Mooshika blog

How to make an emergency evacuation kit for your small animals!

2012-01-21T12:57:00.009-05:00

One of my New Year’s Resolutions has been to put my effort where my talk is and really get my household prepared for an emergency - even though no emergency has required evacuation in my lifetime.

I am better prepared than most people in that I have taken the Emergency Sheltering Course offered by Humane Society University. When I was running Small Victories Rodent Rescue, I created this Emergency Evacuation document that small animal households should fill out and put in a prominent place. At my home in Montreal, I posted right above the alarm system console a large index card to help rescuers, my roommates, or tenants evacuate the house of pets and valuables should there be a fire or a flood. Though this year has been one of travel for me and my pets, where much of their equipment is readily available, I could be better organized.

Here are recommendations from Red Rover, a non-governmental organization that specializes in rescue efforts in disaster areas. These recommendations help pet owners prepare for the worst, in order to ensure the happiest endings possible. You can download, print out, and give the information card to people whose pets you care about; if you visit this website, you will find more information about safe, pet-friendly evacation places, the types of disasters, and different tips for different species (including birds and reptiles and amphibians).

As for your own small animal pets, I have taken the liberty of customizing the details for small animal pets such as rabbits and rodents:

Identify evacuation locations

Find places that can accommodate pets if you evacuate; consider pet-friendly hotels, kennels and/or loved ones
Write down locations and store them with your disaster kit
Practice loading your pets into carriers and your vehicle

Microchip your pets – if appropriate

Microchipping is the single best way to reunite lost pets and families.
This may only apply to long-lived, outdoor-venturing small animals such as rabbits. Tattooing their ears, a common practice in breeding lines and in rescue communities in some countries, may be a distinct alternative we should consider, as shelter workers may not habitually check rabbits for microchips.
Update your microchip registration when you move, change phone numbers or get a new emergency contact

Start a buddy system

Exchange keys with someone who can evacuate your animals if you are not home when disaster strikes
Give your buddy your pets’ information and your emergency contact information
Make sure your buddy is comfortable handling your pets

Take photos of you with your pet(s)

Photos can prove ownership if you are separated from your pets
Keep copies in your wallet and your disaster kit
Give copies to a loved one who lives outside of your area
Storing photos on your cell phone can also be useful

Assemble a disaster kit

Assemble a kit for each animal in your household
Use the crate or carrier to hold the kit; obtain a duffel bag that is either small enough to fit into the carrier or large enough to hold the carrier with the pet inside and the supplies outside. Duffel bags are easy to sling the strap over your shoulder in an emergency.
Keep the kit near an exit so it is easy to grab in case of an emergency

What to include in your disaster kit:

Food

A one-week supply in airtight, waterproof containers
If using canned food (which applies to ferrets, though rats love smoked mussels), include a can opener and spoon
Rotate food every two months to avoid spoilage

Water

A one-week supply in airtight, waterproof containers
Avoid storing in direct sunlight
Rotate water that you decant yourself every two months to avoid spoilage

First aid/Medication

Make a basic animal first aid kit (link to a PDF document from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association) and include a book for your species of pet - the helper may know nothing about rodents and rabbits!
Any prescription medication your animal may be or have been on
Flea/tick preventive medication: Powder, ivermectin, or selemectin. Speak to your vet about dosing; many small animal pets take a fraction of the cat or dog dose, which will need to be measured and administered by syringe. Obtain a syringe and syringe cap to reduce waste of the medication; many products will evaporate once the tube is opened. At first use, transfer the tube contents to the syringe and cap it.

Identification

Printed photos of pets that show any distinguishing features
Photos of you with your pets
A harness fitting your small animal (ferret, rabbit) with a “write-on” identification tag for when you get to your destination
Proof of vaccinations (in case you must board your pet; this only may apply to ferrets, but veterinary checkup papers are very helpful to people who are unfamiliar with small animals)

Animal care supplies

Crate or carrier
Food and water bowls (collapsible will save space)
Blanket, toys and treats
Fresh litter with litter tray

Cleaning supplies

Paper towels
Cleaning solution (Nature Pet, vinegar solution, hydrogen peroxide)
Baby wipes or pet wipes, which will be necessary for ill pets or cramped conditions.

These tips are also available for download *in English et en français* ici.

Notez bien: On cherche quelqu'un qui pourra bien traduire cette texte en français. C'est trop importante d'attendre longtemps, donc un version de traduction Google était mis en place là.

Where rats invade, they also help pollinate

2011-12-29T19:32:00.001-05:00

“Invasive rats,” says BBC News, “are compensating for the loss of native pollinators in New Zealand, scientists report. The rats, which are responsible for devastating the native pollinator populations, are attracted to the flowers for their nectar. The results could mean that the decline of pollinating animals worldwide does not spell the end for all native plants. The results are published in a Royal Society journal. Almost 90 per cent of the world’s flowering plants are pollinated by animals.” (© Globe and Mail, Michael Kesterton)

The BBC News article shows a night-vision video taken by the study's author of a rat (a ship rat, or roof rat, Rattus rattus) pollinating a flower, and also shows a glorious red flower that was historically pollinated by rats (Metrosideros). The article has not yet been released to the public - in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society: B - Biological Sciences.

The empathy of rats

2011-12-26T18:51:00.000-05:00

Les rats ont d'empathie (Article en français sur Radio-Canada)

A few weeks ago, news was all over the web about how rats are actually quite kind and helpful to their friends, which is not a surprise at all to any of us pet rat lovers and to those (many) who have read an old account of a rat helping a blind companion by leading it with a twig. However, this audio segment from CBC's Quirks and Quarks interviews Dr. Peggy Mason, author of the paper "Empathy and Pro-Social Behavior in Rats," and she went into detail of the various methods they used to determine that the rats were really being helpful and not being selfish for one reason or another.

At the Quirks and Quarks link, you can also see a video of the rats in the experiment. No animals were harmed. :-)

Guinea Pig Weeping

2011-11-17T19:35:00.000-05:00

I don't know (yet) how to post entries from someone else's blog, but my friend the Animated Woman has several blog posts about the rodentia in her house. This one is a little sad, but that's what we're here for, too: to celebrate the little lives that have touched us.

Read Weeping

A rescue in London, ON, needs long-term fosterers and adopters

2011-05-13T18:50:00.002-04:00

Lindy has been rescuing for a number of years now, and this year, she got hit hard with a bunch of whoops rescues. This means mommas with babies. There are 6 older boys (around 8 months), 7 younger boys (around 4 months), and the new babies (4 girls, and 5 boys). That's… wait, counting… 24 rats needing homes, and those are on top of the older rats she's had available for adoption for a while. If you are looking to adopt, it's worth the drive to London, ON - and transportation help can surely be arranged. E-mail Lindy for more information.

Bring some love home for Valentine's Day

2011-02-13T12:41:00.002-05:00

We again have a huge problem with breeders in Quebec. A bunch of young – and old-enough-to-know-better – ladies have decided to get together and promote it as a fun hobby, even though we have never had enough adopters to look after all the rats we already had in this province. And twice now in my recent experience, breeders have surrendered their “overstock” to the shelters to find homes for, each time pregnant females with babies in bellies. Now I would rather they end up at the shelter than some place more unscrupulous, but breeding while there are so many homeless is unscrupulous itself. It's selfish and short-sighted. Of course babies are cute. All babies are. That's not a good enough reason to produce them.

These little girls and boys are looking for forever homes. They have been well socialized when in foster care, so the only ones that are shy and retiring (as they seem, in this picture) are those whose innate personalities are like that. Some are ferocious greeters-and-kissers. Ferocious!
Also, the SPCA is looking for many permanent homes and foster homes for rabbits. They have had a series of babies to contend with, as well.

Which rodent is the best pet for you?

2010-12-31T11:11:00.000-05:00

Because of their small size, rodents are popular as pets. Amongst the most well known are hamsters, mice, gerbils, and rats, but degus and chinchillas are also gaining popularity in our homes. Each rodent is unique but there are general rules to follow when it comes to diet, husbandry and general care. This is the main focus of the information below. (Guinea pigs are also rodents, but they are not covered in the specific information below.)

Choosing a rodent: The choice of rodent should be based on his species' character type as well as the amount of room needed to house him. Rats, chinchillas (right) and degus are amongst the most affectionate and intelligent rodents but need the biggest cages. Chinchillas are rather delicate whereas rats are very adaptable. Hamsters are also quite cuddly but are a little less sociable than rats, degus and chinchillas. Hamsters, chinchillas and rats are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day. Gerbils and mice (above) tend to be a little nervous although they can be tamed easily if they are handled gently and frequently from a very young age. If you're thinking of having more than one pet, keep in mind that hamsters are territorial and will fight with one another. Gerbils are social animals and can be kept together but a female that has been living alone for some time will attack any newcomer. As for mice, it's the males that are the most likely to start a fight! Chinchillas, rats and degus are social animals and live well in groups. With all rodents, if you plan to have more than one, expect lots of babies if you've got both sexes living together! It is possible to have rodents spayed or neutered by a specialised vet, but it's even easier to keep the males and females separate!

Diet: The best diet for your rodent is a pelleted food specifically made for his species. Seed mixes are not recommended because most rodents will only eat those seeds in the mix that he favours. Veggies should be offered in small quantities and must be introduced gradually into the diet. A small piece of fruit can also be given daily to rodents with the exception of degus who cannot digest sugar. As with most animals, a sudden change in diet can cause digestive upsets in rodents. In addition, chinchillas are extremely sensitive to any changes, especially dietary ones. Any introduction of a new food should be done with extreme caution and under the supervision of a vet. Never give table food to your chinchilla. Rats on the other hand, are among the most tolerant rodents and can eat most foods without danger. Having said this, all foods high in sugar, salt or fat should be avoided. Like rabbits and guinea pigs, many rodents benefit from a good quality Timothy hay in their diet or environment. It must be fresh, dry and preferably first cut (more green than yellow). If your rodent does not like Timothy hay, oat hay is a good alternative. Alfalfa hay can be given as a last resort but be aware that it has a high calcium content, which can cause crystals in the urine of some rodents.

Environment: Rodents are active and agile creatures. It is important to offer them an environment in which they can climb, play and do lots of exercise. The cage should have several floors to allow climbing and jumping from one platform to another. The size of the cage varies from one species to another. As a general guide, the smaller species need a cage with the minimum dimensions of 40cm x 30cm x 40cm high. Rats and degus need cages measuring a minimum of 70cm x 40cm x 80cm high and chinchillas will do well in a cage measuring 75cm x 60cm x 1 metre high. There are cage calculators on the web, as pictured below, to help you determine the size of cage per number of rodents. The cage should be made mostly of metal bars with a hard plastic bottom so that it is easy to clean and allows air to circulate. Even though the cage will be your rodent's main home, it is important that he has some freedom whenever you are able to supervise him.
Other essential elements for your rodent's living quarters are lots of safe toys, a hiding place and a cozy place to sleep. You can also give him a litter box appropriate to his size. Chinchillas and rats can be taught to use a litter box fairly easily. NEVER USE WOOD CHIPS AS LITTER OR BEDDING because these can cause liver disease and are associated with respiratory and eye infections in small animals. Instead, use newspaper, shredded paper, paper based cat litter (Yesterday's News) or Carefresh Pet Bedding. Place a old towel or a hammock in the cage to provide a comfy place to nap and nest in. Chinchillas and degus also need a sand bath, at least 5 times a week for chinchillas and 2 to 3 times a week for degus. The sand used is a special type specifically made for this purpose and is available in most pet stores. Last but not least, place your rodent's cage in a dry, cool, and sociable part of the house.

Medical problems: All species of rodents can be prone to misalligned teeth. The misallignment results in overgrown teeth, which cut into the cheeks or tongue, causing ulcers and infections in the mouth as well as hypersalivation and loss of appetite. There is no cure for the this problem but symptoms can be avoided by having the teeth trimmed regularly by a specialised vet. Rodents are also subject to gastro-intestinal upsets, which can be caused by hairballs, rapid changes in the diet or by the disruption of the animal's natural intestinal flora. With rodents, a gastro-intestinal problem is regarded as an emergency because it can cause death in a short period of time. If your pet has a loss of appetite, abnormal stools, becomes lethargic or has a sudden weight loss, contact your vet immediately. Gerbils will often have mild epileptic seizures that do not require any medical treatment. Aging female rats are prone to developing mammary gland tumors. As for degus, they are prone to diabetes.

Lifespan per species:
Hamster 2 - 4 years
Mice 2 - 3 years
Rat 2 - 3 years
Gerbil 3 - 5 years
Degu 10 - 15 years
Chinchilla 9 - 17 years

A few rat sayings found over the years

2010-12-31T10:13:00.000-05:00

I wrote these all down in a file whenever I read or thought of a one - they are all negative. No wonder people have a stereotype about rats - it's a circle of which came first, the chicken or the egg?

"I don't give a rat's ass"

Cornered like a rat
I smell a rat
you dirty rat
rat someone out
rat bastard

the Republican political dirty-trick term "rat f**king"

rat-arsed (drunk)
rat race (now neutral, fierce competition)

"despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage"

Whew. That's bad. Do you have any to add? Do you have any (please!) positive sayings?

The baby foster boys have grown up!

2010-11-04T16:48:00.001-04:00

Not so long ago, I helped out the Monteregie SPCA with looking after and then rehoming a mamma rat and her litter of 5 babies. Two of the boys went back to the SPCA, but after a month of no inquiries, and after my own foster bunny being adopted, I opened my home to them again. We are still looking for a good home for them, but in the meantime, my two tough boys think they're all right and there hasn't been a skirmish yet (today is their first day living in the same cage, after several days of shared "out" time).

Because they arrived at my home the day before Hallowe'en, I thought of naming them Igor and Frankenstein. But the names haven't stuck.

