This Rat Won "Hide and Seek"

Rat lost for ll million years. 11 million years later, Laos 'rat' resurfaces

WASHINGTON -- It has the face of a rat and the tail of a skinny squirrel -- and scientists say this creature discovered living in central Laos is pretty special: It's a species believed to have been extinct for 11 million years.

The long-whiskered rodent made international headlines last spring when biologists declared they'd discovered a brand new species, nicknamed the Laotian rock rat.

The long-whiskered rodent made international headlines last spring when biologists declared they'd discovered a brand new species, nicknamed the Laotian rock rat.

The nocturnal rodent lives in Laotian forests largely unexplored by outsiders, because of the geographic remoteness and history of political turmoil.

Schaller calls the area "an absolute wonderland," because biologists who have ventured in have found unique animals, like a type of wild ox called the saola, barking deer, and never-before-seen bats. Dawson describes it as a prehistoric zoo, teeming with information about past and present biodiversity.

Locals call the rodent kha-nyou.

...I think he's one "Hide and Seek" :o)

Oh, Rats!

Why these vilified rodents make great pets?

Although many people think of rats as creepy creatures crawling in alleys, domestic rats found in pet stores really make great pets. Some people ask if they're appropriate for young children, but, as with any pet, that's a question for parents to make with their children. Remember that young children often need parental support for many aspects of their lives and the care of pets is another one. Try to set great examples for them and help them devise charting techniques for feeding, cleaning, etc. to get them involved in the care of their new pet. Charting also allows an easy way of checking on them to make sure they are taking proper care of their new animal companion. Reward them for great charting. If they chart for a week with no mistakes allow them to pick out a special toy or treat for their rat or any animal companion. This makes for some great family time as well.

Rats are also very intelligent and trainable. This makes them welcome additions in a house of small children. They can learn multiple tricks, how to walk across ropes and retrieval of items. They enjoy running through tubes, sleeping in hammocks, and making elaborate nests to sleep in. I think their ability to learn new things is often restricted by our ability to teach them.

When considering rat care I will try to give you some of the basics. Many rat owners use solid based caging with mesh for increased ventilation. Try to avoid mesh bottoms as they can irritate the bottom of the feet or catch small toes or nails. Large aquariums can also make adequate homes as well as long as the rats are healthy, allowed out of the enclosure, and the cage is cleaned frequently.

Proper bedding for the bottom of the cages should consist of one of the recycled newspaper beddings. These include fluffy or pellet types, and now come in many different colors as well. The most popular brands are Carefresh and Yesterday's News. Wood shavings, corn cobb, or walnut shells should be avoided as they irritate the respiratory tract and can cause irritations to the feet, nose and eyes.

Diet for rats is varied. The inclusion of a lab block or laboratory diet is recommended as it has the proper balance and ratio of nutrients needed for the rat's body composition. There are many different brands available commercially. These should be available at all times. Small amounts of seeds, fruits and vegetables can be offered daily. Many rats eat with the family at meal times. Most food meant for humans is safe to share with rats. When offering new items, always offer a small amount first to watch for signs of diarrhea or stomach upset. Some food items to avoid include: Raw sweet potato, raw red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, raw artichoke, green bananas, licorice, bleu cheese and rhubarb. Candies and chocolates should also be avoided. Whole grain cereals make great reward items.

The hardest part of owning rats is their lifespan. This can be hard on small children and should be discussed with them when considering rats as the family pet. Their lifespan averages out at 18 months. Their most common medical problems include respiratory disease, cardiac disease, breast cancer and other forms of cancer. There are many new treatments available to significantly help with these disorders. For example, mammary tumors can be avoided or delayed by spaying, Lupron therapy, and possibly the addition of red palm oil to the diet.

Although their lifespan may be shorter than other pets, they are guaranteed to provide you with lots of love, kisses and laughs every day we are blessed to have them.

Dr. Thomas Bankstahl offers veterinary care at Parkway Small Animal & Exotic Hospital, 39321 Garfield, Clinton Township, (586) 416-8800. Please submit any questions or topics you would like to see discussed to hugyourpet@aol.com.

Rats make wonderful pets :-)

Rescue Services for Missing People and Pets

Since 1986, Oakes has logged more than 24,000 hours on more than 4,000 search-and-rescue missions around the world. He has spent more than 11,000 hours looking for lost or stolen pets, and he has found 1,515 of them. He has been asked to locate cats, dogs, goats, turtles, snakes, horses, birds, llamas, lizards, rabbits, ferrets, hedgehogs, rats, miniature cows and an otter, elephant, possum, raccoon — even a lion.

* For more information about International K-9 Search and Rescue Services for Missing People and Pets, visit www.k9sardog.com, or send an e-mail to searchdog.tdn.com

Sugar, the rat

When at home, Emily spends time with her dog, three cats, dwarf hamster, mouse and rat. She spends the most quality time with Sugar, the rat. Sugar will perch on her shoulder or head -- and curls up to nap with Emily.

She interacts with a wider variety of animals as a Louisville Zoo volunteer. "The more you volunteer there, the more you get to do," said Emily, who has worked her way from the petting zoo to the Islands exhibit. "It's sort of like Asia ... with a focus on the different animals from the islands of southeast Asia."

Even her hobbies are animal-related. She not only writes about animals -- sharks, rats and any other creature she considers interesting and under appreciated -- she also makes sculptures of them.

"I have such a fascination with other living things, how they interact with each other and the environment, how they work together."

Emily is a Louisville Zoo Volunteer and has a mini-zoo at home too :o)

March is National Adopt-a-rescued-rodent Month

Did you know March is National Adopt-a-rescued-rodent Month, but the Humane Society of Southern Arizona has other rodents who need homes, too. Guinea Pigs, hamsters, rabbits, mice and gerbils all need a good home.

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona opens its doors to rodents and rabbits — which are not rodents, but lagomorphs more closely related to horses — as well as dogs and cats. They also take in reptiles, birds and even goats, although they usually send the exotic pets to specific animal rescue groups better equipped to handle them.
Rodents and rabbits have their own, special charms. They get to know their people, they have likes and dislikes, and can be more entertaining than television.

"You have to appreciate that they're a different kind of animal," said Jewel Waldrip, of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, who has adopted several rats. "They all have different personalities. Some are outgoing and social, some are quieter. They really are individuals, and if you handle them a lot, they really are really affectionate."

so why don't you adopt a rodent :-)

A Rat For A Pet?

While most people will cringe at the thought of having a rat for a pet, believe it or not, domestic rats make great pets! They are not aggressive, diseased and dirty animals, but in fact are clean, fun loving, sensitive, very social and affectionate.

They genuinely enjoy interacting with people and should be handled daily. Rats are very intelligent and can be taught simple tricks, such as stay and sit and will often learn their name. They can also be litter box trained. Rats will often develop a connection with their owner, wanting daily attention. They will enjoy playing and snuggling with their owners. Rats that are well handled from birth are very friendly towards humans and very rarely bite.

Rats require time, interaction, and upkeep. Because rats are very social animals they can get board easily and it is a good idea to have more than one rat. Having two rats is no more work than having only one. Two rats will be entertaining to watch and will take some of the stress off of you in having to entertain them.

A Rat for a Pet? Oh yes...why not :-)