Child dies from rat bought from Petco

[Naer]

That sucks

 

[Kaido]

And what makes a snake such a better pet than a rat?

Anyway, the particular rat this child was sold was probably not meant to be food. If that was the case then another failing on the part of the parents.

Remember this horrible story?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-b...-boys-after-escaping-store-rcmp-say-1.1340560

 

[cronos]

Well then you are the odd one who is in the minority.

As much as it pains me to say that I'm with him, I am

I just don't get pets. Never have. They don't make any sense to me.

 

[Exophase]

As much as it pains me to say that I'm with him, I am

I just don't get pets. Never have. They don't make any sense to me.

That's okay. There are people who have zero interest in having children and for them it wouldn't make a lot of sense in having them. I wouldn't try to convince them otherwise, even if they're in the minority. It's hard to actually explain how or why it's possible to have social bonding beyond your own species, just that it's something that happens.

 

[Colt45]

the black plague was flea infested black rats (roof rats).

pet rats are brown rats (norway rats).

why didn't the kid go to the doctor? petco probably shouldnt be selling the diseased rats, but besides..

 

[fjmeat]

the black plague was flea infested black rats (roof rats).

pet rats are brown rats (norway rats).

why didn't the kid go to the doctor? petco probably shouldnt be selling the diseased rats, but besides..

Boy woke up the night of June 11 in severe pain with a fever and stomach problems. He was pale, lethargic and could barely walk, according to the lawsuit. He died at 1:09 a.m. the next day.

 

[cronos]

That's okay. There are people who have zero interest in having children and for them it wouldn't make a lot of sense in having them. I wouldn't try to convince them otherwise, even if they're in the minority. It's hard to actually explain how or why it's possible to have social bonding beyond your own species, just that it's something that happens.

Yeah I know that. The one little problem is that I get really uneasy if I visited someone with pets, more specifically the ones that are running around free in the house. Throughout the years I've become adept at hiding my discomfort in respect of the host, but 20+ years ago back in high school/college it was really a struggle.

Anyway, thinking really hard about it, I guess I can tolerate some pets that don't need/want direct physical contact. Like fish, for instance, I can imagine getting an aquarium and having fun taking care of some fish, decorate their habitat, etc. But that's as far as I'd go

 

[Gooberlx2]

I just don't get pets. Never have. They don't make any sense to me.

Yeah, I understand some people feel that way.

Conversely, I just don't get not having pets. Except for college, I've never not had a pet. College had plenty of distractions so it wasn't an issue then, but I think I'd be measurably less happy without my animals in my adult life.

 

[Perknose]

James Cagney knew what to do!

 

[blake0812]

Disgusting vermin that was responsible for the Black Death make great pets! People are so out of touch with nature and reality it's scary.

Think again, the flees were the cause of it. The rats just spread it around more.

 

[Nintendesert]

Think again, the flees were the cause of it. The rats just spread it around more.

Well the bacteria was the cause and the fleas just spread it.

 

[BikeJunkie]

Just last week my kids were lobbying for a pet rat.

"Hell no, end of discussion, you'll understand when you're older."

I rarely play that card, but didn't think twice.

I can't even begin to imagine what those parents are going through

 

[surfsatwerk]

Just last week my kids were lobbying for a pet rat.

"Hell no, end of discussion, you'll understand when you're older."

I rarely play that card, but didn't think twice.

I can't even begin to imagine what those parents are going through

Your kids have a better chance of being struck by lightning.

 

[BikeJunkie]

Your kids have a better chance of being struck by lightning.

Which is why I don't let them play with lightning rods, either.

 

[Exophase]

Just last week my kids were lobbying for a pet rat.

"Hell no, end of discussion, you'll understand when you're older."

I rarely play that card, but didn't think twice.

I can't even begin to imagine what those parents are going through

What will they understand what when they're older? I hope it's that people have a prejudice against rats even though they can actually be good pets for people who like them. Do a google search on death from rats that excludes the last week, you won't find anything involving pet rats. From wild rats, yes (particularly in third world countries). Pet rats aren't the same as wild rats, they don't carry the same disease risks, even when we're talking about the same species (rattus norvegicus; wild rats can refer to a lot of different kinds of rats). They're separated by many generations. No one considers pet dogs universally indistinct from wolves. Nonetheless, you can find lots of stories of pet dogs killing children but I don't see any motions for people to stop having pet dogs.

I do however agree with your decision not to let them have rats. A parent shouldn't let a child have a pet that the parents themselves know nothing about.

 

[BikeJunkie]

Blahblahblah I don't give a shit. No rats.