Here are the before and after pics:

The boys have settled in nicely, and my former Mr. Tough Guys have not stomped on them yet - so I've opened up the trap door between their condos. They didn't mingle for long, each keeping to their condo, but also, no squabbles or screaming!

The Animal Hoarding project

2010-10-31T10:27:00.001-04:00

Today I received the following e-mail from Erica at the Animal Planet show "Confessions: Animal Hoarding." It is an important topic that we in the pet rat community have had to deal with before. Please read on:

Animal hoarding is a serious animal welfare problem that affects every community in the country… but hardly anyone is doing anything about it. It’s only when the hoarding degenerates into criminal animal abuse that authorities can get involved. Before then, it festers, with helpless pets locked away inside the homes of people who are often suffering from serious emotional problems. Studies have shown that without psychological help the recidivism rate for animal hoarders is near 100 percent.

Although animal hoarding is not yet formally recognized as a distinct psychological disorder in the psychiatric diagnostic manual, the mental health community is trying to better understand and approach animal hoarding through a human lens. Unless this problem is addressed and understood at a human level, it will never be solved. Animal Planet's series is providing an opportunity for experts in psychology, veterinary health and leading organizations to address and unlock the problem on a national level.

Unfortunately, animal hoarding affects every different species of animals and the exotic pet community. As professionals in your industry and respected members of the Rat & Mice community, we ask that you help us put an end to animal suffering.

Most hoarders start out as dedicated pet owners or want to turn their love for animals into a legitimate business- through breeding, unfortunately they let their situation get out of hand. If you get any leads or letters about a potential hoarder, contact us so that we can provide the psychological help, professional support and find new homes for the animals.

If you are interested in making animal hoarding a topic for public recognition, discussion and therefore action, please feel free to use us as a resource. The Animal Planet show, CONFESSIONS: ANIMAL HOARDING, is currently looking for people who own more animals than they can properly care for and need help - whether they have a houseful of rabbits, reptiles, birds or common household pets.

Please watch the latest news coverage of our cause, http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Animal-PLa-104297124.html

The production team is currently seeking stories. If you or your organization knows someone who could benefit from participating on our show, call: 1-877-698-7387 or encourage them to contact us directly. You can also submit someone to be considered for the show online at www.animalplanet.com/animalhoarding. People can submit their animal hoarding story directly to http://www.animalhoardingproject.com/machform/view.php?id=1

About "expired" food donated by a research lab

2010-10-26T12:20:00.002-04:00

From time to time, I get an e-mail from a well-respected medical research lab whenever they have an excess of food that is reaching its "expiration" date, which is 6 months after its milling. In this particular instance, the donated food has a higher protein content - 18% - rather than the usual 14%. It also has higher vitamin content, because this food was formulated to be autoclaved, for research animals in a sterile environment.

Given that food does not "go bad" after its expiration date, but that its various nutritional components will degrade over time until, eventually, it becomes like basic compost or sawdust, we take the food at its expiration date and distribute it. That food that cannot be consumed within two months goes into the recipient's freezers, to prolong the life an additional 6 months.

Regardless, the health and wellness media has done a good job of drilling into people's heads the idea that if you have expired food of any kind, you are taking a risk. I have some thoughts on competency losses and their resulting economic dependency - as well as bad supply chain management - that relate to this prevalent perception, but this post is not the place for making that argument. So I will focus on the idea of optimum nutrition of the individual in the context of how that food is delivered.

Consider the quality of laboratory blocks, even past due date, versus the quality that most pet rats are getting. Then consider that we also give our rats these blocks as a base, and add variety with table scraps and vegetables and sometimes bones. Given these, there are bigger issues to pursue than the idea of "perfect nutrition;" especially when proper exercise in a healthy life is pretty much the rule as the limiting factor for humans and their companion and livestock animals.

Now consider the metabolic and ecological argument. Rats have only been domesticated for 200 years, maybe less, and in all that time it is perhaps only the past 40 years that labs have scientifically developed "optimum" diets for any animals, *including humans.* This optimization research for humans is done to compensate for the real effort it requires to eat a varied, ecological diet. Diet research for animals is because they feed us and provide us with valuable information regarding pathways to disease for mostly our own health and well-being, or because some people fret about their pet, legitimately or not.

All manufactured food that is taken out of the human supply chain and directed towards animals increases our ecological footprint. We expend many, many more calories of energy in delivering food than the actual food contains. It is very important to me and what I see as the larger scheme of things that food never becomes waste, because waste, in all of its forms, plays a zero-sum game with food for us and other creatures. Given the arcane rules we have about quality and sourcing, both for better and worse, there is a lot of waste that goes into manufacturing. There is fish meal in these lab blocks. That fish meal - and soy and wheat, which are under cost pressure from corn and biofuel production, all of which in turn drive deforestation - could have gone to chickens for those Omega eggs that people seem to like to buy, or into fish food for fish farms because people like to eat farmed fish. In fact, I have inquired with my laboratory contact and this food, if ground, could be used for chickens, and it can certainly be used for pigs in its current form.

If my rats are not having any trouble digesting this food, then I give it to them. After all, they're omnivores. If they have a problem, I don't. That's my responsibility to the individuals who are my rats. But I also have a responsibility to the collection of organisms that have already went into or been impacted by the manufacture of this food, and to those that would go without such high-quality food without it - and be realistic, it is high quality - and finally, I have a responsibility to the process that ended up with getting this food to us.

Perhaps a lab technician needs to get better at estimating the food they will actually need so that not quite so much is at risk of being wasted, but we don't know the proportion of food they go through in a year. If there are 116 bags per year and that amounts to 5 - 10% of their food budget, that they want to give it to charity, to benefit homeless animals of the same species they study - then I am going to make sure this channel remains open and is appreciated. You do not look a gift horse in the mouth; you take that horse into your stable and you find appropriate work and companionship for it.

Shaking water off a dog

2010-10-24T18:38:00.000-04:00

When I had a dog, I tried to teach her "shake!" when she went swimming, so that she wouldn't do it with other people in her shake radius.

Those of us who have given our pet rats a bath know that after the traumatic event (only the rare rat actually likes a bath), just like a little dog, the rat will run to the most inconvenient spot and shake itself drier - while still looking like a, ahem, drowned rat. And then you catch the reluctant creature in a towel and give it a good rubbing, which only the rare rat actually dislikes. Keep them cozy!

Enjoy the mathematical explanation of the frequency in Hertz of water being shaken. You can view it here.

The Secret Life of Field Mice

2010-09-24T18:05:00.006-04:00

The Secret Life of Field Mice

Anyone who has had pet mice can assure you, these tiny creatures have the spark of intelligence and a lot of personality. As for charm, you need look no further than all the cultural representations we have of mice, for both adults and children as audiences. But I have never seen such photographs as have been captured by a pair of Alsatian photographers, Jean-Louis Klein and Marie-Luce Hubert. The pictures are breathtaking, and I urge you to explore the comments and all background information you can find, after first reading the article.

This picture is linked from the website of the two photographers, who specialize in wildlife photography.

The Montérégie SPCA - rats for adoption, including babies!

2010-09-09T21:01:00.001-04:00

One little boy:

The bold black berk girl (white belly):

Momma and boys (the boys are distinguishable by their different sizes and different-coloured hands!):

Dappled back girl (Miss Cloud):

This past week, I separated the boys from momma and the girls. The girls are available with momma, as a pair, or alone if you have other girls to integrate them with. The boys should be adopted as a pair, even if you plan to integrate them with your boys (you'll have to wait until they're 10 weeks old before you do so, as they need to be able to defend themselves).

Nevertheless, they are all adorable, and they are waiting for you - or someone you know - to adopt them and love them!

Lost!

2010-09-03T20:05:00.000-04:00

This is a repost of the original explanation of what happens, and what to do, if your rat becomes lost in transit.

Being lost in the big bad world is not good news for rodents. People react badly. They don't understand that a little rat just wants to go home and be cozy.

The first type of “lost” is when they go rambling. This has happened to me a lot; particularly with black rats. They always seem to be the biggest explorers, some sometimes those short-sighted PEW will surprise you. Also: beware the mighty hamster! I think hamsters are the biggest “lost rodent” threat based on the urge to hide.

The second type of lost is when travelling. Scary! So if this happens to your rodent while flying on an airline or other mode of transportation, here is what you do:

Don't panic! or burn bridges. Assigning blame at this point is counter-productive. You need people to help you, and your wee rodent will need a lot of help.

Rule Number One: tell everyone you know! Don’t assume you don't know anyone who knows someone who works at an airline or airport - someone came forward on the Canada Rat Adoption list because he had connections through friends and colleagues in the industry. I found that one of my petsitters has an uncle who worked 30 years for Air Canada in the baggage division.

Two: save yourself some time and call the union who's responsible for the baggage and cargo - chances are, two or three unions are! They know - or are - the people in charge of doing actual physical work, whereas the Corporate offices have too much on their plate and lack focus on what needs to be done. Moreover, some in the corporate office that you call, receiving calls as their job, don't want any disruption in the normal flow of their day. And this kind of situation is worth a lot of disruption! The managers that the union puts you through to - they are better focused and able to help.

Three: Get the word out at the airport. Call the Airport Authority, call Security, call the Canine Unit or Wildlife Unit (who keep birds away from the runways), and call the Canada Customs (or your country's equivalent) Agricultural Inspector. HOWEVER, the airport may claim they can't act until asked to by the airline, because if the airline is a tenant at the airport, it has ultimate authority over its domain. But the more people who know, the greater its priority, and they may help you get through to the appropriate airline personnel. Do not hesitate to go in person, too. You can obtain a security pass in order to conduct the search.

Finally, DON’T give up in the face of adversity in searching for a pet! Drop your ego, but uphold your convictions (a lost pet matters). It can be truly amazing what happens when you commit yourself to finding a lost pet, just as with any other worthwhile goal. Which is exactly what happened when we lost (and found) Mousie…

Flying Rodents!

2010-09-02T21:40:00.004-04:00

This is my favourite page ever (it used to be a page, now it's a post. Same thing!). It was my favourite accomplishment in working in animal rescue. It is about a little rat named Mousie: the mouse that roared. You can read her story over here.

It is also my favourite page because a lot of readers find Mooshika when they are looking for information on how to fly with their pets.

What do you do if you have to move across the country, or are taking an extended visit and want to take your pet rat (or other rodent) along? Many people put their pets at the sitter's, or rehome them. You don't always have to!

The five items that are absolutely essential to follow should you travel with a pet are the following:

Check your preferred airline for its pet standards! Read policies and be prepared. If your airline doesn't cover rodents or pet travel, choose one that will.
Arrange to travel during temperate weather. Not in winter, and not during hot spells. Early morning and evening is best. We found out upon Mousie's return that planes can be on the tarmac for a long time, loaded, prior to take-off - and the temperature variation can be quite wide. Plan a time of day that is not too hot!
Get a direct flight. No stopovers, no connections. (If you must connect, take several hours between the flights, and pick up your pet at the connection, and recheck your pet back in just prior to boarding). If your pet becomes lost, you want searches to only have to be conducted at the origin and destination.
Always use the sturdiest airline-certified cat carrier you can find. Make sure the carrier is normally smash-, buckle-, and escape-proof, and LABEL ALL PARTS THOROUGHLY. During transport, things can shift, fall, and break. You can put your pet in a more suitable small-animal carrier inside the cat carrier, so long as it has ample cushioning and air circulation. (I'd add a hammock, too!) Screw it down if it has a suitable bottom; drill the cat carrier and the transporter in matching places, and use small pan-head metal bolts to anchor it.
Give the animal enough fruit to remain hydrated for three days!

Remember, no one will care for your pet like you do. So take maximum precautions to ensure their safety, and follow the formal guidelines both here and at your airline.

Loading procedure for pets as baggage
The following is Air Canada's, and likely all airlines', procedure for checking in a pet for travel.

When you board a plane with a pet, the Lead Station Attendant calls in to the destination airport's Weight and Balance office that there is live cargo aboard the plane. This gets logged on the Load Sheet. The animal is carried to the live cargo compartment and is installed there.
When the plane arrives at its transit points (stopovers), the animals in the live cargo compartment are verified for the Weight and Balance office. Same thing when it arrives at the destination airport, except that the animal is then unloaded and taken in to the Baggage office for claiming. If unclaimed for very long, it goes to a vet or an animal handling company to be looked after until its owners are found.
Every day, in North America and around the world, rats, mice, and other animals are flown by the singles to thousands. Rats and mice are flown in boxes that are specifically designed to maximize their survival in adverse conditions. They are chew-proof and they contain a gel source for hydration. (However, they are NOT suitable for hamsters. Hamsters have special requirements, and you'll need to do additional research.) The place to get a box like this would be a lab animal supply company. Check your closest university to ask them for any used boxes, or to ask their suppliers for a fresh one for your rodents.

If at all possible, call your airline and ask for Live shipping. Find a live animal cargo specialist. You want this because cargo is a whole different system than baggage, where animals are treated better. (Cargo flights are not passenger flights. They have some passengers, but we'll get to that in a minute.) I confirmed with Rob Little, one of Air Canada's animal handlers, that there are more staff people around per shipment than in regular baggage, and they also have specialized knowledge about how to handle animals of different kinds. As they handle rats a lot, they know rats! They also ship horses, tigers, elephants - you name it.

Still, I wouldn't want to fly separately from my pets, and neither would most people, so I inquired about being a passenger on a cargo plane. It can be done, but it requires special arrangements. Usually the seats on a cargo plane are occupied by "dead-heading" airline staff - staff heading home at the end of their shift, or for their time off after a week of work.

The next page to read is what to do if the unthinkable happens, and your rodent becomes LOST!

