Chris,

I know exactly what you mean about being grateful Trev's didn't leave him with personality changes. I think that same thing every time a newbie caregiver comes here with those issues to deal with.

Pet rats? How many do you have?

Jean

Well we have 5 altogether. My two 20mth old brothers, Zippy, an Agouti Hoodie & Bungle, a Black Berkshire, lovely squishie boys. My son's Darktan a 4/5mth old Black Hoodie & two 4th old bros George, a Rex Agouti Hoodie & Sardines, a Black Hoodie. They all live together in a huge cage. do you have ratties?

No, I'm not into rats. Curiosity made me ask as I think it's interesting what kind of pets people like and I don't know anything about pet rats. I take it there are different types of rats like there are different types of guinea pigs?

Jean

Hi Chris

I saw on our news last night how hot it was in England and laughed. When we lived in Narrandera it could get to 118 degrees mid-summer and not get on the news.

I'm glad you are able to sit and chat with Trev, Ray was like that in 1999 and it was the 2005 stroke that seemed to block his thought processes more. It is sad when I know that he now does not understand the content of what I say unless I use short sentences and lots of breaks so he can follow.

Is there a person on the council that you could go and see to help you put some pressure on to speed up the job? Just a thought. It is all such a slow process otherwise.

Sue.

Yes but heat in Narranddera is probably a different sort of heat....& you are used to it........

Well the council ARE sorting things out...their idea of getting things done quickly, differs to mine & yours.

Yes I feel privaliged that Trev can still keep up with my incessant chatter...my son often tries to "mute" me with the remote control :Clap-Hands:

His sense of humour is still as sharp as well........is that good or bad :Clap-Hands:

Yes Jean, there are different colours/markings & coat types, see this web site

http://www.hawthorn.org.uk/varieties.asp

Do you have any pets?, we also have a dog & 2 kitties

chris xx

Chris

That's an interesting site! I never realized there were so many different colored rats! I never, never thought I'd say this about a rat but many of them are down right cute. I especially liked the Berkshire Blazed. And Fuzz is something else! Very cute but strange.

I've had a miniture poodle for the past 30 some years---not the same one, of course. I'm allergic to cats and dogs that shed so I can't vary too much in dog breeds. Got to have one that needs hair cuts.

Jean

I love the "rex" coated ones...I have a very cute Agouti Hooded Rex cutie....I'll put a picture in my album showing my family.

I love poodles especially standard poodles, I used be allergic to cats, but it's gone now I've got 2 kitties.

chris xx

Now, I'm curious, could some of thoses varieties be the same breeds they conduct lab test with? I remember the ones they did the stroke testing with. That was an amazing recovery for them not dragging the hind legs after being given the medicines.

It still hasn't been approved for humans yet.

Hooray for Trev, I hope the ramp gets approved and in place in time for his arrival home. Hopefully his attitude will not change and he remains calm and pleasant to live with. Happy anniversary and a day or night out together!!

You have the law on your side - as all buildings must comply with the law signed by the president that all buildings have ramps and be accessible to handicapped!

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, so knowing this, call the TOWN HALL [ZONING DEPT], give them 2 weeks to comply :Tantrum: and exert some forcefulness, notice i said some - just enough to shake them up, and teell them if they don't comply within 2 weeks, this issue will be addressed by a lawyer - this will make them move

GOOD LUCK & CALL THEM TODAY

June Watrous, JD

June,

The laws in England may not be the same as they are here.

We actually did have the Advocates for the Disabled's lawyer write a letter about a ramp at a doctor's office that was too steep for the legal requirements...that was 6 months ago and it still hasn't been changed. What should be and what is where the disability access laws are concerned aren't always the same thing.

Jean

Yes June, I think the rules are different here. plus a house is classed a private place & while we have simular laws over here to make public buildings accessable to all...private dwelling are rated differently.

At the moment we are waiting on "officaldom", but don't worry my patience is wearing thin at the moment, I may "explode" soon.

Scooterman, the ratties used for lab experimants are usually just bred for experimentation, true fancy rat breeders who love their pets would'nt dream of selling them to labs for experiments..they could be any of those colours I suppose. They are usually very sad nervous animals who live their lives in tiny cages etc.

chris xx

Chris,

What is the difference in character between having a pet rat and having a guinea pig, if you know? Was it hard to decide to get your first pet rat? There are so many negative views out there about rats.

Jean

Firstly go to the main page of the "rat varieties" web site I've given you...you will learn about pet rats. Ok there is a lot of bad press etc but Pet Rats ARE NOT just wild rats tamed...they're an entiresly different species, wild rats can give pet rats diseases as well as us.

A pet rat is intelligent, naturally tame & curious. They are clean & can be littler trained just like a dog or cat. I always fancied a rat, but it wasn't until my son got one I was converted. Then I got my first 2 from a rat rescue centre...they were brill & that was me converted. I've had Guinea Pigs, a Rabbit, Gerbils & Hamsters...but Rats win hands down for their interaction with people etc.

People here are negative about them to...you see there faces change when you tell 'em what pets you have.

chris xx

Chris,

Thanks so much for taking the time to educate me on a pet that I never realized that people kept. I can see why they'd be a nature step up from having Guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters if they interact with people more. Very interesting!

I always wanted a pet rabbit but never had a place where I could keep one.

Jean

Actually some people keep "house rabbits"...they live in the house, can be litter trained etc...so you don't need a garden. yes rats DO interact well with us, just had our 5 out they've been playing around, we've picked them up, cuddled them etc. My fav are Zippy & George, Zippy especially knows his name & will come when I call him, so will Bungle....when he wants to!!!!!