The Rattie Train and Chow Train

The picture above from left to right is Cody and Zach. This picture was taken the night before their big trip north. They are about to become international travelers.



The picture above from left to right is Olivia and Little Bit. Their cage mate, Zoey is in the bottom picture, again with Little Bit. Zoey is also Cody's sister.




Well, the rattie train went off without a hitch. We transported 5 rats to Seattle on the first leg of their trip to Vancouver, BC and hopefully on to their forever homes when they are adopted. I so hope everything goes off without a hitch. I do miss seeing them on my kitchen table, but 56 ratties is enough to care for!



We stopped at Burger King on the way and got them some Apple Fries! Zoey and Little Bit sure love them!



They were handed to the next volunteer for the second leg of their trip, to Bellingham, WA.

There, they would be met by one of the main rescue people for their trip across the border. Our last update was that they were settled in their foster home in Vancouver, BC. Our thanks to Little Mischief Rescue and the volunteers that helped them get there!

But our trip was two-fold. We brought ratties up and lots of food back down. 759 pounds of rat food, 40 pounds of paper pellets. It all fit in our little 2007 Chevy Aveo. And the pictures prove it.

The other side looks just as full!



Yes, it all fits!


And believe it or not, we got to Seattle and back on about $40 gas! Sweet!

Then of course we stopped in Rainier, OR to see my wayward brother and bring him and his amigos some food! It was a nice visit. We got home about 7 and I don't remember much after that as I was sooooo sleepy.

Well, signing off now. We don't have to make a food trip for 6 months, which is a good thing! And the 5 ratties are in a better place to get a great and loving home!

Falafels and Ratties

I got some falafels today. I didn't really care for these particular ones. But no worries. I've got little fuzzies that might like them just fine. So I brought them home and cut them up. Mosco and Worth snagged some right off! Sitting holding their falafels and discussing the odd weather we are having. They occasionally nodded to each other as if to say "cultural food is so yummy." And "Did you see that damn cat licking spaghetti sauce off of papa's plate at about 2am? When did cats start liking tomatoes?" "What about that thunder and lightening yesterday?"

After listening to them chew the fat while consuming their falafel snack I walked over to the foster kids, Olivia, Little Bit, Zoey, Zach and Cody with the rest of the falafel bits. Zach and Cody INSISTED on being served in bed (their hammock) while Zoey, Little Bit, and Olivia politely took pieces of their falafel and Zoey promptly jumped in their hammock to eat her falafel part.

So, one stop on the world tour of food. My little guys don't get a lot of this kind of stuff. In fact, I think this is the first time I have ever fed them anything fried other than the occasional beef liver. (And no, I absolutely, positively do NOT eat that. Icky.)

Rattie Updates

Right now I'm taking care of 60 ratties, 5 will be making their way to Canada before the end of this month as we will be going to pick up our food order. The other 55 are with me. I have many senior ratties. I have 5 over the age of 2, and 2 of these are about 2 months. Then my ratties will hit the 2 year mark in rapid waves. Such a bummer. I'm hoping they stay with me a long time. But...

I still have 4 ratties living on their own. Mimi, she is very bossy and thinks she is a person, but she has NOT bonded with any other rat. Popeetka still is the grumpiest rattie boy and he has chronic respiratory illness! His dad, Mr. Snuggles lives on his own because he has chronic respiratory illness and the other rats chase him around. Sprite also is on her own because she has chronic respiratory illness and gets too winded when other ratties chase her around.

I've got 15 on 2 medicines twice daily. This is to help keep their chronic issues under control. They aren't too pleased with it but it keeps them healthy!

Tonight I have to reweigh the ratties their Revolution doses. Ewww. I should only have to give 2 more treatments until they are eradicated because the bedding now used is fleece.

Anyway, I've got to get back to work!

Larry the Mouse

Larry, one of the 3 mice brothers, died sometime last night. His brothers partially ate some of his body to try and get rid of it. Gruesome, but a defense mechanism. You can't have decomp smell as it attracts predators. I've taken apart their cage and will be cleaning and resetting it.

His brothers, Curly and Moe, are seniors, about a year and 4 months. Poor little guys. They just don't live very long. These 2 mice and my 1 gerbil are the last non-rattie rodents I will keep.

Big Squishy Belly

---as sung by Worth to his brother Mosco as he dances around his cage

Oh do not make fun of my squishy part
It just means I have a very big heart
I want to be kissed by all who see me
I want to be kissed on my big squishy belly

Daddy says my mommy's a freak
For actually writing about something so unique
I only have one thing to say to any who see me
I want to be kissed on my big squishy belly

I do not want a raspberry kiss
Those vibrations I do not miss
Please would you very much mind me
I want to be kissed on my big squishy belly

Do you think they'd make a pop song
It is not that it would be so very wrong
I would love the chorus refrain to be
I want to be kissed on my big squishy belly

A kiss on my head is all very fine
And no don't even consider my behind
Just flip me over on my back please
I want to be kissed on my big squishy belly

Now if you think my poetry is bad
I am not so very sad
Every day my mommy sees me
She gives me kisses on my big squishy belly