Rescuing squirrels and wild rodents

2010-08-31T12:27:00.010-04:00

Most of the phone calls that Small Victories (our former rescue) have received over the past few years have been regarding young squirrels found outside of their nests, injured squirrels, and errant mouse-like creatures (rats are pretty easy to identify).

If you are looking to solve a problem with an animal that’s taken up unwanted residence, contact Humane Wildlife Control.

Here is your basic advice on what to do and how to care for wild rodents:

Goat milk is the universal replacement milk.
Soy milk comes a close second.
Rabbits take puppy formula, but not kitten formula.
Don't take a baby rabbit (or even a bird) from the wild just because it's alone. Its mother will come back to look for it. You must be sure it's abandoned by its physical condition, or by monitoring it regularly throughout the day, without touching it.
What small animals in distress need is 1) warmth and 2) liquid energy.
Sometimes they actually need to see a vet, too.
But if they don't, they need a secure, warm (but not too warm), dark (away from prying eyes) space in which they can recover.
Babies need to be fed every few hours. Count on one overnight feeding.
Squirrels sleep 75% of the time.
Once a squirrel's tail begins to be bushy, it needs solid food (start with porridge) and climbing exercise.
You can't keep them and domesticate them. It's inhumane to cage a wild animal for long, and it's illegal.
Take the squirrel outside for walks. Introduce it to trees.
Handle small rodents as little as possible while you clean their cage.
Release mice in an environment as similar as possible to the one in which you found them. If it's a house mouse you don't want, find it a secure shelter where it won't be bothering anyone - or unlikely to be poisoned.
Don’t feed wildlife you don’t want to increase in population. I didn't mind having a wild rat sheltering in my backyard, but for its own safety, I removed the bird feeder.

General shelter volunteer jobs

2010-08-31T12:26:00.001-04:00

Are you hesitant to get involved because it seems like being involved in animal rescue is such a huge demand? If so, don't worry, it can be done in manageable enough bites that you can get involved without getting burned out. The following jobs add to your skills and networks, and are very favourable for work experience on your resume.

Positions:

Advertising liaison - creating and mailing out or posting Adoption flyers at petstores and vet clinics on a monthly basis. Anyone is welcome to approach new pet stores and vet clinics and other locations for posting our flyers; after initial contact is made, we will add them to our mailing list.

Fundraiser - shelters and rescues always need someone with events-planning experience or interest who can help get fundraising activities under way. Telephone calls are a major part of this work.

Adoption agents - mainly for organizing and staffing adoption clinics. Also involved in interviewing candidates after paperwork has come in to determine if they will be a good home, including some home visits. Bilingualism is an asset.

Written Communications - E-mail is the biggest routine job after cleaning cages and looking after the animals. Rescues need someone with writing skills and communication empathy to help with this work.

Advocate - someone (or two) with public relations and/or legal experience to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and to help make the ship watertight; this position may be key in making an organization a registered non-profit / charity. Bilingualism is an asset.

Translation - from time to time, a shelter needs fast turnaround on translation jobs.

Handyman - if you have a knack for building, maintaining, painting, shelters and rescues can always use your help. They have shelving units that need to be straightened and mounted properly, units to build, and repairs to make!

Seamstress - if you have a sewing machine and skills to make hammocks and toys for fundraising and for shelter pets!

Pet forum liaison - this is a job some of you perform already! As shelter /rescue staff don't have time to spend on the forums, they miss out on opportunities to get to know the extended small animal community. You don't have to do it officially on their behalf, though you can give the rescue or a shelter a mention when it's relevant. If a positive adoption prospect comes forward, just provide the shelter the details of who they are - lend your support to adoption agent(s) in screening homes. French or English or any language - according to forums you visit!

And finally: Cuddler.

At most animal shelters, most small animals are treated for health problems only if it's easy to treat, otherwise, they will be euthanized. For these reasons, they are not "safe." They are mostly being kept in good conditions - although they may not always be on the best bedding or have a proper diet. They aren't let out for exercise except perhaps with volunteers.

Shelters need volunteers to go in and cuddle the rodents. This keeps them well-socialized and alleviates boredom in the cage. About 3-4 volunteers are needed, and you are only asked for a consistent schedule. Also, the more small animal volunteers there are, the more weight is given when they raise concerns about illnesses and healthcare.

Spaying and neutering

2010-08-31T12:23:00.001-04:00

Spaying and neutering larger rodents and rabbits is most cost-effective when they are young. How you measure cost-effectiveness is something we go into on this page, because cost is a factor of why people do not spay or neuter their pets.

Basic cost-effectiveness is taking the cost of the operation and dividing it up by the number of months you reasonably expect the animal to live. For example, if it is a young rat, start with 24 months. So a $120 procedure amounts to (the time value of money not included) $5 a month. Can you afford that? Probably.

If you keep only one sex, or else are completely responsible and keep males and females separate at all times, then do-nothing is a viable option for you. However, there are some health and behaviour benefits for spaying and neutering.

Females who are spayed at a young age are much less susceptible to mammary and/or uterine tumours. The cost of a tumour removal is commensurate with the cost of spaying, AND tumours often come back, so two operations can be assumed.

Sometimes neutering is required if you have a particularly aggressive or territorial male who won't get along with his cage mates, or who needs for his own good and your convenience to be integrated with other males. Or he could simply be a lucky fella because he'll have a female cage mate. (I know we like to anthropomorphize, but rats do not mate for life. Nonetheless, domestic rats do form pairs and the bond can be quite strong.)

If you think your rat is already pregnant…

Make a wise investment in yourself and your pet. If she could be pregnant, take her to the vet and see about spaying her. It is not too late until the vet tells you it is. If she is young, she will derive benefits by reducing tumour occurrences when she's older. If she's older, it could save her life from a difficult birth.

One way of telling early on if she's pregnant, well before she develops a distinctive pear-shape, is to weigh her daily on a postal scale. An increase in weight is a strong indication if you have reason to suspect she's been in contact with males.

The cost of spaying a rat, chinchilla or a rabbit varies; in Montreal, it's about $170. Remember: once a rat is spayed, you never have to worry about her getting pregnant again. All other alternatives mean it could be a repeat performance.
Rabbits have litters of 3 - 6 babies.
Chinchilla have only 1 - 2 babies, but remember - they live 15 years!
Rats have litters from 4 - 18 babies. Healthy moms usually have about 10 - 14.
The cost of a caesarian section should the birth go badly: $140 and up. Other assistance is additional, i.e. emergency hospital admission fees, because you don't get to choose the hour of birth. If a rat is in labour for more than 3 hours, she is in trouble! Do not wait!
The cost of euthanizing pinkies (termed culling), if you choose to go that route: $50 and up. Home culling is a crime. It is also very sad, as the mother will look for the babies she loses.
The cost of upgrading the cage size to accommodate Mama and 5 - 8 daughters: $100
The cost of a second cage or two to house 5 - 8 males at 5 weeks of age: $100
The cost of food and bedding for a period of six months, estimated duration to adopt all babies (except one daughter to keep Mama company): at least $75 more than before
Realistic number of rats at shelters that don't find homes because your babies found those homes first: 4 – and an excellent chance that one of your babies in turn has babies, and those babies end up in the shelter.
The average cost per rat in treating mycoplasma or removing tumours, likely and predictable diseases, over a lifetime: $200
Cost of euthanasia at a shelter - available whenever an animal needs it: $2 - 5, paid by the shelter as people do not usually offer or agree to pay or donate for this service
Some municipalities pay the shelter for this fee, and the shelter responds to this money by refusing to partner up with rescue organizations to save lives - because if they don't euthanize the animal, they don't get the fee. Shelters cannot run on rain, sunshine, and goodwill alone.
Cost of a much more humane (under sedative or anaesthetic) euthanasia at an exotic vet: $15 - 22 per small animal, paid by the client

So, if you don't spay your potentially pregnant rat, chinchilla, or rabbit, you are still spending money, and spending other people's money (or not spending money by subjecting the animal to cruelty). The chances of all babies making it into homes, where all their needs will be looked after all their lives, are not so good. Moreover, there are so many pets already living in this world, who deserve a better chance at being the pets they were supposed to be. You can help them first and foremost by not adding to their numbers.

Not ALL pet stores are evil

2010-08-31T12:20:00.001-04:00

We have often said that pet stores are not a good source to get pets. This is from the experience that they don't always know their stuff, and they carry and often recommend products that can be harmful to our pets' health.

The real trouble is that pet stores purchase their pets from breeders who are not interested in the home the pet gets - they are interested in the income or the "cool" factor that they have such a hobby. Pet stores and their breeder suppliers want the looks that get a buyer interested, but should realize they are gambling with the animal's health and longevity. Pet stores often do not look into the living conditions or genetics/pedigree planning of the breeder's operation, and some may find it cheaper and easier to do it badly in-house. Animals are rarely born one-at-a-time, so while one or two babies in the litter are sellable, what happens to the rest?

So what's a pet store to do? Where else are people going to get pets? A store can still be involved when it:

- helps shelters place rescue animals by participating in an adoption program,
- acts as a shelter with due vet care for surrendered animals,
- posts ads for members of the public who need to rehome their pets (but not advertise to find -sires or dams, or to sell intentional litters),
- rather than take the animals in-house, refers customers to registered breeders who have been evaluated with strong criteria
- refuses to breed or sell live "feeder" animals and educates those who ask for live feeders why this is a bad practice. The store should offer substitute products and suggestions for alternatives, and, barring that, document how its frozen feeders were killed as humanely as possible.

This is a store that helps perpetuate humane responsibility, with all its costs and rewards. It is honestly a happy place for animals.

A pet shop that doesn't carry animals can carry a wider variety of stock, which it must move to be profitable. It should be supported by its local clientele.

If, however, a store is not taking responsibility according to these guidelines, it is participating in a black-market, cruel economy that necessarily takes place hidden, behind closed doors, and whitewashed by our political system’s lack of will to regulate.

Here are some good ones:

Montreal Critters takes you shopping with your pet, which is nifty and cute. They carry quality supplies, and $10 shipping across Canada.

Global Pets - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons in
Plaza Pointe-Claire has a huge selection for all pets

In Ontario, Pet-Valu carries a full line of products suitable for small animals, and they sometimes display adoptable pets in co-operation with an animal shelter or rescue.

Comments are open for you to suggest your own!

Live Cargo shipping to move or travel with pets

2010-08-31T12:16:00.000-04:00

A safer alternative: Live Cargo shipping
One experienced list member's advice on flying with rats

I have shipped rats a few times now and if I were you I would get a small proper carrying cage (airline approved) - even safer if people can see inside.

Animals are sent out Cargo every single day and I found them wonderful looking out for my rats on the day of the event every time I shipped them.

I nailed a little hard sided house about 1/4 the size of the required airline carrier securely in place. It had a blanket all fluffed up inside in layers in case it was too cold or they wanted to hide. I had a towel and a good quality small bottle in it well taped on, some lab blocks as well as some grapes that keep well and carrots soaked in ice water.

I made sure the carrier was well marked, "This way up small animals" and my name, address and phone number attached as well.

I also found the staff very nice, most helpful and more people saying "oh aren't they cute" or they simply did not bother to comment at all.

On one trip a while back some of my rats missed their connection and were looked after by a nice stewardess who checked their water bottle that was taped on. She assured me they would be watched and put right on the next plane.

I know one cargo guy who is a friend of our family at the Ottawa airport and he is in charge of Cargo and takes the animals and sees they are put on the plane too. I saw it happen myself and the animals were driven from inside right to the plane and carefully put on. They sent a special truck to get my rats for me too when they arrived.

The Cargo department's temperature is controlled as well and he says the airlines have to be careful and look after animals best they can, just like people. They don't want any more trouble than needed either.

I think if you see that your rat is put on and locked up carefully, and it has a warm bed inside with some grapes and soaked carrots, and the flight is not way over 13 hours like mine was, or a change of planes, you will be just fine.

I am not saying things never go wrong and others have not had some bad luck but many animals go in and out every day from our airport and do just fine. You will hear some bad experiences but hardly ever hear any good ones. I had three pretty good ones and a lot of people do care.

My good version is when travelling through customs and a 13 hour flight and 2 planes with a transfer my rats woke up and stretched and yawned and greeted me at the door saying, "Oh are we here now? Time to get up?"

Good luck to you!

Fostering pets, or surrendering them?

2010-08-31T12:13:00.002-04:00

"It is not easy to manage young humans and animals, but when parents find solutions, rather than dispose of an animal for convenience sake, an important concept is communicated to the child. This is alive. This is valuable. You don't throw it away."
- Marinell Harriman

This page is about two sides of the same coin.

First, the good news: You - the student, the expatriate, the person here for only a short while - you are absolutely needed! Foster homes are for those animals who need a little extra help to get better (health, behaviour) prior to adoption, or find a home when their time at the shelter has run out. You may have the pet for a week or a month or a year, but you know the pet will be taken care of by you - and vice versa, after all, pets are friends! - until its forever home is found - and you get to enjoy the experience without any guilt over your inability to commit for life.

If you've never had rats, mice, gerbils, degus, hamsters, guinea pigs, or any other shelter pet before, this is a good way to see whether they are the pets for you - you will be well-supported by knowledgable people. With no other pets of the same species at home, you'll also provide a valuable service by acting as a quarantine - something much-needed to keep pets healthy. Please contact your local shelter today!

About surrendering - the right thing to do, if done right

And for you, the person in need of finding a new home for a pet: The bad news. Shelters get more calls about surrendering animals than they do for adopting animals. No-kill rescues get even fewer adoptions because people know the animals are safe there. So some new protégés are denied an opportunity for this standard of shelter, because the rescue doesn't have a high enough turnover. We only hope most pets get adopted directly from the shelter in these cases.

Even if a shelter had more adoptions than inquiries to surrender, they might still attempt to address any reasons why you want to give your animal up. This is educational, so avail yourself of it. The problem might not be the pet, but what you don't know.