 

[surfsatwerk]

deleted

 

[surfsatwerk]

Blahblahblah I don't give a shit. No rats.

Better not be driving with them in the car either, or attend school. You want to know how many human contagious diseases the other kids are carrying?

 

[Exophase]

Blahblahblah I don't give a shit. No rats.

I guess "because I say so" is your argument approach for everyone and not just your kids.

It's amazing how some people are actually proud of their ignorance. You don't necessarily have to abandon a personal distaste just because you find out it's not objective. No one's telling you to let your kids have rats.

 

[cyclohexane]

What will they understand what when they're older? I hope it's that people have a prejudice against rats even though they can actually be good pets for people who like them. Do a google search on death from rats that excludes the last week, you won't find anything involving pet rats. From wild rats, yes (particularly in third world countries). Pet rats aren't the same as wild rats, they don't carry the same disease risks, even when we're talking about the same species (rattus norvegicus; wild rats can refer to a lot of different kinds of rats). They're separated by many generations. No one considers pet dogs universally indistinct from wolves. Nonetheless, you can find lots of stories of pet dogs killing children but I don't see any motions for people to stop having pet dogs.

I do however agree with your decision not to let them have rats. A parent shouldn't let a child have a pet that the parents themselves know nothing about.

Rats are not pets. Good as research subjects, not as pets.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I feel like on ATOT people frequently use dumb reasons to rationalize their decisions. Decisions which otherwise would be fine if they were simply backed up by "I don't like it". Instead people have to use some twisted backwards logic that doesn't make rational sense in order for them seem like wise decision makers.

 

[waggy]

Rats are very smart creatures. they make good pets.

petco and such sale 2 diffrent type's of rats and mice. pets and food. the pets are roughly $6-12 each for rats. Feeder rats are $1-4. though many petco's will NOT sale you a live rat or mouse to be used as food. they do have frozen though i think they are expensive.

Though i usually go to a reptile swap where i can get mice as low as $.25 (if bought in bulk) and rats $.50 (again purchased in bulk). pre-killed and frozen.
I feel for the family but i do not believe petco is responsible.

 

[Bateluer]

I only read the first page of this thread, but I want to clear up some of the false information that sickened me on that page.

1) Rats did not cause the Black Death, Bubonic Plague, Plague of Justinian, or any other plague in human history. The bacteria was carried on fleas which rode on the rats who thrived because of human refuse and after a human religious culling of felines.


2) Rats are extremely good pets, but not ideal for a 10yr old or younger children in general. They are smart, social, interactive animals, they love to be pet, love to cuddle, love to eat, and the owner will need to handle and play with them daily. With proper care, they carry no diseases or infectious agents than a dog or cat.

Rats are not pets. Good as research subjects, not as pets.

Statements like that ^ are just pure, uneducated, stupidity.

3) PetCo gets their animals, rats included, from mills. They are bred indiscriminately in bulk, with no social interaction with humans and minimal veterinary care.

4) This 10 year old kid had a single rat, which any semi-educated rat owner who did 5 minutes of research before buying would know is MAJOR no no. Rats are extremely social animals and its absolutely critical for their mental and physical well being to have a companion.

5) This 10 year old kid wanted to breed Oreo, the name of the pet rat. A child of his age is not responsible enough or financially capable of breeding rats. With an average litter of 8-10 rats of mixed gender, the neuter/spay bill alone would wipe out any savings or allowances he might have. And if he didn't fix them, he would see 'oops' litters from those offspring, and then litters from those offspring, and so on. That doesn't factor in vet bills. For 10 rats with a myco flare up, the vet bill would run close to a 1000 dollars. For me to take a single one of my rats to the vet costs about 100 dollars, and thats only for the exam and an Rx to Baytril.

It honestly doesn't shock me that PetCo's animals had an infection or that they bit him. As I said, the mills they get their rats from offer no human interaction, which coupled with the lack of training and knowledge from the PetCo employee, likely created an intense fear of humans in all their small animals. When their only experience with humans in negative, what do you expect? Hell, I once watched a PetCo employee pick an adult rat up by its tail! The PetCo near me is horrible about cleaning or maintaining their small animal aquariums, last I was in there, their ferret tank had a mound of poo nearly a foot high. Their mice and rat tanks had mixes of both genders, ages, several pregnant females, etc. If a pet store, an pet store, cannot ensure a basic level of care for their animals, they should not be selling them.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Rats are not pets. Good as research subjects, not as pets.

And you're basing your statement on what, exactly? How do you feel about hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs?

 

[cyclohexane]

And you're basing your statement on what, exactly? How do you feel about hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs?

Worked with enough lab rodents (mice and rats). Could not imagine them as pets.