Homes sought for rescued rats
Tuesday 4th May 2010, 9:16AM BST.
A Shropshire couple who rescued 124 pet rats, some on the verge of dying, from a house in the Black Country, are now trying to find homes for them.
Mike Hannah, of Overdale, in Telford, runs MNM Rat Rescue and received a call from a man in Tipton saying he had “a couple” of rats that needed rehoming. When the he got there he could not believe how many there were.
“In cases like this it is more often than not a basic knowledge of how to look after them, if you are not careful and you don’t know what you are doing they can end up tripling and quadrupling in a matter of weeks,” said Mike, 34.
“The rats had been allowed to breed and breed and breed and were being kept in cages and cat carriers that were really not suitable for them both in the living room and the kitchen of this house.
“We had to put six down and some of the others were borderline dead to be honest.”
Mr Hannah said the RSPCA also attended the address and threatened to take further action against the man, who has not been named, unless he surrendered all of the rats.
Six had to be put down immediately, while 10 are pregnant and a few others are described as “poorly”.
But Mr Hannah, who runs the rescue operation with partner Manda, said he hoped the majority would pull through.
He said: “We will have them with us for a couple of weeks now to make sure they are OK and then we will put them up on the website and look at finding them new homes. Rats have this terrible reputation but they are very loving animals and make fantastic pets.”
The couple live in Overdale with their four children, four cats, 32 pet rats, two mice, two guinea pigs, six chinchillas and one dog.
Anyone interested in providing a home for one or more of the rats can call 07858 096506 or e-mail m.n.m.ratrescue@live.co.uk For more details visit http://mnm-ratrescue .piczo.com
By Wayne Beese
UK News
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
What? Only one dog?!
Joking appart, well done to this caring couple and their rat rescue service.
Report abuse
HELLO…. they are rats, put them all down.
Described as poorly, OMG.
Report abuse
it just goes to show why some people should never have pets.they are fancy rats not wild rats. if you know nothing about rats and what illness they can get then please keep your comments to yourself. some have what is known as “myco” and can be treated very easily. if people havnt got anything constuctive to say then dont bother …….
Report abuse
What a dreadful attitude! These are ill and distressed animals that need help due to the ignorance of their previous owner. All good wishes to those caring for them and trying to rehome them. They can do without further ignorance in comments such as this.
Report abuse
hi all manda from mnm rat rescue the paper have misprinted our website if you would like to look its http://www.mnm-rat-rescue.piczo.com
thanks matt for your kind words :)
hope to here from may lovely rattie fans soon
Report abuse
Why should they be PTS? Rats make wonderful pets. I hope the ones that are ill make a good recovery.
Report abuse
Rats are superb pets! If I livede nearer I might be interested in adding to my 13!
Report abuse
Well done to everyone involved in rescuing these little ones. Thank goodness for people like you and the animal rescues in the UK that are willing to help unwanted pets and give them another chance in a suitable forever home.
I hope all the rats make a full recovery. I can only imagine the amount of hard work that has gone on to care for them all, good luck in finding them all forever homes.
Report abuse