Some volunteers - upon request - will send out an e-mail on your pet's behalf to networks they are familiar with, to try to find it a home. You need to do the same - research the pet forums and e-mail lists pertinent to your pet, and network with your friends and family to find a new home.

When a shelter is full, and you wish to find your pet (or a pet you found) a new home through them, you must to foster it yourself until it is adopted. For the extra help, a donation to the shelter is warranted.

If you find a home for your pet before they do, ask about sending the person to the shelter for screening. Otherwise you risk a less-than-ideal home for the pet, and they, for having advertised the pet, risk their reputation should the pet be handled in an unethical manner in the process.

In addition, while trying to rehome a pet, you are still responsible for any veterinary needs should your animal become sick. It is not a grey area - the pet is still in your care and you can't deny it what you wouldn't deny a human. Animals do not show sickness until they are truly sick, so do something!

When you take a pet to a pound or a kill shelter, put what is called a "Do Not Destroy" on its file, and leave a donation for its care! If the shelter refuses, do not leave your pet there. They simply need to improve their procedures.

If you get the call that they are ready to give you back your pet or else euthanize it, take the call and respond right away, or the pet will be euthanized shortly.

If you don't know what else to do, then take the animal to your own vet and euthanize it. Euthanasia is a heart-breaking job when the animal is healthy; but when it has no alternative but a life of cruelty or capriciousness in the hands of anyone but its own family, it is better off getting sent off to the long sleep by its family. Be with your pet, don't just say goodbye and leave it in the vet's hands. This is your job.

This is not heartless, guilt-inducing nonsense: This is the way it is. We have a moral obligation to care for our pets, and to take responsibility for them. And by "we," we mean everyone. No one is exempt. Some just want to escape responsibility.

About live feeding

2010-08-31T12:05:00.000-04:00

Feeding live captive animals to another animal is "natural and healthy," but a serious act of cruelty. The “cycle of life” has already been broken in keeping a pet snake, and at liberty, their prey is both more varied and fortunate. We don’t require our pet dogs to scavenge and cats to hunt in order to feed them, we interact with them - just as we should with our snakes. There are many humane alternatives that veterinarians recommend. You can substitute humanely pre-killed, frozen (not frozen-to-death, as some pet stores do) prey - but I do not love this idea because it is still a waste of a life, when there are other meat by-products such as poultry necks or packaged diets. A supply of meal worms, eggs in the shell, and other supplemented alternatives is just as available as live mice and rats. You can use tongs to hold the “prey” to entice the snake with movement. Please avail people of this information!

Unfortunately, small animals are often considered convenience pets, not thoroughly researched, because they are so affordable. As it's a caged pet that can't come right up to you, they can be more easily ignored - which is unkind, and owners can become "busy," which often means disinterested. For some, a small animal's short life is actually a selling point because some people consider small animals to be of no great consequence.

An animal once rejected is lucky to arrive on the doorstep of compassionate and knowledgable people. We assess its health, rehabilitate behavioural problems, and look after it until it is adopted or until it dies of natural causes (in palliative care).

We take commitments to animals seriously, and to never have one subjected to a capricious existence is our goal.

George and the boys - Monteregie SPCA

2010-07-26T22:22:00.003-04:00

George was dropped off at the shelter in a box with the young boys below. They are available for adoption.

You can contact Cindy by fixing the e-mail address in this link, or click the title of this post for the Monteregie SPCA's Facebook group.

The coolest article on squirrels

2010-07-06T12:55:00.001-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/science/06angi.html?src=me&ref=general

How many people do you know do this kind of repeated behaviour? And, when encountering new situations from which you want something, don't you quietly observe and follow the lead?

Dealing with wild mice - the British way

2010-04-26T14:58:00.001-04:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/25/lucy-siegle-not-easy-being-green-catching-mice

Strange, new, and incredibly threatened creature alert

2009-04-12T04:58:00.001-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7791989.stm

This story with pictures and video is of a rat-like creature - more shrew-like anyway - with a long nose and a “dental delivery system” for venom. They have only ever caught one.

Where is it? The Dominican Republic and Haiti.

2 Guinea Pigs in Montreal need a home!

2009-03-29T14:51:00.003-04:00

A reader writes:

I am trying to find someone to take my two guinea pigs Penny (female) & Ling Ling (male).

I am a huge animal lover and had had guinea pigs when I was younger and was not aware when i rescued my two ( a co-worker had said that he was going to leave them on the side of the higway the begining of last November at the age of 4 weeks) that I am now horribly allergic to them (as is my husband)

Penny is the bed headed piggie and Ling Ling is the neater looking one - I have attached their photos as well as a pic of the big cage - i also have two smaller travel type cages - they come full equipped.

I appreciate any help I can get at this point - I would love to get them in a home.

Please write to Cat at theoneandonlyangrycat @ gmail.com (copy and remove spaces).

About poisons and wildlife…

2009-01-28T04:59:00.000-05:00

…This coyote survived and miraculously was able to be released back into the wild. Most victims of secondary poisoning are not as lucky. The poisoning of any animal is cruel, and although these poisons are legal and readily available in lawn and garden shops across the country, they wreak havoc on native wildlife.
People who use these products to eliminate rodent problems are causing sustained suffering and can inadvertently kill the very animals that would help control their rodent population. If predators such as coyotes were allowed to do their jobs, rodent populations everywhere would be dramatically reduced.

Read the full story at the link above.

Many changes…

2009-01-03T07:53:00.003-05:00

I have moved to Denmark, so I'm no longer available by phone. However you can still e-mail me. Hopefully I will respond faster than I did before, but I cannot guarantee speed. I have many projects on the go, notably I am working on the whole Mooshika site rebuild, where I am moving it to WordPress and then moving it back to http://mooshika.org.

I hope that everyone has had a happy and healthy 2008 and looking forward to more in 2009!

Does anyone know Sara?

2009-01-02T04:56:00.001-05:00

I need to find her and tell her about a cage to give her, volunteered by someone who read her story below (from 2005 or thereabouts):

I have an ever-expanding number of rats needing homes here now. A few months ago, I made the sad discovery of a large number of poorly cared-for, neglected, hungry, overcrowded, overbred rats, used for feeders for larger predators on display, in a small and poorly-heated shed on the property of a theme park where I work.

I could not let this continue, so I began getting the most needy rats out immediately. I have concentrated on getting the sick, injured, disabled, and pregnant ones out first, while doing my best to follow up with animal welfare groups to hopefully get this situation shut down. Getting the organizations to do anything has been frustrating, since the current laws allow a hell of a lot of abuses to happen to rats that would never be tolerated with dogs and cats. The hypocrisy infuriates me. They've done nothing so far. I am still pursuing various avenues.

Meanwhile, I currently have quite a few rescues needing homes. These rats vary in ages from babies to elderly adults, both genders. Some have medical needs, and none of them have been socialized before coming here. Though I work with them intensely to get them at ease with handling, they still need patient adopters who will continue the kind of gentle, slow, non-threatening trust training I've began once they take them home. Babies born in my home are well socialized, but all teens and adults will need varying degrees of work to socialize them. Most won't take much effort to get them to be confident and relaxed pets, but a few need a more experienced adopter.

Since the rats staying here will be changing as I continue to get more out and adopt out the ones who have been here some time already, I can't give much information on them..
The current rats needing homes are 3 young adolescent black hooded males, used to handling, 2 adolescent black hooded females, not used to much handling yet, 3 young adult black hooded boys, not used to much handling yet, 3 adult black hooded females who have had babies here, used to varying amounts of handling.. ranging from pretty calm to very frightened, four elderly adult females, very skittish, one very large elderly black hooded male, quite affectionate but insecure about being held as yet, and one smaller middle-aged tan hooded boy, still a little skittish. All are curious, interactive, and cute, and with a little work, will be great pets.

Anyone willing to give these needy creatures a home or able to help out financially or with donations of cages, water bottles, food bowls, CareFresh or Yesterday's News litter, or hammocks would be a wonderful hero to this small rescue. This rescue is being run by one autistic woman.. namely me.. from my home.

Sara
http://www.cafeshops.com/proudlyautistic

Christmas reading, and Happy New Year!

2008-12-26T04:47:00.002-05:00

I found this on Little Mischief's website: http://www.littlemischiefrescue.org/ratsocialization.html
I learned a few new tricks this way.
While there, click to the home page and visit their Advent calendar. It is very well done and the pictures and stories are heart-warming!

Squee! I love Christmas!

Happy holidays!

(There is still another month or so left of the Year of the Rat. I wonder what the combination of 2009 and the Rat will bring?)

Radar and Scope - two boys at the Montreal SPCA

2008-11-08T17:35:00.000-05:00

These two boys, and two other boys, are waiting for homes at the SPCA. More pics are available but really what are you waiting for? Go adopt them now!

In Ontario for Thanksgiving

2008-10-13T11:53:00.003-04:00

I'm in Ontario for Thanksgiving, and not being home means, inevitably, I get more done and more leisure time too. So I'm blogging.

I have delivered 4 boxes of Lab Diet to Toronto Animal Services for their four locations, one box to the Toronto Humane Society, and one box to the Newmarket OSPCA. There, I saw the tiniest little baby rat - no more than 6-7 weeks old - who is beginning to have congested sounds in her chest. All alone and removed from her mom too young, I'm adopting her to integrate with my girls. Even though they are all 2 years old and I have to rehome them for what is likely the rest of their lives, while I go to Denmark and Europe for one year.

I've got two old ladies with me this holiday - one is (shortly) dying of old age and poor health, and her sister is a little depressed from being away from home this weekend. She will be rehomed in November to a good home with at least two friends. I need to find another home who will take my other girls, including this new little one, or I will be splitting them into groups of 3 and 3 and 3. There is even a small chance, if I find a Danish foster home to look after them until I find my own place, that I would take 3 of them with me. Ideas, though impractical ones, to keep the seniors with me.

As I have about 38 or so boxes of Lab Diet in my garage, I will be sending another shipment to Ontario, and I am looking for people in the US who can help redistribute what remains to shelters in New England. Lastly if Sicero and her daughters go to Fredericton as planned, I'll take the last 5 - 10 boxes or so back east for my colleagues there.

So I bet you're wondering…

2008-09-15T16:15:00.002-04:00

What has happened to these massive site changes I was promising?

Major life sidetracking, that's what.

However, I have renewed energy and reason to get back onto this project in the coming month. I am looking forward to working on major improvements. And, if I have any fellow bloggers who know of widgets and neat, relevant things I can add to the blog or to the site please let me know.

In other news, I have an almost-one-year-old male PEW rat named CousCous available for permanent adoption. He is a gentle, friendly, energetic explorer. He lets you know when he wants to get out, but sometimes he comes back to his cage of his own volition. He has the range of the whole house, so he would need to have similar conditions at your home if you want to adopt him. Sometimes he also makes a stop to visit for a little cuddle. He loves getting his ears rubbed. He also likes to sit on your feet, especially if you are at rest. He's not the only rat I've seen do this.

Free rat food in Montreal, too. Contact me for details!

Four days left before the Rat Train leaves

2008-06-14T17:55:00.004-04:00

You can still adopt rats from Angel's Heart Rat Rescue and also Sunshine Rat Rescue in the Maritimes. Clark is arriving in Montreal on Thursday night, and rats bound for Ontario will arrive there on Saturday afternoon. Of Clark's rats, only one boy and eight girls remain to be adopted. Our PetFinder listings have some of them - new ones for Sunshine Rat Rescue have also appeared who are not listed yet. Please inquire through my e-mail below or through the e-mail on our PetFinder listings.

Bonus: all rats who get adopted come with a supply of Lab Diet 5002, generously donated by Charles River Labs. There is also a raffle being run (don't know where the link is, but it is on http://www.jorats.com in the forums) to support this massive volunteer effort.

Three litters of babies in Montreal

2008-06-03T12:41:00.002-04:00

I know of three separate litters available for adoption.

One is from a poor PEW girl who was found outside in very rough shape, had to be nursed back to health. She had a litter of babies not long after. The boys have been separated and they are all ready to go at 5 weeks old

Two others are from pairs of pet store rats incorrectly sexed - some of each sex still available. One litter was originally destined as snake food but thankfully the owner has been talked out of that.

Please e-mail me for more details, while I wait for pictures!

Baby rats in Montreal need homes too…

2008-05-19T17:33:00.001-04:00

An adult male, about 5-6 months old, All gray
An adult female, about the same age, mostly white with a gray head

All the babies are about 2-3 months old:
- Four males, three gray with white tummy, and one with a white body and a gray head.
- Three females, two have a white body and gray head and one is albino.

The adults are pet store rats that were inaccurately sexed, which is why there are babies.

Please contact me if interested.

Rat homes and transportatation needed from New Brunswick

2008-05-16T15:13:00.003-04:00

Angel's Heart Rat Rescue has over 100 rats and as this is too many, the rat community is organizing ways to get as many rats out as possible and into permanent homes, foster homes, and willing shelters where they will be played with, socialized, and adopted. Please help contribute gas money, food and supplies money, and volunteer assistance - every little bit counts! E-mail me for details.

Looking for 2 foster homes: rats and bunnies

2008-03-19T11:01:00.002-04:00

We have two out-of-province rescue situations that direly need help.

First, an overpopulation of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia rescue rats; too many to ever find homes there. I can provide the equipment for a foster home to welcome 4 to 6 rats here in Montreal.

And, I can provide the equipment for a foster home for a bunny, from one of the 300+ rescued from an illegal, inhumane rabbit farm in Ontario.

Please write me at copyjane at gmail. Thanks!

The Press that Small Victories received

2007-12-31T09:59:00.000-05:00

We would love to have had some French exposure, but we are happy with the press we got!

