Why are breeders out of the question? And if your family doesn't support breeding, do you realize that pet stores get their rats from breeders?

I myself, have bought rats from a pet store. And I regret that so much, but there are no rescues or responsible breeders in my area. My next pair of rats are probably going to come from an out of state breeder, and they'll have to be transported a LONG way. But it is very worth it! They will be healthy, not inbred, and they will be well socialized.

With pet store rats, you can often end up with serious medical problems because of the filthy conditions they live and breed in. Not to mention, that most pet stores do not seperate sexes, so you could end up with 20 or more rats when you only buy 2 females.

I don't think that's really fair.  A LOT of people on here buy animals from petstores.  And a lot of these people are very responsible rat owners.  Personally, I will only get pets from rescues (or they just showed up...like the cats).  But that's a personal decision.

Actually, with the help of transporters like the rattransport group on Yahoo, people all over the country can take in rescue rats.    Yes, petstore rats can be wonderful, and I have several of my own, but for someone who really wants to help an unwanted rat and not support mill breeders, with the help of transports, rescue rats can be brought just about anywhere.

modified to add:

This comment was directed at catandratluver, so that he/she would know that there are transport groups out there, in case he/she was not aware of these groups.

*I forgot* My pet store does rescues too (which i think is very rare for a pet store) so I don't find it necasary to get rats transported to me.

I was just about to say that. What a relief you agree. My feelings exactly. You see, I check the shelter website to see if they have rats, and everyday they don't. I don't know many rescues either. Do any of you know rescues in the LA area? The only rat rescue I know is "Furry Friends Orpanage." I don't really know much about them, but when i met them at the America's Family Pet Expo, I didn't perfer their rats, as the one my friend adopted bites.

AuntieCrazy i think Kendra's sarcasm was directed at me 

I can't say anything either way about this rescue, since I don't know them, but, I'd just like to comment on the biting thing...

Just because one rat from that rescue has bitten, doesn't mean they mistreat the animals, or don't care where they wind up.  I know the shelter here does their best to adopt out biting rats, instead of having them PTS.  If we (the shelter) know that a particular rat has a history of biting, then we're not going to adopt out to a new rat owner, or someoen that isn't comfortable handling said rat.  Biters aren't for everyone, but, for some people, they CAN turn them into great pets.

It may also be that the particular rat has frightened, and it may ahve been a 'one time thing', so to speak.  Not every rat that bites does so because it hates people or whatnot, and just because teh rescue HAd a biter, doesn't mean all rats there will be the same.

I'd still suggest checking out this rescue for yourself, and peruse the adoption board here on the forum.  I know there are a LOT of members in California, and it seems transports can usually be worked out if the rats aren't within driving distance of the owner.  It can't hurt just to see how bad or good this rescue is for yourself, before completely crossing them off your list.

When she said LA I posted and said, "there's no way you mean Los Angeles- Louisianna, right? ", then deleted that post because I'm an idiot and got her mixed up with someone who's in Canada. I totally confused myself needlessly... But if she IS in CA... I don't care WHERE you are in CA, you can rescue rats!! My baby is coming from San Francisco- that's 8 HOURS away from me, and even farther from my friend who is also getting rats (I'm transporting them to her!). So it was my assumption there was NO WAY she meant Los Angeles. 

catandratluver, have you checked out www.petfinder.org? All you have to do is type in your location and the type of pet you're looking for- I bet you'll find that at least ONE shelter relatively close to you (or within transport distance) has rats. I personally would go that route... I would never adopt from anywhere but rescues after having worked in a shelter.

I have four babies that need homes now, if we could find a way to get them from Indianapolis to you!

*hugs tightly* All of what you said...fits what I mean exactly*

Voila, I have clarified my statements. 

when many of us have arranged transports that cross almost