About me
I've kept rats since 2007, and started off in the worst way possible. I went into a pet shop, bought 2 rats, a tiny cage, and some cheap wood shavings. I cringe a bit now thinking about it, but at the time ignorance was bliss! I did get a bigger cage fairly soon, as they grew and needed more room to ping around! Things really changed when one of my girls sprouted a lump, and while researching I found the Fancy Rats Forum, and the world of rat keeping was suddenly opened up to me. I not only learned that my girl had what was probably a mammary tumor, but also learned about possible dangers of keeping rats on poor quality wood shaving, about how little cage furniture and enrichhment I provided, about different ways to feed that I'd never even considered and about the cruel practices and thoughtless breeding that stock pet shops. I joined up and became an active member, absorbing as much information as I could. Through the rehoming pages I gradually took on rescue rats, and for a few years my cages were full of lovely creatures that I'd given a second chance to. It wasn't until I joined the NERS and made some good ratty friends that I considered breeding. Being involved in rescue makes you so aware of not only neglect and cruelty, but of the damage that careless breeding brings about - the animals that die too young, that suffer needlessly because of genetic traits that have been passed on - and it does wear you down after a while. I decided to take the leap into breeding not only to be one other place beside a pet shop that people can source rats, but also to try and better the species. By careful breeding it's possible to select away from damaging genes and poor lifespan to try to breed healthier and more long lived rats - something that I so desperately want to see, and provide people with, because I know very well the pain of losing friends before their time.
Thanks
None of this exciting venture would be possible without the help of a special group of people who have given me so much support. Specific thanks must go to Lloyd Allington, Alison Campbell, Jemma Fettes, Mary Giles, toyah Leitch and Lisa Maurin, who are prepared to share not only their dream with me, but also their rats as the very foundation of Honeyduke. Thanks should also go to Lilly Hoyland, Alison Triggs, Kyra Murray and Annette Rand who not only share my love of rats, but have given support and advice throughout. I would also like to thank Beri Instone and Hannah Field for helping to correct my awful spelling and grammar! Thanks also to Jonahthan Noblet at http://mushroommencreative.tumblr.com/ for designing my beautiful logo.
The biggest thanks has to go to my long suffering other half, Paul, who puts up with all my rat ramblings, and doesn't mind sharing his home with a whole host of the furry littly blighters
The biggest thanks has to go to my long suffering other half, Paul, who puts up with all my rat ramblings, and doesn't mind sharing his home with a whole host of the furry littly blighters