[Lesath]

What are everyones thoughts on taking your rats out into public? I don't want to be paranoid but I worry about other people making my rats sick! lol! You never know who has rats or other animals that are sick. I never take my dog into the petsmart or petco stores because people take their animals in there, you never know what dogs have been vaccinated, etc.

Now I'm thinking the same thing about my rats, I've almost taken them with me to the petstore a few times but then I think "if I were to bring one of these rats home, I'd quarantine him for like a month first before I stuck him with my boys, why on earth would I bring my boys directly into the same building as them?"

Am I just being paranoid? Or are there others who won't take their ratties out to stores with them. We go outside a lot, and I'll take them to the store with me, sometimes they hide in my purse ... lol ...

 

[Vixie]

It's highly inadvisable to take your rats to a petstore. Too many diseases.

Ick.

 

[OnlyOno]

well technically yes, they can get a viral airborne disease from the petstore, but you're really not going to be in there very long, and you won't be touching other rats while you're there, and your rat is probably going to be riding on you the whole time instead of picking stuff up off the floor with his feet and such. i've never brought my dog home sick from a 20 minute stop at petco or something.

equally technically, you can pick up just as many things going to the bathroom in public, using handrails, hugging your best friend, etc. so you're just as likely to be the culprit in bringing sickness home to your rats. unless you have a very sickly immunocompromised rat, i don't think 45 minutes at petsmart is going to kill it. kohl's, king soopers, hobby lobby, and my very own work are all places i go often that i could get sick at but if you think about all the stuff you're exposed to each day, we're doing pretty good i think. but that's my 2 cents.

 

[lostbutnotforgot]

My sister took her rats places before without any problems. I would take Betty places, but I just haven't got around to doing so (excepting the vet, of course). I was going to take Betty with me to the Harry Potter party at one of the bookstores, but I figured to many people would be afraid of her. So as for taking them places other than pet stores, I don't know the sort of reaction people would have/if you'd get kicked out of the store.

As for disease, I agree with Ono.

 

[sk1tt135]

I don't take my girls to petstores but I have taken them places. I love strolling around the park with a cute little rat on each shoulder =D.

 

[chrisstrikeagain]

I work at a petstore and it has two locations. only one with rats...so i dont take them to that location. then again i risk it daily when i come home after touchin the rats at the store thn comin home

 

[Sky14]

I take mine with me when and where I want and I've been doing so for 7+ years and I never and I mean NEVER had/have any problems with health or any other issues.

But I live in Santa cruz C.A what do you expect? :? :lol:

 

[Chthonicfox]

Sky,

Where all have you taken your rats? Most places don't want anything to do with animals on the premises

My rats have gone to the pet store with me once when I was scouting a new cage, and have ridden with me in my truck several times if I was just grabbing something at the convenience store. But for the most part I don't take them into public. I just don't want to risk losing my rats or having harm come to them. They seem quite content at home anyway

 

[Chthonicfox]

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[Chthonicfox]

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[Chthonicfox]

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Sorry about the multiple posts. x_x;

 

[SamsterAndRocky]

i have taken my hamster to the bank and they loooove him....he has also gone to sheetz a bunch with me and to the grocery store....i have no car so i have to walk all these places.....when it gets cooler out i'll put my rat in a hoodie pocket (a hoodie in a hoodie...lol) and take him for walks

 

[ambernd]

i take my rats to the petstore or to a relitives house for a minute..

 

[Stephanie]

I take my boys and girls for walks but never to a pet store. I am wayt o afraid of picking up sda. If i HAVE to go to a petstore to get something i will go, then stay out for three hours before returning to my house with my own ratties. (viruses can only live on you for 3 hours)

 

[Sky14]

Sky,

Where all have you taken your rats? Most places don't want anything to do with animals on the premises

I take them out around the town sometimes I go into a store of some sort and to the extent of my memory I don't recall ever being asked to leave.

And yes I do take my ratsys into petstores and I make sure to stay at least 5ft away from other animals and I usualy don't touch anything unless I will be buying it.

Oh and as I said before I've been doing so for the past 7+ years and I haven't had 1 problem to speak of be it health related or other.

 

[Cassandra]

I used to take my boy everywhere, but the pet store. I would never, ever, take my animal, or any animal for that fact into a store with other animals about. I don't even go into the pet store myself unless it's completely necessary.

 

[mopydream44]

I'll take my ratties on short walks but I haven't taken them to the petstore......... it's probably not a good idea

but I get a kick outta seeing some mixed reactions when people in the neighborhood do double takes!

 

[Sky14]

I don't even go into the pet store myself unless it's completely necessary.

Then how do you and everyone else get the ratsys food??? :?

 

[mopydream44]

Then how do you and everyone else get the ratsys food??? Confused

internet, organic food stores, regular food stores

it really all depends on what diet you feed your rat

also pet stores charge an arm and a leg. I'd rather shop elsewhere, so I can understand why a lot of members don't go to pet stores



ugg...sorry for the edit I added something

 

[Sky14]

Oh....