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I've had to rehome my boys 
I'll be moving across the country in a couple of months and at first everything was going along fine and I'd planned on taking all my rats with me. And then my husband informed me that we can't afford a trailer so pretty much everything I own has to fit into my very small SUV. This means only one travel cage and only one travel cage means only one sex. I was devastated and there was no way I could make the decision between giving up my boys or girls. My husband decided on the boys since most of my girls are one year or more and my boys are younger (plus he says I don't ramble on and on about my boys as much as my girls). That being decided, I had to find them homes. I kept turning people away left and right, changing my ads to be more detailed and explain what I expect from people, and just about gave up hope. Pippin was surprisingly the easiest; his biting habit was explained fully in my ad and someone who had years worth of experience with rats contacted me. After seeing her home and he other rats I thought it'd be a good match. I get updates frequently and he's doing well. Odin and Smeagol were harder since I wanted them to stay together. I finally found a family that was very interested in rats but a little low on experience. After talking with them for a couple of weeks and helping them get everything they need together, I took the boys to meet them. They immediately fell in love and my phone has been blowing up with texts about how much they love them and what they're doing. Thorin, my little rat-hating, one-eyed fellow was another that was hard to place but not for lack of interest (I think most liked the novelty of a one-eyed rat). I had to turn away a few who thought they could just throw him in with their other boys (despite the ad saying that he does not like other rats) and since I had no really experienced rat owners apply, I settled with someone who could keep him alone. The absolutely only reason I agreed to this is because the woman applying is disabled (home all day) and had just lost her service dog of 14 years. She was not ready for another dog and had no other pets so I thought it might be a good fit. Despite the effort and care that I put into finding my boys homes, I still feel guilty and can't help but have doubts in the back of my mind. I made it abundantly clear that I would take them back in a heartbeat if they decide they don't want them (one of the reasons I rehomed them 2 months before my move). It's such a bittersweet experience seeing your rats happy and loved in another home and despite my secret desire for them to all call me and give my boys back, I can't help but be happy that my boys are playing with kids and warming the heart of a woman who needed a companion. I'll stop now since I can't really see what I'm typing anymore
I'll be moving across the country in a couple of months and at first everything was going along fine and I'd planned on taking all my rats with me. And then my husband informed me that we can't afford a trailer so pretty much everything I own has to fit into my very small SUV. This means only one travel cage and only one travel cage means only one sex. I was devastated and there was no way I could make the decision between giving up my boys or girls. My husband decided on the boys since most of my girls are one year or more and my boys are younger (plus he says I don't ramble on and on about my boys as much as my girls). That being decided, I had to find them homes. I kept turning people away left and right, changing my ads to be more detailed and explain what I expect from people, and just about gave up hope. Pippin was surprisingly the easiest; his biting habit was explained fully in my ad and someone who had years worth of experience with rats contacted me. After seeing her home and he other rats I thought it'd be a good match. I get updates frequently and he's doing well. Odin and Smeagol were harder since I wanted them to stay together. I finally found a family that was very interested in rats but a little low on experience. After talking with them for a couple of weeks and helping them get everything they need together, I took the boys to meet them. They immediately fell in love and my phone has been blowing up with texts about how much they love them and what they're doing. Thorin, my little rat-hating, one-eyed fellow was another that was hard to place but not for lack of interest (I think most liked the novelty of a one-eyed rat). I had to turn away a few who thought they could just throw him in with their other boys (despite the ad saying that he does not like other rats) and since I had no really experienced rat owners apply, I settled with someone who could keep him alone. The absolutely only reason I agreed to this is because the woman applying is disabled (home all day) and had just lost her service dog of 14 years. She was not ready for another dog and had no other pets so I thought it might be a good fit. Despite the effort and care that I put into finding my boys homes, I still feel guilty and can't help but have doubts in the back of my mind. I made it abundantly clear that I would take them back in a heartbeat if they decide they don't want them (one of the reasons I rehomed them 2 months before my move). It's such a bittersweet experience seeing your rats happy and loved in another home and despite my secret desire for them to all call me and give my boys back, I can't help but be happy that my boys are playing with kids and warming the heart of a woman who needed a companion. I'll stop now since I can't really see what I'm typing anymore
