URGENT foster homes (and adopters) in MA and beyond...babiesgalore

[kim]

just got a call from the MSPCA - there are a group of albino rats dropped off at the shelter (merry christmas, right?) - one of them just gave birth to a litter of 5-6, and others may be pregnant. We are trying to get a final number from them, and sex breakdown (all I got was a frantic voice mail) - but we are looking for foster homes (and adopters for the adults)  that are willing to open their hearts to our newest christmas rescue - these guys are spending their holiday in a shelter.... can you help make sure that it will be their last holiday spent alone, without love?

if you can help us out, please email us at adopt@kimsarkrescue.org.

there is a chance i may be driving up to the shelter in boston to transport these rats to their foster homes, in which case we can transport along from Boston MA down through CT into NY and NJ.

[bluratz]

happy to help with fostering if I can!  Up here in Maine!

[Firefly]

Kim, I sent an e-mail to Laura. If we can find a nice calm boy in the group I'll adopt him to be a companion for Georgie. Or if we could get a female spayed (don't mind chipping in for the procedure) that would be even better!

[ratgrl]

Is there a head count yet?  Why couldn't the MSPCA keep them?  Why are they asking Kim's Ark for help? 

[kim]

because unfortunately the MSPCA does not have the space, the staff, or the ability to care for so many rats, socialize them properly, or adopt out the sheer number of rats they have. their rats sit in the shelter for a long time - they aren't blessed with having large numbers of "cute" rats - the most of the time, their shelter rats are albinos and other "plain rats" that get adopted out very slowly especially when they have groups of 20-30 given to them. if given the option i think any rat does better in foster care than a shelter situation . the ark has helped the MSPCA with their rats for the past 3 years, and we are proud to say that we have been able to take their rats and adopt them out to loving homes - homes that they likely would never have found on their own.

[kim]

tracy got back to me with this info for the headcount:

One PEW Mom with 8 babies (born on 23rd): very social, not protective
about babies. Found as a stray (AC found her), very laid back.

These guys are from the last group of rats we took from them - we took 9 at the time.
6 PEW boys  shy but coming around. 6 months old.
2 PEW girls very shy. 6 months old.

And then these gals:
2 PEW girls really sweet, not as shy, social. left outside front door.

So anyone want to foster or adopt?

[bluratz]

I'll help foster, pm me and we can work out details!!   

[Tracy]

Ok, got off phone with them.  Below is the breakdown I got. Pics will be coming later tonight when I get home from work.
Of course as I post, Kim gets my info. Here's a more detailed description since I don't have a sand

One PEW Mom with 8 babies (born on 22/23rd): very social, not protective about babies (no nipping strangers), very laidback. Found as a stray (Animal Control found her-yes, someone dumped a rat out in New England in freezing cold temps while she was preggers   ), very laid back.. She likes to come out and say hello often. Babies look to be PEW but she did see darker coloring so who knows (so many of our PEWs from them turn into himis   )


6 PEW boys (been there for over 2 months) shy but coming around. 6 months old. I do have pics of them since I was there 2 months ago.
http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL348/903125/5216287/69853471.jpg
http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL348/903125/5216287/69853467.jpg
http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL348/903125/5216287/69853441.jpg

2 PEW girls (been there for over 2 months ) very shy. 6 months old.
http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL348/903125/5216287/69853458.jpg

[Tracy]

PEW mom is still being a doll.  Babies are eeping and being all wriggly and cute.

BIG UPDATE: The babies are NOT PEW. They are a dark grey with white tummies.  So we know we got berks of agouti or some other color.

They said they'll try and take pics for me today and email.

[kim]

2 girls have a home, the other 2 shy girls have a foster home, and the mom and babies have a foster home - now if we could only foster out the boys

[Firefly]

I am fostering the mom and litter for a few days before they go to their permanent foster home. The mom is a sweetheart and has no problem being picked up and handled. From what I can tell the babies are going to be agouti, and I'm going to see if I can sex them later today.

[Tizzrah]

Kira is heading down here to VA soon, and is up there in Rochester.. if there's any way you guys can get two boys to her for me, I'll adopt them in a heartbeat!  Preferably younger boys, but I'll gladly adopt the older ones if they don't have homes.     I'm sending you guys an e-mail about this as well.

[Tracy]

There are 8 babies. They are agouti berks or agouto selfs.  Here are the pics I have so far. More to come when new foster mom gets them situated.

[SugarLovesRats]

Hey do you still have boys in need of foster? I'm not sure that I could keep them, but if you guys go through PA at all let me know, or I could probablly get to NJ where I met you before lemme know!

[SaniTsPlayground]

Letb me know how I can help.  I can meet Kira along the VA/NC line and foster anyone that is left

[Tracy]

Kira is heading down here to VA soon, and is up there in Rochester.. if there's any way you guys can get two boys to her for me, I'll adopt them in a heartbeat!  Preferably younger boys, but I'll gladly adopt the older ones if they don't have homes.     I'm sending you guys an e-mail about this as well.

Unfortunately, we can't get into NY at the moment to meet up with  Kira.

I do have an update from the NH foster mom regarding the babies:
All the babies are doing well!  There are 5 girls and 3 boys, but I am keeping one of the boys if that is ok.  I'm sorry I don't have any pictures yet.  According to the age they are, they all opened their eyes on day 11 which is pretty early.  All were fully furred when I got them and they are HUGE!  All of them have been eating solids and drinking from the water bottle for at least 3 or 4 days now.  They are all very sweet and adventurous.  They love to wrestle and popcorn all over the place!  It is very hard to tell any of them apart though.  A few of them have very small white tail tips.  All are agouti with four white paws.  Some have small white markings on thier bellies, but looking at them as a group there are no obvious distingushing marks on any of them.  Mom is doing well, although I am still fighting to add more weight to her.  I have been giving her the nurti-stat 2x a day and lots of other high calorie type foods.  I will work at my camera later today to try and get some pics off of it.

[kim]

bumping up.
we have these babies out, but there are still rats in the shelter that we have no foster space for at th emoment !

[Tracy]

BUMP