heard about a fancier with quite a few rats who died a few years back, and her rats all ended up in rescue – a rescue that refused to allow the breeders who had adopted to this fancier to reclaim their rats. That’s an unfair reward for the breeder who trusted them with their rats.
Keep in mind that you cannot prepare for everything. There’s no telling when you might suddenly get very sick or get into an accident and be no longer able to care for your rats.
The best thing to do is to make a folder that includes pictures and identification of each of your rats. Vet records should be included, and any contracts connected to that rat from the breeder or rescue you may have gotten them from. Include the name and contact information for the friend or rescue you’d like your rats to go to if you can no longer care from them, and what you’d like done with their supplies.
It’s not a nice thought, but if the time comes when your own medical care no longer enables you to care for your rats, make sure they aren’t left out in the cold!
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