My pet Rat is "FLUSHED AWAY "

Do you know about the new animated rat movie thats now showing?

The story of a pet mouse who gets flushed down the toilet and ends up in an underground city populated by rats, frogs, slugs and other critters, the film exhibits the frenzied pace and overbearing characterizations that have become standard in U.S.-born-and-bred animated features. The voice casting (Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen, for starters) rests somewhere between Pixar inspiration and everybody else’s laziness, but the story is strictly perfunctory -- and further hampered by the sort of puerile gags that have come to define Yankee toon flicks (lots of blows to the crotch in this one).

...there's nothing like some good ole rat P.R...

Your Rattie is Most Welcome at this General Store

UGS - a most ungeneral store. By Maria C. Johnson

Location is a big part of the chemistry at UGS.

It's on South Mendenhall Street, a skip from Spring Garden Street, on the shoulder of UNCG and not far from Greensboro College. Tons of students and university types live in the area, known as College Hill.

Lots of people have come in wearing pajamas. And toting dogs, cats and pet rats. And riding skateboards and bicycles. One guy used to pedal up one aisle and down the other.

UGS is so different from the chain convenience store, the personal touch is key at UGS.

...Now why are'nt there more stores like UGS that are rattie friendly...

Fancy A Rat !

What's the difference between a fancy rat and a wild one? We asked Debbie Ducommun, known as The Rat Lady. Her Web site, , has lots of information about these bright little rodents. Here's what she said:

· "A fancy rat is one that's specifically bred to be a pet. It's actually quite easy to domesticate a rat because they're social animals."

· Wild rats are found everywhere -- cities, suburbs and rural areas. Although wild, they are not ferocious. They see people as predators and run from them. Norway or brown rats, the kind often seen in cities, are the ancestors of fancy rats.

Some Rat Stats:

· Size: Fancy rats usually range from a half-pound to 1 3/4 pounds. In the wild, rats seldom weigh more than one pound.

· Life span: Pet rats live two to three years, on average. The record is 7 years 4 months.

· Color: Wild rats come in one basic color scheme, called agouti. Fancy rats come in several colors, ranging from an orangy brown to pure white.

· Families: Mature females can have a litter of 6-12 every month.

...ratties are neat...