PETA Calls On China To Respect Rats
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has asked China to treat rats with kindness and respect for the upcoming Year of the Rat.
The group has asked the Chinese government to consider animal welfare laws for rats used in lab experiments and to create guidelines for animals used in science.
Coco Yu of PETA’s Asia-Pacific branch said, “Rats sing, they dream, and they express empathy for others.”
Source: Associated Press
Photo: miceandrats.com
February 6th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Our first pet rat was an Albino female named Glacier that my daughter won at a raffle at her intermediate school. They were doing an experiment with young rats regarding nutrition and when the experiment ended the two rats were raffled off.
We read a lot of books on rats as soon as she entered in case we won and sure enough we did. Over the years we have had 9 other pet rats and enjoyed them more than any other pet we have ever had. They are so affectionate, sweet, and caring. When one of ours would get sick, the others would keep her warm and bring her food.
I have had pets from horses to geckos and rats are by far and away my most favorite pets. When each one passed away, we would bury them in our garden and plant a small flowering bush over each one.
While they are not for everyone, getting to know one is a true treat.
Here is the place we found out the most about pet rats. Deb Ducommun is a very knowledgeable lady who really cares for rats. She helped us tremendously with her books and advice.
http://www.petrats.org/index.html
February 6th, 2008 at 9:50 am
China will respect rats, like they do so many other living creatures, when hell freezes over.
I don’t think I could ever have a rat as a pet (cat lover here). However, I saw a program on rats a while ago and was amazed by their level of intelligence…just mind blowing!!
February 6th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Coming from PETA and their 97% kill rate here in the US, this is pretty daggone funny. Dogs and cats and kittens and puppies “sing and dream” too, you know, PETA. But killing them quietly, in the back of van, and dumping their bodies behind a store is not the sort of publicity-getting you prefer, is it?
February 6th, 2008 at 11:10 am
PETA asking China to protect rats is just a professional courtesy!
February 6th, 2008 at 11:11 am
…but then again, I don’t want to be accused of insulting rats who are very smart guys.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I’ve had rats also (also from a school lab) and they were fun pets.
I’d be happy if China would treat its people right.
http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/
February 6th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Nancy G - right on the money!
these animal rightists organizations pretend to be one thing, kind and caring for animals, when in fact they are just the opposite in actual practice!
peta yaks about wanting to ‘enjoy’ animals living in nature - then traps all the feral cats on it’s ground (you know…the cats who are actually ‘living in nature’ now) and kills them as well.
double speak? product of forked tongues?
(not to be unkind to snakes of course)
China, IMO has little respect for any life…..(should get along famously with the ARs)
February 6th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
2CatMom, I love your reply. But yes, we don’t want to insult rat populations, you’re right. What rats do probably makes more sense than what PETA does.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Why stop with rats? All living creatures should be treated with respect and kindness.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
We can’t even start with primates in this country.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15189249/detail.html
February 6th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Rats are great, but I have never had one. They are very intelligent and, from what I understand, affectionate pets.
I’ve always had cats and/or dogs, so rats wouldn’t have been that practical, but I do like them a lot.
~The Lioness
February 6th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I adore lil ratties. They are great! I like to play with other peoples rats, but I won’t have them myself because of my cats and also because man, they don’t live too long, I have enough grief cycles with dogs and cats in my life living 14-17 years without adding grief at yearly intervals.
Stef
February 6th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
We had both dogs and rats. Our dogs were scared to death of the rats (one a GSD and the other a GSD mix) as when they’d go up to smell them the rats would try and grab their noses. I wish I’d had a video camera back then. It would have been a YouTube favorite I am sure.
February 7th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Doesnt China eat rats?
February 8th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Wow, you learn something new every day. I was a mouse lover, but now, thanks to this blog, I have a new-found respect for these fur babies, especially checking out that website above about RATS….he is so cute!