In 2005 we were a Noisemaker: “Queen Rat: Jane Sorensen wants to save your rodent” Kristian Gravenor, Montreal Mirror, Vol. 20 No. 28, Jan 6-12.2005

We were featured in the Chronicle (West Island). “Rodent Rescue Squeaks By,” Wendy Smith, August 2006.

We were featured in Mike Boone’s column in the Gazette to promote Freaky Fridays at the Redpath Museum: “'Eek, a rat!' No, rodents can be friends" December 14, 2007

“Trio of treats from the Redpath Museum : … You (not so) dirty rats” McGill Reporter December 6, 2007 - Volume 40 Number 08

Lisan Jutras of the Globe and Mail interviewed us for “In defence of the smart and loyal rat” - February, 2008

As well as by Charles Mandel of the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, archived here: “Where Year of the Rat is a lifetime” Thursday, February 7, 2008

The Reality of Rodents

2007-12-15T19:58:00.000-05:00

The talk went very well, the movies were great. The producers of "One Rat Short" sent me a copy of the film and a press kit, which I used to help introduce the film by linking it to my talk.

Melonie and Sicero were on their best behaviour and let themselves be cuddled the whole time. I think Melonie, who is more shy than Sicero, would have preferred being with me or Sicero as we're familiar, but she stayed under a blanket with a little girl whose pet rat had died during the summer and spent some time sleeping.

Here is a good write-up to promote the event:

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/story.html?id=27b46442-bf61-4272-ac6b-4c799c2da841

And I hope that several of the audience members, who spoke with me during intermission, will drop me a note. It was a pleasure talking with everyone.

About poisons and wildlife...

2007-12-11T12:50:00.002-05:00

This coyote survived and miraculously was able to be released back into the wild. Most victims of secondary poisoning are not as lucky. The poisoning of any animal is cruel, and although these poisons are legal and readily available in lawn and garden shops across the country, they wreak havoc on native wildlife. People who use these products to eliminate rodent problems are causing sustained suffering and can inadvertently kill the very animals that would help control their rodent population. If predators such as coyotes were allowed to do their jobs, rodent populations everywhere would be dramatically reduced.

Click the link above to read the whole story.

Kiki the neurotic mouse

2007-11-30T08:58:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, mice go a little neurotic - and it's most likely to happen when they are bored. They will run laps, do backflips, and self-mutilate.

Kiki, one of my mice, had a companion, Bea, but she was constantly getting sick (she went blind in one eye, she had an absess, she had sniffles). Despite Bea's doting attention, she overgroomed herself and scratched a wound into the back of her neck. We (Bea and I) nursed her back to health, and the next issue was she was cleaning her face so much, she rubbed the whiskers and the fur off her nose.

After six months of the two of them living together, Bea remaining fat and happy, and Kiki spending most of her time grooming and sleeping, I decided that it was worth the risk of doing an integration with my other mouse girls.

Now, seven of them live together, and have for about 10 days. Kiki is now incredibly active - spry is the word - climbing bars, running in the wheel, and seeking food and my attention. When I reach in to pet her, because she's blind in one eye, the first thing she does is bite me before she lets me pick her up. She is almost always the first to the food bowl and the last one to leave. She is gaining weight, and I am hoping that soon her whiskers will grow back.

It turns out that though fat Bea is a good cage mate, Kiki needed to have society. And soon she will have two more, and be part of a big group of 9.

Last chance to buy tickets for the The Colebrook Rat Project Raffle!

2007-10-11T09:11:00.000-04:00

The details are further down the page. Buy 1, 6, or more tickets, and yes you can win more than once.

Even if you would forfeit a prize if you did win (e.g. you don't have ratties, don't want jewellery or decorations, or don't want to pay extra for international shipping), buy a ticket to support the cause. This is a big raffle and big raffles take a lot of time and effort and people pulling together to make it a success. Thank you very much for your support!

Fwd: petition to update animal cruelty laws

2007-10-01T07:05:00.000-04:00

My apologies for the late forward. The smallvictories.info e-mail has not been checked very often.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shannon Gault <blue_sunshine202@hotmail.com>
Date: Aug 5, 2007 8:19 PM
Subject: petition to update animal cruelty laws
To:

Hello, my name is Shannon! If you haven't already heard, the Queen Waldorf
team in Ontario is circulating a petition to introduce government
legislation amending the Criminal Code provisions on animal cruelty based on
Bill C-373 and to recommend against Bill S-213. This petition is to honor
the 8-year-old shepherd-mix, now known as Queen, that was found riverside in
St. Catherines near a boat ramp with dumbbells tied around her neck,
weighing an estimated 7lbs.

More info can be found at www.queenwaldorf.com

The purpose of this e-mail is simply to ask if you would be willing to help
in the fight against animal cruelty by printing off a petition from the
website listed above and gather some signatures. Even one or two signatures
would help immensely!

The Queen Waldorf website provides a PDF document of the petition along with
an address as to where it can be mailed to once complete.

Your help is greatly appreciated, especially by the animals!

Thank you so much for your time!
Shannon Gault

_________________________________________________________________
Former Police Officer Paul Gillespie's TAKE BACK THE INTERNET tips and
tricks, watch the video now http://safety.sympatico.msn.ca/

SV/PV participating in The Colebrook Rat Project Raffle

2007-09-23T22:07:00.001-04:00

Harmony House Raffle!! 21 Bank Street - Winsted, CT 06098 (U.S.A.)

It's time for another raffle working for a good cause! Harmony House, who is working with the Colebrook Rat Project, are in need of supplies and funding to care for all the rats they have recently rescued!

The complete story of the Colebrook Rat Project is detailed at:
http://veganpeople.net/colebrook-rat-project/

HOW TO ENTER!

Tickets can be purchased via PayPal at ecl1@up.net
DO NOT USE THE WORD "RAFFLE" - Use "Harmony". You will be emailed you
ticket numbers!

Ticket prices:
$1.00/ each for 1-4 tickets
$5.00 for 6 tickets
$10.00 for 13 tickets
$15.00 for 18 tickets
$20.00 for 25 tickets

For snail mail for those who choose to enter via check/money order, please email Carol J at puffrattie@yahoo.com - Please email Carol with any questions as well!

WINNERS will be drawn on October 12th, at which
time the 1st person drawn gets first pick of all the
prizes! 2nd place choose second, and so on. As of
right now there are 35 PRIZE GROUPS which can be seen at:

http://public.fotki.com/DrusillaK/harmony-house-raffl/

MORE prizes are to be added soon! Winners will be notified via email and asked to choose their prize in descending order, as drawn. There are MANY fabulous prizes, and with more on the way, you've got even more chances to win something fantastic, all while helping a rescue that desperately needs some support!

Again, photos of the prize packs can be seen at:

http://public.fotki.com/DrusillaK/harmony-house-raffl/
The first ticket drawn gets their CHOICE of any one of the prize groups, the second winner drawn gets second choice - and down through the line until all prizes are chosen.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

Harmony House is still in need of supplies and support in other ways. If you can donate, some of their needs include:
- Igloos
- Wodent Wheels
- Toys
- Bedding
- Hammocks
- Food
- TRANSPORT for rats

If you can donate, please contact Sharry at sharry@veganpeople.net (This email address is also applicable for PayPal donations)

Urgent adoptions and fosters needed at the Montreal and Laval SPCA

2007-08-31T10:02:00.000-04:00

I have so many rabbits, I don't know what to do with them. I took 3 rats from them, 1 chinchilla, 2 hamsters, 2 budgies, 1tourtelle dove, 1 hedgehog, 1
ferret. They still have 5 degus, more hamsters and mice; I just have no room.

That was Stephanie from the Montreal SPCA. Two of the rats are aggressive females who need an experienced, calm and consistent adopter to resocialize
them (potential foster situation), otherwise they will be put down. There are 7
additional dwarf hamsters, and at least 3 male mice in addition to the 9 baby
mice that I have been fostering for them.

Please visit the Montreal SPCA on Petfinder and contact Stephanie to adopt. (E-mail is better than a phone call.)

The list is:

1 adult dwarf hamster - All white
4 baby dwarf hamster - All white (I don't know the sex cuz they wouldn't
let me sex them)
1 female black self rat
1 female black self rat (bitter)
1 female gerbil
1 female degu

Disponible avec urgence à la SPCA Montréal:

1 hamster nain adulte tous blanc
4 hamster nain bébés tous blanc
1 rat femelle tous noir
1 rat femelle tous noir (mord)
1 gerbille femelle
1 degu femelle.

A good pet store

2007-08-19T17:39:00.000-04:00

The owners of the Green Room Pet Lounge submitted the link to me for our Good Pet Store page. I think it sounds like a great place for you to adopt and get supplies for your dog!

Rats detecting land mines in Africa

2007-07-07T23:49:00.000-04:00

Please watch this video - it's really educational! Pass it on to your friends and family and local school, too.

Transport from New Brunswick this weekend!

2007-07-04T08:04:00.000-04:00

If anyone is curious about the many ratties we have posted from New Brunswick, which Holly has been promoting everywhere she can, and also Angel's Heart Rat Rescue rats from Moncton, we have a ride for them this weekend. Write to smallvictories.jane@gmail.com and I will pass your e-mail on to the New Brunswickers and see if you can get on the train - or rather, your new adoptees get on the train to come to you.

Bébés rats à adopter

2007-06-23T07:03:00.000-04:00

La division Québec du refuge Petites Victoires a des bébés rats qui se cherchent un foyer. Ce sont 2 portées surprises recueillies à la SPCA de Montréal. Nous y allions pour recueillir une portée avec la maman et 2 soeurs, mais finalement une des soeurs était enceinte! Elle est malheureusement décédée peu après l'accouchement, et nous avons dû replacer les bébés auprès de rattes allaitantes au plus vite... Voici les couleurs disponibles:

Femelles:
4 hooded abricot - 4 hooded noires - 2 albinos

Mâles:
4 abricot - 1 de réservé 2 hooded beige - 1 de réservé -2 hooded noir (Gaia) - 1 de réservé

Merci de songer à offrir une seconde chance à ces petits amours!!!

Annie

Take your pets with you to Denmark!

2007-06-11T22:05:00.000-04:00

As I have been looking into an extended trip to Denmark, I considered the possibility of bringing some pets with me if I have a place to live like a regular apartment. It is possible to take your rats with you, as well as many other pets like dogs and cats. All the rules and guidelines at the link above.

Saturday's Walkathon and adoption clinic

2007-05-23T17:01:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone
There is a walkathon we'll be attending this Saturday May 26 from 9 AM to 1 PM in Parc Angrignon. The walkathon benefits Animatch, a refuge for dogs just off the West Island. We will have a booth set up there with a few of our remaining charges (the bunnies, some ratties, perhaps a mouse or a hamster, perhaps Daisy, my dog) and lots of information. If anyone would like to attend with me that morning, it would be much appreciated. We'll be leaving from my house at 8 AM.

Feel free to fill in your pledges and participate in the walkathon. Hope to see you there.

Save the Feeder Mice (and rats!)

2007-05-14T16:58:00.001-04:00

Quite a while ago, a Molly Doolittle posted this link to our MySpace page. Check it out. I think it needs more information about alternatives - you can suggest contributions to the web editor through the site's Contact info.

Small Victories Annual Garage Sale | Vente de garage annuel de Petites Victoires

2007-04-28T14:45:00.000-04:00

Weather permitting: Saturday May 5 from 10 AM to 4 PM, 553 Vinet, Montreal. Call 514-691-5263 to donate used sellable goods. Proceeds benefit homeless small animals in need of vet care. In case of rain, watch our website (http://mooshika.org) and community announcements for a date in late May or June.

Volunteers (3) needed! Please contact me for more details.

Selon la température, samedi 5 mai de 10h du matin à 4h de l'aprés-midi au 553 Vinet, Montreal.

Appelez 514-691-5263 pour donner des objets usagés et vendables.

La recette ira aux petits animaux sans logis qui ont besoin de soins vétérinaires.

En cas de pluie, surveiller notre site web (http://mooshika.org) et nos annonces dans la
communauté pour une date fin mai ou juin.

3 volontaires sont recherchés !

S'il vous plait, contacter moi pour plus de détails.

Adoption clinic - Séance d'adoption!

2007-04-10T10:31:00.000-04:00

We're having OUR LAST adoption clinic on SATURDAY, April 14, 11 - 3 pm at GLOBAL - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons in Plaza Pointe-Claire (corner St.John & Hwy 20). Loving homes are wanted for pet rats, mice, hamsters, and other small animals, and donations and volunteers are needed. We sell cages, hammocks, accessories, and more! For info call 514-691-5263.

----------------------

Notre DERNIER séance d'adoption est le SAMEDI 14 avril, 11h00-15h00, chez GLOBAL – Pitou, Minou & Compagnons, à la Plaza Pointe-Claire, Boul. Saint-Jean, coin autoroute 20. On cherche les foyers aimants pour les rats, souris, hamsters, et autres petits animaux, et on a un besoin pour les dons et benevoles. On vendre des cages, hamacs, accessoires, et plus! Pour info appellez (514) 691-5263.

Happy World Rat Day!

2007-04-04T10:05:00.001-04:00

I just remembered it this morning when I got up. I didn't plan a thing to celebrate.
Please share how you will make World Rat Day special for your little guys and girls!

Fwd: Marche du 15 avril contre les usines à chiots

2007-04-02T10:15:00.001-04:00

Begin forwarded message:

Très chers membres de Actions! Unis contre les usines à chiots! Chers
partisans et défenseurs de la cause animale au Québec!

Vous êtes nombreux à vous être joints à nous sur le forum parce que
la cause vous tient à coeur. Nous espérons que vous serez aussi
nombreux à marcher avec nous à Montréal et à Québec le jour venu!
Chaque personne est importante. Nous comptons sur vous... Les
victimes des usines à chiots comptent sur vous!

