Idea for sticky "Before you give up your rat(s) read this"

[zoe9]

Thanks but there'd be no point me helping because I still don't find the original post harsh or aggressive. For what it is, i.e. an attempt to make those who view rats as disposable pets think again before getting rid of them (written, if I recall correctly, after a member got rid of her rats so she could replace them with a ferret)  I believe it achieves its purpose.  However as I seem to be in the minority it's a safe bet anything I write would also meet with disapproval.

Good luck with it though.

[AMJ087]

The members who think its harsh really like the idea!! It could just use a different spin. You should give it a go and help out. Like I said some things will sound sort of harsh regardless but there needs to be something positive in it. Maybe add it the posotives of rats over other animals and say something like "when you adopt a new rat friend its important top be sure you will keep them. They are compassionate and sensitive animals who need your love. They will feel hurt and will be sad if there new friends decide they dont want them anymore. Rats can make much better pets then other animals becasue of their intelligence, compassion, and sensitivity. They will really bond to their owners. Besides that they are easy to care for, easily litter trained, great around other people and kids (mostly), and will bring great joy to the person who adopts them". It just needs a more positive then negative spin. The subject is negative yes people getting rid of them but we want to encourage people too.

[zoe9]

The members who think its harsh really like the idea!! It could just use a different spin. You should give it a go and help out. Like I said some things will sound sort of harsh regardless but there needs to be something positive in it. Maybe add it the posotives of rats over other animals and say something like "when you adopt a new rat friend its important top be sure you will keep them. They are compassionate and sensitive animals who need your love. They will feel hurt and will be sad if there new friends decide they dont want them anymore. Rats can make much better pets then other animals becasue of their intelligence, compassion, and sensitivity. They will really bond to their owners. Besides that they are easy to care for, easily litter trained, great around other people and kids (mostly), and will bring great joy to the person who adopts them". It just needs a more positive then negative spin. The subject is negative yes people getting rid of them but we want to encourage people too.

This just shows how subjective it is.

The original post was criticised for guilt tripping but here you are attributing human traits to rats and suggesting the sticky says they’ll feel 'hurt and sad' if their 'new friends don’t want them anymore'.    How is that not playing on emotions?

The issue of disposable pets and the mentality that its fine to dump them when they're no longer convenient is serious and needs to be addressed as such.

If the mods are more concerned with possibly upsetting people than writing a serious piece then in my opinion you're better off to not address it at all because writing a dumbed down sugar coated piece will only detract from and make a mockery of what is a very real problem.

Again good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Jaguar]

We are hoping to come up with something in the middle to please both parties which is why I said your input is welcome. You seem to not realize that us mods have put a lot of our personal time and effort into what we have done so far just for the sake of helping. We were left in the dark by RFA and we are trying our best to make everyone happy, which you are making very difficult. If you want to
contribute and have your voice heard on subjects like these please do so in a constructive matter, not like this. I hardly have the time for my real life problems and stress, let alone on here. It was a big job to take on but I think we were all prepared to deal with being unnapreciated and criticized.  It's nearly impossible to make everyone happy but we really are trying.  If you don't want to help out that's fine but do not be surprised if the end result is not what you were hoping to see.

[Ration1802]

Jaguar, I don't think it's fair to reply to Zoe that way. She has been constructive and I agree with her 100%.

The topic of disposable pets is not one that can be sugar coated. The only feelings you will end up hurting with a sticky like the above are those who are fickle enough to be considering rehoming because something more fun or interesting has come along.

Topics such as these should be taboo'd in forums. If people see that such subject matter is not acceptable, they will know that it is wrong to do it (like back yard breeding). To pamper the feelings of people who can't have regard for the feelings of their pet is hypocritical at best.

Don't forget, good owners who read that sticky will not take it personally and therefore not get offended.

I don't know how many of the moderators on here are actively involved in the darker side of rat ownership - taking on mistreated rats on a regular basis - but when you've had a rat come to you at an old age because the owner can't be bothered with it any more, then having to rehabilitate it and earn it's trust (of humans, not just of you) because it has had so little socialisation for most of it's life ... you get angry and you realise that there are people in this world that don't deserve the nice approach.

If you choose to make a milder sticky, all I can hope for is that you empahsize the seriousness and unacceptability of the disposable pet mentality. I hope this is viewed as constructive and good luck addressing this topic

[Jaguar]

Trust me i understand it can't be sugar coated. I wasn't meaning to do that ever. I have taken in a year and a half old hormonal aggressive boy simplybecause his lat owner didn't want him any more. I know what happens to aggressive rats in shelters and I PAID the shop owner to take this rat home. He has bit me and my other rat countles times and my mom is trying to convince me to get rid of him, tomorrow actually. But I refuse, and I'm working dilligently to socialize him as best I can because I cannot afford to neuter him and no one else wants him. So I can say I understand that this is a topic that needs to be addressed seriously but the post is just not enough, bottom line. Regardless of the mood or whatever of the post, it just needs work. I apologize for the conflicts it has caused but I prmise that in the end we will have something we can all be happy with and hopefully brighten the future of ill fated rats such as Sebastian. That's our common goal. 

[AMJ087]

Ok Im locking this thread now as it has become to controversial and argumentative. If members still want to see this as a sticky the bottom line is that it needs to be re-worded. Myseld and Jaguar have been trying to help but just keep getting argued with. So in that case if our ideas are not good enough then do it yourself! We have been asking for a long time for people to help and do stickies in a respectable manner so heres your chance! So when a member is ready to write a resectable sticky please start a new thread, thanks!