Laboratory Rats

Question
Hi Sandra,
How are you and your ratties doing?
I was just wondering about laboratory rats, is there any way to adopt one or two of them? Would it be a good idea to do so? How much would it cost?
I am just a strong believer in animal rights and i feel that its torture to keep them in the labs, where they are being tested on and living life in a box. i want to save one or two of them from a long life of pain and neglect.
Can you help me find a way to save a cute little girl or boy?
This is the picture that made me want to adopt:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=51913&op=6&o=all&view=all&subj=21991806750...
And this one:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=51913&op=6&o=all&view=all&subj=21991806750...
i feel so sorry for them!! :(
Please help me help them!! :)
-Teagan

Answer
Hi Teagan


You can start by calling specific labs such as Charles Rivers Labs or even Vet Schools. I rescued four lab rats from a vet school a few years back but I will tell you that they are not for anyone that is not prepared for a few negative things: for starters, they are often aggressive biters even if they were passive and submissive at the labs or school labs. They do not trust humans and its pretty hard to get them to trust you , too, esp if they are adults.  My four boys were so aggressive that they attacked me unprovoked and one even attacked his cagemate and the rat was in the corner cowering as the aggressive rat kept charging after him. They were all scarred up from being cut open and poked at inside and this and that. They were also pathogen free and soon as i brought them in my house around my rats, BAM! SICK LAB RATS!

I am not saying NOT to try to help them but I am saying until its illegal to use live animals in the lab, there will be thousands more subjected to painful and useless testing.  At least there are guidelines to follow....it used to be anything goes when it came to mice and rats but now they are protected by the Animal welfare act but only to a small extent.

I wish we could save them all and make a difference, but I think in this case it may be a dead end situation ending in heart break.