Picked up Remains and Visited OHS Vermin

I went to OHS this morning to pick up the cremains.  It is really sad because they ask the pet's name.  I had to tell them the list is long, it's the large group of rodents.  Oh yes, they bring the urns out.  I really appreciate this service.  If you have to have any pet cremated, I highly recommend their service for cremation.  It's very reasonable and it generates a little money for the animals there.

Of course I had to go in and look at the rodents in rescue there.  They just took care of a big pet store case and have  LOTS, so if you are looking to adopt a few fuzzies, please consider adoption before purchase.  They have mice, gerbils, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits now and often have hamsters, chinchillas and degus too!

After visiting for a while I had to do my 3 hour quarantine but was already meeting my parents for brunch so it all worked out!

Then I went to Home Depot and picked up a set of wire cutters to to try to cut the wire flush so that I can make special wheel holders.  I hope it works!

Forgot to mention, when I was at OHS, I picked up some of the Oxbow Essentials Rat Formula to give to the mice.  Running a bit low on Harlan 2014 and wanted to try out the Oxbow food for them.

Cremation Run :(

Went to drop off remains to be cremated at the Oregon Humane Society.  This is a wonderful service they offer and it is very reasonable.   Then I went to the movies to go through quarantine before going home.  (They have rodents for adoption at this facility.)

Tot Passes

Tot is one of the Idaho rescue boys.  He passed this morning.  This was not unexpected as he had been battling respiratory illness for some time.  He is survived by his brother Tator, his cage mates, Harper and Spud.  He was preceded in death by his cage mate Mr. Checkers.

Tot was one of 3 ratties taken to the Hillsboro Argus to promote the first Come Fall For Rats in 2010.  He made quite the impression.  He was an agouti dumbo boy that looked like he had been laid in semi-dry paint.

He will be taken to the Oregon Humane Society this weekend for private cremation.

Rest in peace little giant.

Rattie Filled Day

Today I did a lot of running around.  I went to OHS to check out Louie, a little boy for adoption.  I am putting together a cage of similarly aged male rats and Louie would have fit right in.  Unfortunately he appeared to have mange mites so I had to decline taking him. Luckily an OHS youth volunteer adopted the little guy so he'll be able to be by himself as he'll need to be a bit older before he can receive treatment.  This was a positive outcome to the situation.  :D

I met the rats from the West Linn situation.  (Got to see all of the beautiful birds too.)  The rats are gorgeous and very sweet.  They looked very well cared for.  (Of course the shelter was providing them with great care but they wouldn't have looked THAT good if the late owner hadn't been caring for them.)  I'm hoping to adopt the 3 baby boys as they'll fit in well with my little munchkins I picked up later that day.

I did notice that OHS had run out of water bottles and cages so we went back later that day with 2 cages for the adult rats and hopefully they'll be able to switch the smaller rats into the closer bar cages, and several new water bottles, spring bottle holders and some aquarium bottle holders.  I also brought them some cat food to mix with the rat food for the baby rats.

I also donated about 10 or so pounds of food to the young lady that had the little munchkins I took in yesterday as she has been using her food to feed the abandoned waifs  so I wanted to help offset that.  I also gave her one of the martin cages I had so she had a bigger home for the remaining rats.  I told her to just keep it as I don't really need it back.  (My preferred cages are Quality Cages.)  I also gave her all of the bedding I had gotten on previous adoptions that I don't use.  Ultra carefresh, cell sorb and some white gem animal bedding.  I'm glad it will be put to use now.  I think I also gave her left over food from adoptions as well.  I won't feed most mixes or blocks so that might as well go to good use too!

All in all, it was a rattie filled day!

Food to OHS

Donated 165 pounds of Harlan lab blocks to OHS. This is 1/2 our intended annual donation of lab blocks. They've already received 20 pounds of hamster/gerbil food.

I am waiting for the barrel dollies get here and in September, when I drop of their food, I will bring in the food barrel to store it in.

Bo, Beau, Boe, Bau, Bow, Boh, Bou, and Booh

OHS released 8 boys to my care on December 10, 2009.   Their age stated 1.5 years however my friend and I are convinced that there is a greater age range in the group of 18 rats.  (She took 10.)

They have varying degrees of sociability, but I'll work with them on that.  All of the ones I adopted are black and white, I call them my checkerboard crew.  I do have many rats of this coloring but not in such a big group. :D

The live, all together, in one of the custom multi-level Quality Cages.  They seem to really like it.  There is a little squabbling but I'm sure they'll adjust.  I do have female rats in the room so I'm hoping there won't be a problem.  I normally have NEVER had a problem, but you never know.  They don't appear to be too sure as to what a hammock is but eventually ratties seem to get it.  I've only had a three ratties, ironically all boys, NOT like hammocks...or at least set to redecorate with them.  The really seem to like the shredded paper.  They are making rattie paper wakes. :D

They tend to hoard their food.  I'm sure that behavior will change as they find they are fed regular.  (They were fed regular at the shelter, no worries there, it was their previous home I am concerned about.)

I'd like to thank D for picking these boys up before they were euthanized!   I'm sure they'll be good little gentleman.  Unfortunately,  someone at the shelter was bit and a few of the boys aren't too sure about being picked up.  This makes it harder to adopt them out because they can only go to rat experienced homes.  And while there are several of us dedicated rattie lovers, sometimes we just don't have room for more.  In this case, both D and I made room.   There is nothing we can do about the girls though.  They aren't at the shelter and we don't know how to contact the person.  If there was a way, I'd drive them to Boise, ID or Chico, California to get them spayed, but not in December.

And their names are:  Bo, Beau, Boe, Bau, Bow, Boh, Bou, and Booh.  They look similar but there are actual differences, it's just easier calling them all the same name.  Their pictures and names got scrambled at OHS so they weren't too sure either.  Easy mistake.

Welcome to the checkerboard boys!

Vermin Village Donates some Supplies

Donated some much needed cages to the Oregon Humane Society. Also donated 6 water bottles, a water bottle kit for them to try, 3 igloos, some hammocks, and a 33# bag of Harlan. I also told them that if they liked the kits I'd buy enough for the small animal room kennels.

Epi Joins Vermin Village

Little mouse girl Epi joins Vermin Village. She is a pink eyed white (PEW) mouse. And she is one chunky girl! She loves her wheel, her blocks and not being picked up.

Welcome to Vermin Village silly girl!