A la fin de ce message, vous trouverez le communiqué officiel de la
marche. Je vous invite à le faire circuler dans vos familles, à votre
travail, parmi vos amis et connaissances ainsi qu'à vos contacts par
voie de courriel.

Voici aussi le lien où trouver une pétition qu'il faudrait, dans le
meilleur des cas, remettre lors de la marche à la responsable. Vous
pourrez toutefois faire signer la pétition bien après la marche et
faire un arrangement avec la responsable pour lui faire ensuite
parvenir le fruit de vos efforts afin que la pétition soit remise à
l'Assemblée nationale. La pétition sera aussi disponible pour
signature sur le site même de la marche. Sur ce lien, vous trouverez
aussi les logos, affiches, feuillets de sensibilisation et de
publicité nécessaires à la marche. Vous pouvez les utiliser pour nous
aider à publiciser la marche et/ou vous fabriquer des chandails et/ou
pancartes.
http://www.belpom.com/usines/index.html.

Vous pouvez toutefois être original et innovateur dans la création de
vos pancartes et de vos outils de marche. Nos seules exigences:
aucune propagande, aucun nom d'organisme/association. Laissons
derrière nous les luttes partisanes. L'instant d'une marche, soyez
uniquement partisans avant tout de la cause! Toute l'attention doit
être centrée sur le sujet: les usines à chiots, les animaleries, les
victimes. C'est la marche de tous les citoyens, de chacun de nous et
plus encore, c'est la marche des chiens... Parlons en leur nom de
façon intelligente! L'objectif: sensibiliser les gens! Alors demeurez
pacifiques dans vos approches. Les extrémistes et la violence
attirent très peu de partisans et n'ouvrent que rarement les yeux de
ceux qui regardent. Les méthodes employées font toute la différence.
Souvenez vous aussi qu'une image vaux mille mots...

Lors de la marche et sur les lieux de rassemblement, tous les chiens
devront être en laisse en tout temps. Les petits sacs seront des plus
utiles pour être respectueux de l'environnement et des lieux. De
nombreuses poubelles seront à votre disposition et si vous manquez de
sacs, vous pourrez toujours en trouver auprès d'un des autres
marcheurs. Nous comptons sur vous pour transmettre une bonne image de
la cause. Apporter des bouteilles d'eau pour votre chien et pour vous
serait aussi une très bonne idée!

Des policiers seront sur place pour veiller au bon fonctionnement de
la marche. Une équipe bénévole sera aussi présente pour vous aider,
vous guider et éviter tout débordement. Les bénévoles seront
identifiés par leur chandail de RESPONSABLE. Pour être attentif à la
santé de vos compagnons canins, des techniciennes en santé animale se
sont portées volontaires pour la marche. Elles seront donc là en cas
de besoin avec tout le matériel nécessaire. Nous nous assurerons
qu'elles seront faciles à identifier.

Avant le départ de la marche, un discours mobilisateur sera lu par
Nicole Joncas, militante dans le milieu animal. Vous avez pu la voir
entre autre dans le dernier reportage de J.E. concernant Lamarche et
Pinard et leurs associés.

Nous vous encourageons à apporter avec vous un ruban et/ou une fleur.
Au point d'arrivée, un monument sera érigé en mémoire des chiens
victimes des usines à chiots. Suite à la lecture de témoignages et
d'un discours, il y aura une minute de silence et vous serez invités
à venir rendre hommage devant le monument en y attachant votre ruban
ou en y déposant votre fleur.

Vous pourrez ensuite visiter les kiosques de sensibilisation tenus
par des organismes de secours animal très impliqués auprès des chiens
issus des usines à chiots. Des chiens en adoption seront peut-être
aussi présents sur le site. Vous comprendrez que ces organismes
seront les seuls identifiés en tant que tel pour une question de
nécessité.

Nous tenons à souligner la participation à l'événement de Monsieur
Eric Maheu, bassiste du groupe de musique Kain. Monsieur Maheu appuie
la cause à 100% et dira peut-être un petit mot au point d'arrivée.
Chose certaine, il marchera avec nous en compagnie de sa conjointe et
de leur danois, Goliath!
Nous recherchons présentement des témoignages et des photos de chiens
ayant connus l'enfer des usines à chiots. Les témoignages peuvent
être écrits pour être ajoutés à notre monument, mais si vous êtes
pourvu du don de vous exprimer publiquement, nous aimerions peut-être
vous entendre à la fin de la marche. Contactez les administrateurs du
forum!

Nous sommes de même à la recherche de cages à chien pour construire
le monument que vous devrez bien sûr reprendre à la fin de la marche.

Finalement, si vous n'avez pas la disponibilité nécessaire pour aider
à l'organisation de la marche et/ou si vous ne pouvez venir marcher
avec nous pour quelque raison, peut-être pouvez-vous tout de même
aider au niveau monétaire. Les dons sont les bienvenus. Bien sûr,
puisque nous ne sommes pas enregistrés comme un organisme de charité,
nous ne pouvons émettre de reçu d'impôt mais vous aurez le sentiment
d'avoir participés à l'avancement de la cause à votre manière. Pour
savoir à quoi serviront les fonds amassés, voir les sujets sur le
forum concernant le matériel, les pancartes, etc.

Voici donc le communiqué officiel:

COMMUNIQUÉ
pour diffusion immédiate

« Tous unis, participons à la lutte contre les usines à chiots! »

Montréal, le 19 mars 2007 – Au nom de tous ses membres, le Forum
Actions, unis contre les usines à chiots invite la population à
participer à la lutte contre les usines à chiots au Québec. En ce
sens, un grand rassemblement aura lieu simultanément à Montréal et à
Québec, le 15 avril prochain. Serez-vous des nôtres?

Le Québec est l'asile préféré des usines à chiots, ces fournisseurs
d'animaux pour les animaleries, reproducteurs en série et commerçants
impitoyables qui sont, pour l'instant, trop souvent protégés par les
lois (ou absence de loi convenable) et par l'ignorance des gens face
à leur existence. Pour bien des gens, cette réalité est méconnue,
voire inexistante. Pour d'autres, cette réalité ne prend forme que le
temps d'une saisie qui fait la une des médias.

Pour contrer le phénomène déplorable des usines à chiots au Québec,
nous avons décidé d'unir nos forces pour briser une loi : celle du
silence! Nous voulons donner une voix aux victimes des usines à
chiots et par ce fait, transmettre un message à la population ainsi
qu'au gouvernement : il faut que cela cesse, il faut que cela change!

Nous avons décidé d'affronter, au premier plan, une problématique
aussi vaste que celle qui touche les animaux du Québec et dont les
usines à chiots ne représentent qu'une parcelle. Il est primordial
d'avoir des alliés. Tous unis, nous avons tellement plus de force.
Tous unis, il est nettement plus facile de rejoindre un plus grand
nombre de gens et de se faire entendre. « Tous unis », c'est notre
credo. Serez-vous des nôtres?

Le 15 avril prochain, nous marcherons pour l'abolition des usines à
chiots au Québec, contre l'absence de loi convenable, contre
l'absence d'application des lois régissant ce type de commerces et
contre la vente d'animaux en animalerie. Nous marcherons pour le
développement d'un élevage éthique au Québec selon des règles, des
lois et des normes établies et que l'on fera respecter. Nous
marcherons pour le changement et pour que les gens sachent « Qui est
ce chiot dans la vitrine? »… pour que soient enfin reconnues les
souffrances engendrées par ce commerce aux géniteurs et aux chiots
produits dans ces conditions. Serez-vous des nôtres?

Présentement, deux marches pacifiques de dénonciation et de
sensibilisation s'organisent à Montréal et à Québec. Ces marches
auront lieu simultanément pour lancer un même cri et enfin se faire
entendre. Elles sont planifiées et organisées sur le forum de
discussions suivant: http://actions-animauxqc.actifforum.com/index.htm

Voici les détails de cet événement de première importance :

Quoi?

Marche pacifique pour appuyer la lutte contre les usines à chiots

Quand?

Le dimanche 15 avril 2007
Départs simultanés à 13 h 00

Où?

Montréal
Point de départ : Parc Lafontaine (coin Émile Duployé et Sherbrooke,
en face de l'Hôpital Notre-Dame, au parc à chiens)
Point d'arrivée : Parc Jeanne Mance
(La marche suivra la rue Rachel)

Québec
Point de départ : Rassemblement devant le Parlement
Point d'arrivée : 200, Ch. Sainte-Foy
(Marche sur Grande Allée, puis sur Cartier)

Au point d'arrivée, il y aura des kiosques de sensibilisation tenus
par des organismes de secours animal impliqués dans le milieu et une
pétition. Les marcheurs pourront écouter un discours de Madame Nicole
Joncas, militante pour la cause animale, avant le départ de la
marche. Des témoignages seront aussi lus au point d'arrivée. Les
marcheurs seront ensuite encouragés à poser un geste symbolique face
à un monument en l'honneur des victimes des usines à chiots. En ce
sens, les ils auront été encouragés à apporter avec eux une fleur ou
un ruban qu'ils pourront déposer devant le monument, en souvenir des
victimes des usines à chiots durant une minute de silence.

Nous tenons à souligner la participation et l'appui de Monsieur Eric
Maheu, bassiste du très populaire groupe de musique Kain. Monsieur
Maheu marchera avec nous à Montréal avec sa conjointe et leur danois,
Goliath.

Nous espérons bien entendu rejoindre le plus grand nombre de gens
afin de sensibiliser la population aux problèmes que vivent les
animaux au Québec. La situation est fébrile en ce moment. Les gens
sont plus réceptifs et ce, grâce aux nombreuses saisies médiatisées
effectuées récemment. Il est donc vital d'agir sans tarder et de
poursuivre cet important travail de sensibilisation! Nous devons nous
allier pour ouvrir les coeurs et les yeux de la population. Serez-
vous de nôtres?

– 30 –

Source : Administrateurs, Forum Actions, unis contre les usines à chiots
http://actions-animaux-qc.actifforum.com/
Information : Madame Nancy Guénette
Téléphone : 514-525-9586
Courriel : straw@generation.net

Our girls for adoption

2007-03-31T09:18:00.000-04:00

These girls are presently at my home and are also listed on PetFinder (as are the boys):

Sicero, an agouti-hooded mama, is a big, healthy, alpha lady. She has a great attitude and is very active and smart. She is fearless and has put two other alpha rats in their place. Two of her daughters, Brunette (older) and Magenta (younger and smaller) look just like her, though you can tell them apart. Magenta is a sweet little rat, nowhere as alpha dominant as her mom. No need! And Blondie was her nanny, when Sicero had her second litter (she came in pregnant), Blondie looked after the young ones all the time. Blondie is hooded like her mom and sisters. Brunette is Blondie's litter sister, and she just does her own thing. They are all confident and like to get in your business, but they are not troublemakers. Note: Blondie and Magenta have gone to a foster home together. That is how they should be adopted - they seemed like a natural pair.

Then there's Bess. Bess is a black self (all black), very small, a little shy and independent, but not in a not-get-along kind of way. Bess likes to "tooth" your fingers but never bites. She's also easy to catch when she's out exploring, and it didn't take her long to learn her name, to which she responds. She was a mom, too, as she came in to the SPCA with 12 little ones, some of them very fancy (the boys were adopted through us, the girls through the SPCA. When she was alone, we went and got her).

So, if you're interested in adding to your ratty family, please consider one or a pair of these girlies! To integrate with elderly ladies, I recommend Bess or one of the younger girlies - Sicero may intimidate older rats. She has certainly been the boss of mine; but I've got a coven of 5 going on that are quite happy in their old age.

And just a note: we have two elderly boy rats, 26 months old, very squishy, cuddly, and healthy enough that they could be adopted to anyone who loves oldies as much as I do. They are not advertised as there often are younger rats in need (like the two we have on PetFinder, and the litter that came in to the SPCA recently). But it's just a note in case you're that special person.

Photo Album for cages

2007-03-24T21:41:00.000-04:00

We finally have a series of pictures for the cages and accessories we have for sale. Click the link above.

We have 5 dwarf rabbit cages for sale for $25 - one is white, and three are beige and brown - and there is another at one of our foster homes available, colour may be white but I can't recall. Also, a white chinchilla cage, which is also available for $40.

Smaller cage prices are very reasonable - $12, 15, and 20.

Hamster balls - $5 or best offer, after all, we have 4! Same for brand-new mouse ball.

Cages for sale

2007-02-23T12:36:00.000-05:00

Remember, we always have cages for sale. These cages are donated to us by people who no longer have small pets but want to help the cause; we refurbish the cages (clean them up to make them like new) and sell them as a fundraiser.

We have no Habitrail cages available at the moment, but we do have several other Hagen models for hamsters and gerbils. Available in different sizes.

We do have sets of Habitrail tubes available.

We have one 10-gallon aquarium with toys and all, ready for 6 mice. If you are interested in a permanent foster, this would be for you.

We seek a 5-gallon aquarium for our own mice.

We also always have several dwarf rabbit/guinea pig cages available. The dimensions are 15" x 25" x 16" and are suitable for up to two rats with added shelves.

2007-02-21T15:39:00.000-05:00

Small Victories Rodent Rescue is holding an adoption clinic Saturday March 3 from 11 - 5 pm at GLOBAL - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons in Plaza Pointe-Claire (corner St.John & Hwy 20). Loving homes, foster or forever, are wanted for pet rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, and other small animals, and donations and volunteers are needed! For info call 514-691-5263.
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Refuge pour rongeurs Petites Victoires tiendra une clinique d’adoption samedi 3 mars, 11h00-17h00, chez GLOBAL – Pitou, Minou & Compagnons, à la Plaza Pointe-Claire, Boul. Saint-Jean, coin autoroute 20. On cherche les foyers aimants permanents ou temporaires pour les rats, souris, hamsters, cochons d'indes, et autres petits animaux, et on a un besoin pour les dons et benevoles! Pour info appellez (514) 691-5263.

