LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: HOW I GOT INTO RATS
March 24th, 2016 (the day before good Friday) I remember my mom showing me a gif of a rat who would take a tissue out of a box every time their owner sneezed, and give it to them. From there on something clicked in my head and rats were the only thing on my mind.
​
By Erin Macneil
For the rest of the easter weekend, I spent my time silently doing research on rats. It surprised me how different they sounded from other small pets. Sure hamsters, mice and gerbils are cute, but they’re not very interactive nor are they very smart. Rats on the other hand sounded like mini dogs due to the fact that the would actually bond with you.
On Easter day I decided to ask my mom if I could buy myself a pair of rats. I was prepared for a lecture or something of that sort, but all she said was “As long as you’re the one taking care of them.” So naturally I kept doing nonstop research on rat care as well as looking for where I could buy some.
A week or two later my mom told me that Nancy ,someone who often comes to her painting parties, had a pair of girls that she originally bought for her kids, but she was the only one who took care of them. Nancy said that she would be willing to sell me the rats, their cage and their accessories for only 200$ (which was quite cheap considering that the cage itself would normally be over 200$). I wasn’t sure at first, because I wanted a pair of boys, but mom said that I should go and check them out before I completely toss the idea. I agreed, and I’m glad I did because I bonded with the rats immediately.
A week later I had two rats, Laura and Clara, as well as a sinus infection that had partially ruined the moment for me. Luckily the infection cleared up a week after and I finally had time to properly bond with my rats. Things went slowly at first but soon Laura came out, and Clara soon after.
Soon my rats became my best friends and certainly made my world a lot better. Sad or mad, my rats always seemed to be the perfect cure.
​
In July, my mom suggested that I get a few more rats because my current cage could carry up to twelve rats. Not long after, I found an ad on kijiji for rats. A rat breeder in St. John recently had a litter of rats from a female that she bought pregnant, as well as a litter of intentionally bred dumbo, seal point siamese rats, that would be ready near the end of August.I picked out three rats, who are now known as Penelope, Amelia and Violet and brought them home two weeks before the start of school. We kept them in a separate quarantine cage for their first two weeks home, and we introduced them with Laura and Clara shortly after.
Now all five of them live happily together and are the best of friends.
-Erin MacNeil
