Meet Twitch!

[Optimist]

As you may know, I had 6 rats, and poor little guys do not live very long, 2 years is usually max. My oldest passed away about 2 weeks ago after a very long life of 2 years and 6 months.

Well, I said I would not get another because it is hard to only have them such a short time and then have them die, but they are so darned cute! So I couldn't help it.

Meet my new baby rat, Twitch! He is a dumbo hooded/variegated in a Mink color (which is a very dark gray, not black). He is very spastic now, as a baby. Extremely fast, so it is hard to get any kind of a steady shot of him. (By the way, I have some batteries etc coming for my Sony big SLR digital camera, maybe I will get some decent pictures? Let's cross fingers!)

[Leafmite]

What a cutie! With pets, I always take their deaths hard but I have come to realize that this pain is well worth it for the joy they give me when they are alive. In return, they get a good home with plenty of love.

[rbarata]

I had several white hamsters but all of them were wild and furious. A hand inside the cage was the equivalent to a nasty bite. So, a few years later, when some died and others were offered to friends, I gave up.

[Subrosa]

I'm stronger than you. After Socks I'll never go through having and losing a rat again. Hamsters are evil little beasts, and have accounted for most of the bites I've taken from animals other than insects.

[Optimist]

This little guy has not bitten once, and I have not really had any problem with rat bites. If they get their teeth on you, they really have a "soft mouth." I am sure a wild rat would be different. I mean, they would be scared. This little guy has been around people since birth, he is a Twitchy buy quiet little guy. When he gets a little bigger, I will get him out to play. My only real worry now is that they are very social, and I have only one, and frankly male rats are more smooshy and loving but they have a musky odor too. I do not want more than one.

[WhiteRabbit]

What a cutie!

We had rats when I was a kid - and as an adult, I have enjoyed some friends' rats. They are much less likely to bite than other small critters kept as pets, and are smart and social - I think they are awesome pets, but yeah, their short life expectancy is tough - but then, no matter how long our beasties live, it's always tough when they die.

[Optimist]

I had to search my conscience about this because I am positive that most people would chose to avoid rats as a pet if they knew how short their lives were. I figured, hey, have a few ratties and give them a wonderful life. Rats are heroes. They have saved so many people due to their "lab rat" identity. I figured coddling a few of them was the least I could do for them.

[estación seca]

I work with dog rescue groups. We take in plenty of old dogs. People say they don't want to adopt an old dog that isn't going to last more than a few years. I ask them whether they refuse to make friends with older people.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I work with dog rescue groups. We take in plenty of old dogs. People say they don't want to adopt an old dog that isn't going to last more than a few years. I ask them whether they refuse to make friends with older people.

I understand both sides of the young vs senior dog situation but I also think, sometimes, people just don't want an older dog so they might be using that as their excuse. Personally, we have rescued/adopted both pups and seniors and I'm always open to either.

The biggest advantage to taking in an older dog is that you know what you're getting as far as personality. You can see it! You also don't have to deal w/all that puppy phase. The oldest dog we adopted was our 6 year old Newfie (Mo) and for anyone who knows the giants...they know they don't live long. We only had him for about 4 years but those were wonderful years because he was an awesome boy. And, I would do it all over again.

Young or old...you really never know how long you're going to have. We adopted our Sevy at 4...a Black Russian Terrier...and w/in a few months he was diagnosed w/osteosarcoma. The breed usually has a 10-12 year life span but because of the cancer, he only lived to be about 5. We had to say our goodbyes before he'd even been w/us for one year. Our other Newf was purchased as a pup from a breeder and he beat all the odds by living to 14 but our other pup (shep/husky mix rescue) developed a heart tumor and was gone before she was 8. So, yea, you never really know how much time you'll have and it's always heartbreaking when you have to say your goodbyes...whether that time is 1 yr or 15 yrs. Regardless of the time frame...what they bring to your life during whatever time you have w/them is worth the heartbreak you'll feel when they are gone.


Twitchy is adorable! My neighbor had rats and they were great pets. Personally, I don't think I could get past the smell (same reason I've never had a ferret even though I love them)...but my neighbor's were really sweet little guys. Very smart too! When they would go out of town, I was the pet sitter and took care of the dogs, cats, birds, fish and rats.

[nikkik]

Twitch is cute! I have had many small animals but never a rat. My husband wasn't raised with animals so we are doing pretty good havibg two dogs and two cats. Although, he would never do small animals or birds because of the smell and maintenance involved.

Animals are awesome, but the loss you feel when its time for them to make that journey to the rainbow bridge is horrible, especially when you find your "soul pet". I lost my first Ragdoll cat 6 years ago and I still miss him. We had to put our Great Dane down last November and my kids still constantly mention her. My mastiff is 9 and a half and his health is not as good as it once was, when his time comes it will crush all of us, he's just one of those animals who makes anyone who meets him fall in love.

Katrina, we apparently have more than our taste in orchids in commom, we currently have a 5 month old Newf puppy. I forgot about all the nipping and jumping involved with a pup, I am happy we have an older dog so I can look and see what all my hard work will produce (hopefully) in the end.

Again, congrats on Twitch! Enjoy him and love him no matter if its 2 months or 2 years because all our pets are worth the heartbreak in the end. Their love is so pure and worth it.