Réunion samedi 3 mars

2007-02-17T13:20:00.000-05:00

J'aimerai organiser une réunion pour samedi le 24 pour trouver des idées et des activités pour faire avancer SV/PV cette année.

Particulièrement le 'concert bénéfice' qui a encore été repoussé (initialement en novembre, puis février, maintenant il est temps de le faire !) et aussi comment transformer SV/PV en un organisme à but non lucratif.

Considérant cela et considérant le temps que ma nouvelle carrière et les voyages que le travail va nécéssiter dans la derniere moitié de 2007, nous devons faire un mouvement pour trouver comment cela peut fonctionner pour de mieux pour tout le monde et, bien sur, pour les animaux.

Un nouveau directeur (ou une directrice) serait une bonne personne à trouver, mais au cas ou nous ne pourrions pas trouver une autre personne a part de moi, nous pouvons tout de même trouver un moyen pour préserver le succès de Small Victories/Petites Victoires dans le placement d'animaux sans domicile et qui rend leur nouvelles demeures encore plus heureuses.

Je suis trés exité E par cela à cause des récentes activités (et c'est pourquoi je fais cet apppel pour une réunion maintenant plutôt qu'il y a 4 mois lorsque c'était prévu dans mon agenda).

Nous avons eu quelques excellentes semaines d'adoption et nous avons été bien soutenu par le programme 'Vanier Vet Tech', la clinique 'Lupu Vet' où beaucoup d'entre nous allons (et même travaille à) a accepté de vendre nos hamacs pour rongeurs comme une levée de fonds qui va dans notre compte avec eux, et Steve Holton a publié un livre intitulé 'Rat Tales' (Histoires de rats) à lulu.com et nous fait don de la recette.

J'aimerai surfer haut sur cette vague -- m'assurer que tout le monde ressente l'amour -- parce que lorsque les choses vont bien cela peut être utilisé pour nous faire avancer sur les t â ches les plus intimidantes (concert, non-lucratif, nouvelle direction).

Tout le monde a quelque chose d'unique qu'il peut faire, comme le travail sur le site web, la couture, la publicité, écrire en français, qui sait - ce n'est qu'énumérer les petites choses que nous faisons ici et là dans notre quotidient.

S'il vous plaît, RSVP et venir le samedi 3 mars après 13h30 chez Global Pitou Minou au Pointe-Claire.

J'attends avec impatience de vous voir ou vous entendre !

Et, s'il vous pla î t, faire suivre à quiconque pourrait être interressé.

Puppy mill rescue by the SPCA Monteregie

2007-02-06T16:51:00.000-05:00

They are having a benefit at Ernie Butler's Comedy Nest on February 24th at 8:30. Tickets are 15$, profits going to the SPCA Monteregie. The newspaper article (Le Reflet) about the puppy mill rescue is in french - click the title to read.

Adoption clinic tomorrow! Séance d'adoption demain!

2007-01-05T20:15:00.000-05:00

We are having our first adoption clinic of the year at Global - Minou Pitou et Compagnons, same address as usual (see older posts for more details). Venez voir nos bébés et autres protegées!

Separating the young by sex, adoptions please!

2007-01-05T13:10:00.002-05:00

So the rat babies have all grown up and are cute youngsters now. The boys were separated just prior to New Year's, as they were 5 weeks old and their testicles getting ready to drop - the point at which they could breed with their older sisters or mother, who are definitely sexually mature. People need to watch out for this with any groups of young pets that they acquire from any source - sexing babies and juveniles is not always easy and accurate, and this is the period where accidental pregnancies occur.

So, all 9 girls - Sicero, Blondie, Brunette, Columbia, Janet, Magenta, and the remaining three - yet to be named, as they are heading back to the SPCA for greater adoption options - are happily in the largest cage we have. Their brothers Rocky, Frank, and Brad are in a smaller cage in which they're secure and have a lot of toys and comfort.

The plan so far, since we are short at least two foster homes, is to integrate Sicero and her daughters with my three girls Isis, Missy, and Melonie. I think the babies will give Isis and Missy a real charge, as they'd both been mothers before, and Melonie and the older daughters are similar in temperament and might take to each other.

Then the older boys (3 months old now), who've been waiting at the SPCA since the whole bunch first came in (late November), will come back and be integrated with their baby brothers in the cage that was Missy, Isis, and Melonie's. It's going to be overcrowded for everyone, but fosters and adoptions will ease the cramped space.

Callipso, Moët, Pogo, Fromage, and Quinzy (optional fifth, has another friendly place to go if he's not adopted with his friends) are a real joy to have here. Their intense interest in outside-the-cage life make them quite funny and charming. They love swarming me when it's "TV time," especially if popcorn is involved. Moët likes coming upstairs to visit the bunnies, Fromage likes making the world know that the room is his. Pogo is the shyest one of the group, and both he and Callipso are likely to settle down right beside you to hang out, and start bruxing and boggling when you stroke them. And Quinzy is a downright funny-looking pest.

December - only two rats adopted

2006-12-31T18:41:00.001-05:00

In order to have met our goal of placing 5 animals a month into new homes - the goal I had set to make all the effort worthwhile - we would have had to place 20 in the month of December, or 16 and find two foster homes to make up for the four animals adopted by their foster homes (thus closing those foster homes). Foster homes were found, and then fell through. Unfortunately, despite many of our successes in 2006, including the adoption clinics, we had zero growth in adoptions. We hope 2007 will be a stronger year.

My vision for ethical treatment of animals

2006-12-29T15:12:00.000-05:00

This is my statement, my view of the ideal, practical, perhaps-one-day possible world.

- No one expects to obtain companion animals no-questions-asked, or for free
- All homeless animals with a reasonable expection of quality of life being able to find a good home, covered by a much broader geographic area than we now consider convenient
- An end to all blood sports, including the feeding of live prey to domesticated carnivores/predators
- No companion animal being denied veterinary treatment because "it's just an animal" or because "it's cheaper to buy a new one." No companion animal being denied prompt veterinary treatment because of ignorance or lack of affordability
- All pet guardians learning about, respecting, and meeting the real physical and psychological needs of their companion animals
- No more vanity- or folkloric consumption of animals and animal parts, or regulatory redundancy that takes animals' lives
- Outlawing (or out-regulating) the breeding of domestic companion animals as a gainful source of part-time or full-time employment or small business category. Outlawing of industry practices and recalling of products that are known to be harmful to our pets, yet continue to be practiced and marketed.
- Licensed breeding becoming truly controlled and licensed, guaranteeing that the breeders care about their progeny
- Law enforcement acting on their animal protection mandates and receiving appropriate budgets to take action every day
- All hunters learning everything about the ecology of their game and the ethics of hunting and the humane kill well before they learn how to pull a trigger safely. (To be a hunter, one only has to learn how to fire a gun.) Credit goes to those who are already ethical advocates and conservationists
- Working animals routinely granted the opportunity to join families as companion animals at a reasonable stage of retirement
- Industries that necessarily use working animals give back into causes that directly benefit animals in order to honour the animal sacrifices their industries require – rather back into causes that support their industry's bottom line. By this, we certainly do mean medical research and farming - they are legitimate businesses that are too paranoid of the ethical intentions of animal welfare, and do not contribute back to those whose goods and lives they make their money from. e.g. Cancer research supports ever more cancer research - while our pets and shelter animals are denied drugs and treatments known effective to them, and refuges get no sponsorship from those who profit from research
- Pet stores become the repository and distribution point for homeless pets, safe and healthy pet products, and real humane education, so they can truly become joyful places, rather than a happy face denying the economic enslavement of animals
- A clearly defined, educated, and enforced limit to the influence that non-guardians can exert on curbing the behaviour and lifestyles of animals and their guardians. Parks are paid for from public funds dog owners contribute to; breed-specific legislation is not a right to beat or poison neighbour's pets or launch civil suites; leash laws are not permission to surveille, stalk or otherwise harrass dog owners; nor shoot-shovel-shutup and other forms of extermination for animals without guardians. We share the same world, and animal rights and guardian rights should not be subordinate to zoophobias and disinformation.

Animals confer more blessings on us than we could care to count. We need to confer the blessings back.

Babies are growing so fast, almost ready to adopt!

2006-12-21T11:21:00.000-05:00

There are 3 boys - one agouti hooded with a fully amputated tail (an unfortunate accident due to an aggression by an adult male) and two beige hooded.

There are 6 females - one beige hooded with a half-length tail (same incident), three other beige hoodeds, and two agouti hooded.

There are also the older siblings: two agouti-hooded boys, and one agouti-hooded and one beige-hooded sister pair. Sicero, the mom, is agouti-hooded.

In the picture above, their coats are kinda messy because baby rats, just like baby humans, get food all over themselves when they eat.

Raffle winners | Gagnants de Tombola

2006-12-17T11:13:00.000-05:00

Eliza McCarthy - Bikram Yoga
Vanessa Sarges - Tuscan wine
Marlene Ghazaly - L'Oréal Professional gift basket
Christiane Brault - Salon Gloria certificate
Howard Kiewe - Zen Massothérapie certificate

Congratulations winners, and thanks to all who donated and participated!

Four days to buy your raffle tickets!

2006-12-13T08:56:00.000-05:00

We are having the holiday raffle on Saturday, December 16 at our volunteer party. We are going to call the winners that night. You can buy your tickets from the link on our home page. There's about a one in 10 chance of winning, which is pretty good for the price of the ticket and value of the prizes. Good luck!

Cuteness is about to explode!

2006-12-07T13:16:00.001-05:00

These are the babies who were born just about two weeks ago. Already, with their eyes not yet open, they are little explorers. They are familiar with human hands, as their mom and sisters are - their mom is the most sociable rat ever!

On Saturday, their older sisters - Blondie and Brownie, I guess they should be called - and two brothers, too, are going to be available at our adoption clinic. See below for details!

help! foster home for boys needed now!

2006-12-03T21:14:00.000-05:00

We have a pending adoption for boys but we have incoming and an outgoing foster home (allergies) - so we're short a foster home. We will also need another foster home for either boys or girls, end of December, for the babies that are now nursing and their elder siblings. This is a huge juggle! Also, if you're interested in long-term fostering for guinea pigs, please consider us for the holiday period.

Adoption clinic 09/dec/06 Séance d'adoption!

2006-12-01T11:54:00.000-05:00

We're having an adoption clinic on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 11 - 5 pm at GLOBAL - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons in Plaza Pointe-Claire (corner St.John & Hwy 20). Loving homes are wanted for pet rats, mice, hamsters, and other small animals, and donations and volunteers are needed. We sell cages, and we will be selling raffle tickets for some lovely Christmas presents. For info call 514-691-5263.

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SAMEDI 9 DÉCEMBRE, 11h00-17h00, chez GLOBAL – Pitou, Minou & Compagnons, à la Plaza Pointe-Claire, Boul. Saint-Jean, coin autoroute 20. On cherche les foyers aimants pour les rats, souris, hamsters, et autres petits animaux, et on a un besoin pour les dons et benevoles. On vendre des cages, et on vendre des billets "loto" pour plusiers bons cadeaux de Noël! Pour info appellez (514) 691-5263.

Hamsters in a very cool house!

2006-12-01T11:51:00.000-05:00

FOSTER HOME urgently needed for male guinea pig(s)

2006-11-30T14:34:00.000-05:00

There is a 5 year old GP boy waiting for a foster home immediately. We would like to help him, and have a two-week foster home available for him. In addition, we'd like the foster home to be ready to accept another single boy so that the boys can be integrated together, as GPs are social creatures and need friends. Boys are supposedly easier to integrate than girls.

A cage and supplies can be provided, of course! Please respond as soon as possible.

Off-topic: film shoot, extras needed, Sunday afternoon!

2006-11-29T23:39:00.000-05:00

For all you in the Montreal area, if you can take a few hours out on Sunday afternoon, from 1 - 4 or 5 (no lock-down, you're free to come later or leave earlier), we need people to show up for a bar scene at Le Belmont, on St. Laurent and Mont-Royal. Feel free to write me for more details! I will be there.

My idea of rattie heaven

2006-11-26T22:48:00.000-05:00

Jo has adopted several pets through Small Victories, and has been part of the rescue community as long or longer than I have. I recognize several of her boys as being brothers/sons of rats I have had through SV and some of which I still have (the agouti-hooded dumbos, for instance, are the sons of my evil/adorable little pipsqueak Missy); several also came through from New Brunswick (brothers to Missy's cagemate Melonie).

Anyway, Jo has successfully integrated 17 (try to count them!) boys. Adopters who've come to my house consider my place rattie heaven - well, this is my idea of rattie heaven!

(And a very good argument as to why it's fantastic fun to adopt all the same-sex siblings in a litter, hint hint - we have adopted out two of Sicero's four sons from the first litter; girls still available, and 10 pink babies to account for in 5 weeks time!)

We have newborns…we need adoptions!

2006-11-24T11:45:00.000-05:00

Mama Sicero, who came in two weeks ago with her two daughters and four sons, has just popped another litter of 10 babies. She is a good mom and the babies will be very well-socialized. They will be ready to go in 5 weeks… her two-month-old sons and daughters all need homes now!

We are having our adoption clinic TOMORROW. Details below.

Nous avons une nouvelle portée des rats bébés - la mère a arrivé avec 2 filles et 4 fils deux semaines passé, et elle a eu 10 bébé tôt ce matin. Ils vont être bien socialisés et prèt à adopter dans 5 semaines!

Notre séance d'adoption est demain, pour les grand frères, soeurs, et autres petits animaux. Détails en bas. SVP aidons-nous!

New Brunswick rat rescue blog

2006-11-22T16:35:00.000-05:00

Holly and Linda have a few ratties looking for homes - and their pictures are to die for! Check out the blog with the link above.

A very cute music video with a rat

2006-11-21T20:00:00.000-05:00

Tricycle is a song by a British duo called PSAPP. The video is an animation of a lonely rat trying to make a friend.

Adoption Clinic this Saturday, November 26 | Séance d'adoption le 26 novembre

2006-11-20T10:11:00.000-05:00

We're having an adoption clinic on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 11 - 5 pm at GLOBAL - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons in Plaza Pointe-Claire (corner St.John & Hwy 20). Loving homes are wanted for pet rats, mice, hamsters, and other small animals, and donations and volunteers are needed. We sell cages, and we will be selling raffle tickets for some lovely Christmas presents. For info call 514-691-5263.

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SAMEDI 26 NOVEMBRE, 11h00-17h00, chez GLOBAL – Pitou, Minou & Compagnons, à la Plaza Pointe-Claire, Boul. Saint-Jean, coin autoroute 20. On cherche les foyers aimants pour les rats, souris, hamsters, et autres petits animaux, et on a un besoin pour les dons et benevoles. On vendre des cages, et on vendre des billets "loto" pour plusiers bons cadeaux de Noël! Pour info appellez (514) 691-5263.

Introducing our new photo site

2006-11-16T10:49:00.000-05:00

Click the link of the title to see our new photo site - we're just in the process of putting it up for public viewing - thanks Vanessa! I will continue adding pictures as I clear out my Flickr and PhotoBucket accounts and back up my hard drive. Expect to see a LOT of cute rat, mouse, and bunny pictures - as well as animals we have/had for adoption.

We have baby rats, ready for adoption now!

2006-11-15T12:32:00.000-05:00

We have 4 baby boys, three of them hooded agouti and one hooded beige/blond. Their mom is hooded agouti, and 1 sister too, and 1 sister is hooded beige/blonde. Babies are 5 weeks old and ready for homes now! Mom is available too!

Photo contest for our 2007 Calendar!

2006-11-06T12:03:00.000-05:00

I am getting ready to create the 2007 Calendar for Small Victories | Petites Victoires. So of course, I need large, high-quality pictures of your fuzzy friends - and it's no longer just rats and mice anymore! We particularly need theme pictures for holiday months, so if you have anything for Valentine's, St. Paddys, Easter, etc., please send it in.

This year we may be selling printed calendars as a fundraiser on an as-ordered basis. The printing services will be donated, but I think they will agree to a half-sized calendar as a thank you to each photo winner that makes it into the calendar - which I will mail to you - and I will provide a digital version to everyone who participates!

I'm looking forward to seeing your pics! Please make sure they're about 1 - 2 Mb in size to ensure it will be big enough for 8.5 x 11 pages. And finally, don't forget to tell me your pet's name and who the photographer is.

Foster homes very much needed NOW!

2006-11-03T16:42:00.000-05:00

We need foster homes for GUINEA PIGS and RATS.

There are many, many GPs at the SPCA whose time is running out. We also receive regular surrender requests.

There are also the following rats:

Four boys, one of them fancy.

A mom with 6 babies.

Please help! They don't have much time!

E-mail me ASAP to apply to foster; read our website for more details in order to be prepared.

The Dominance Pinch for Alpha rats

2006-10-24T13:46:00.002-04:00

The following is posted by permission of JoRats, who authored it, in discussing how to show an alpha rat who is being TOO aggressive with others that you are the boss, and to calm down and play nice.

If you are inexperienced at integrating rats and handling rats, DO NOT attempt this. Experienced rat people know how much force to use, while newbies might apply too little or too much pressure, with tragic results to them or the rat. You might get scared and maybe end up hurting the rattie. Also, ratties are really quick, and many will flip around in a flash to bite the hand.

Alpha rats will do two things to their minions, they will flip them over and rub their paws on the minion's chest, between the front paws and/or they will get up on the minion and put their teeth between the shoulder blades. This is why scuffles with alpha can result in injury. When the alpha lays his teeth on the minion, they are suppose to submit but many don't, they get scared and try to run off and this may result in a slice, usually on the neck, the shoulders and back.

So what I do, I mimic the dominance over the instigator. You do this when you catch them in the act of being a bully. Rump rubbing, boxing, are normal behaviors but when you see scuffles, balls of fur flying, this is when you need to intervene.

Be very careful when attempting the pinch, it's very easy for rattie to flip around and bite your hand, remember, he's in a highly stressed state when you are doing the pinch.

With one hand, hold the rat by the base of the tail making sure all for paws are on the ground. With you other hand grab hold of some skin between the shoulder blades and press the rat down into the floor. He will protest and scream bloody murder but you aren't hurting him, you are simply hurting his pride. Let go after a few seconds of this, just long enough so he gets the message that you are the Alpha. He will usually go sulk, give him a few minutes then pick him up for lots of cuddles. I'm attaching pics so you can see what I mean.

On a girl rat, usually all that is needed is for you to flip her over and with your two fingers rub her chest firmly but not hard.

I've been doing this for a few years now and it's amazing how great it works. Of course the real aggressive rats, this won't work, neutering is the only answer.

Abandoned guinea pig GIRLS safe now

2006-10-09T19:54:00.000-04:00

On Saturday during our adoption clinic at Global - Pitou Minou et Compagnons, we received a call about two guinea pigs abandoned in a box in the parking lot at Kirkland's Wal-Mart. They were delivered to us that afternoon. They are described as two six-month-old boys, though we'll get the sexes checked at the vet, especially as one sounds a little congested. They were terrified, and remained so for more than a day. They are not used to human attention, so it will take a little while - a few weeks, at least - to get them into a friendly routine in preparation for adoption. They are both medium-haired, very cowlicky, and one is orange and one is black. They are not named. We will post more about them as we find out their sex, health, and personalities!

Update: They are girls, and their names are Iggy and Pop! Because I noticed I have a tendency to have musician-named pets.

Feast of St. Francis - get your pets blessed

2006-10-05T15:29:00.000-04:00

October 6 is the Feast of St. Francis, patron saint of animals. Take your pets to your local Catholic parish to be blessed!

We hope to invite a Fransiscan from the monastery at Rene-Levesque and Lambert-Closse to come to our adoption clinic to bless our animals.

Adoption Clinic this Saturday | Séance d'Adoption ce samedi

2006-10-03T11:51:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks / Salut tout le monde,

Again, another adoption clinic on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 11 - 5 pm at GLOBAL - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons in Plaza Pointe-Claire (corner St.John & Hwy 20). Loving homes are wanted for pet rats, mice, hamsters, and other small animals, and donations and volunteers are needed. We sell cages, too. For info call 514-691-5263.

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SAMEDI 7 OCTOBRE, 11h00-17h00, chez GLOBAL – Pitou, Minou & Compagnons, à la Plaza Pointe-Claire, Boul. Saint-Jean, coin autoroute 20. On cherche les foyers aimants pour les rats, souris, hamsters, et autres petits animaux, et on a un besoin pour les dons et benevoles. On vendre des cages, aussi. Pour info appellez (514) 691-5263.

Adoption Clinic this Saturday | Séance d'Adoption ce samedi

2006-09-18T15:00:00.000-04:00

Saturday September 23 from 11 - 5 pm at GLOBAL - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons in Plaza Pointe-Claire (corner St.John & Hwy 20). Loving homes are wanted for pet rats, mice, hamsters, and other small animals, and donations and volunteers are needed. We sell cages, too. For info call 514-691-5263.

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Samedi 23 septembre, 11h00-17h00, chez GLOBAL – Pitou, Minou & Compagnons, à la Plaza Pointe-Claire, Boul. Saint-Jean, coin autoroute 20. On cherche les foyers aimants pour les rats, souris, hamsters, et autres petits animaux, et on a un besoin pour les dons et benevoles. On vendre des cages, aussi. Pour info appellez (514) 691-5263.

Hamster cages for sale - Vente des cages hamsters

2006-09-11T16:57:00.000-04:00

We have several hamster cages for sale:
Nous avons quelques cages hamster à vendre. Pour un description en français, aller ici: Collecte des fonds et evenements planifiés

This cage is suitable for a temporary rat transport cage, or for adult mice, hamsters, and gerbils (2 to 3). It may come with a wheel for small rodents. $12.

We have an extra Habitrail, which comes with a few basic parts for $15:

Finally, we have a 20-gallon tall terrarium for $20.

Adopt a Rat, Canada - the other website

2006-09-07T14:02:00.000-04:00

Post by Shelagh

Some of you Canadians might remember CanadaRatFinder.

It was a wonderful website where you could literally go into your province and find the shelters nearest you. There would be moderators "taking care of" each shelter and they would post available rats and info, plus any contact info needed. It was kind of like One Stop Shopping for Shelter Rats.

Well that board was sadly abandoned, but a wonderful woman in B.C. affiliated with SARS decided to make up her own website. It's now up and running, I am a moderator for the THS and Toronto Animal Services, and it looks like people are adopting rats using this tool.

The board is in its infancy, and we still need Moderators for many provinces and shelters. There is a post on there if you are interested in helping out. Its not difficult at all, a few minutes a day is all it takes me right now.

So bookmark this page, you never know when someone might need it if not yourself.

http://www.adoptaratcanada.com

CBC radio interview this morning.

2006-09-04T14:32:00.000-04:00

This morning I was interviewed on CBC radio about what to do when you find a rodent outside, and why it's not humane to let them go. I thought it would be more about the rescue, and I sort of bombed that question as it was the first "What do you do at the rescue?" and I said "Well, a lot of cage cleaning, to start!" I explained how to manage the smell from male mice, who are odiferous, and our hopes to one day neuter male mice to give them a better chance at adoption and perhaps a better life in company of others. I also explained the life of a domestic rat outdoors, and how it ends in predation, but I also gave positive rat-recovery stories, such as the recent one in Ottawa where a male and female were found and trapped, and had warbles removed (I explained what warbles were in a matter-of-fact, scientific manner: bot-fly larvae).

Unfortunately I didn't cover any of my talking points about how we need adoptions and volunteers.

If I find an audio archive of the show, I will save it and post it here.

Guest post about Toronto Humane Society pet store seizure - letter writers wanted

2006-08-29T22:36:00.000-04:00

This post is written by a guest, and it's very informative indeed. We would like to see letters written in support of better animal cruelty legislation. For more information about this legislation, see the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

The Toronto Humane Society has had to step in with regards to a closed petstore in the city in the Dufferin/Bloor area. It seems that a couple purchased the petstore for their children to run, the children abandoned it with all the animals boarded up inside and left to die. Luckily, the THS and authorities were contacted and most of the animals were able to be saved.
There is a big story on their website about it, http://www.torontohumanesociety.com/newsandevents/pr/2006/aug17.asp, and they are inundated with animals down there. Including, five PetHarbor pages of rats alone, which seems to be the entire petstores stock of feeders.

Please, please spread the news to as many places as you can, we all know the fate awaiting some of those animals. They are not available until the investigation is done, but then all hell will break loose and those rats are not going to be kept well down there. The THS website says that no charges have been laid in this case yet.

Which brings me to the other thing that I wanted to mention, and again please feel free to spread the word wherever you can.

It seems that Stephen Harper's wife is a very active Animal Activist. They are even fostering for the Ottawa Humane Society. [?T]his might be a good time for all animal lovers to renew their push on getting our revised Animal Cruelty Bill passed. I don't even know what it is called anymore, it has changed and been rejected so often, but I am confident that this might be a good time for it to be the last version of the bill not to be passed.

You can read up on the Prime Ministers website, they have a section about fostering and shelter animals here: http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=5&id=1147
I am going to work on a letter to send them myself in the next few days, I was hoping that people could start posting about this where they are members in order to generate some interest in contacting the Conservative government about it. The contact page for the PM is here: http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/contact.asp.

Seances d'Adoption pour septembre - September Adoption Clinics

2006-08-29T15:05:00.000-04:00

Saturday, September 2 | Samedi, 2 septembre 2006

11h00 - 17h00

Provigo, 960 Herron Road, Dorval

- just west of the Dorval circle.

Herron est le voie de service de l'autoroute #20.

Saturday, September 9 | Samedi, 9 septembre 2006

Clinique V�t�rinaire De La Promenade

514-383-2345

1567, rue Fleury Est,

Montr�al, QC H2C 1S7

Details to be announced | Details � suivre!

Sunday 6:30, CTV Montreal airs puppy mill report

2006-08-26T09:59:00.000-04:00

The reports on Puppy Mills and Pet Shops will be airing this weekend as part of CTV Montreal's On Assignment show. (CTV: Channel 12)

The short version will be on the 6 o'clock News on Friday, August 25th. The complete 1/2 hour version will air Sunday, August 27th, at 6:30pm.
The complete version includes discussion with Mutsumi Takahashi and guests.
If anyone has comments on the show, feel free to send them to onassignment@ctv.ca.
Although 1/2 hour just scratches the surface on the problem of Puppy Mills, I hope that it will provide some education to the public. My research began several months ago, but I owe the completion of these reports to the people who've been helping animals for years.

Thank you all for everything!
Karla

Karla Kaminski
Researcher
On Assignment - CTV News

We're in the West Island Chronicle!

2006-08-17T10:51:00.000-04:00

Click the link to read the story!

Adoption Clinic | Séance d'Adoption

2006-08-15T15:06:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, August 19, we'll be having an adoption clinic with Secours Lapins Quebec Rabbit Rescue at Global - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons

Plaza Pointe Claire, 245F St-John's Road. (corner Highway 20 and Boul. St-John) (514) 859-9008

Samedi, 19 aôut, on va avoir un séance d'adoption avec Secours Lapins Quebec Rabbit Rescue au Global - Pitou, Minou & Compagnons

Plaza Pointe Claire, 245F Boul. St-John's (corner Highway 20 and Boul. St-John) (514) 859-9008