Random Rats

This ribbon represents PEW awareness. Everyday PEWs (white rats with red/pink eyes) are used for snake food, lab experiments, most likely to be abused and are left with out forever homes in rescues. They are the hardest to find homes for in rescue's because they are 'plain' or because they fit the Hollywood stereotype of evil lab creatures. So instead of bringing home the pretty colourful rats who will always have a much easyier time finding a home bring home some PEWs and you will be surprised at how wonderful they are. Feel free to use this banner and spread the word!

Quoted from--Moondust of www.goosemoose.com. Moondust is the creator of the banner and the cause.

"A lot of people don't seem to realize the extent of the bad hand dealt PEW rats.  They are the most likely to be tested on or find themselves to be snake-food.  They are the most likely to be found at pet-stores, to be abused and (due to their lack of novelty appeal) they are the least-likely to find homes among real rat-fanatics that make a good home.  They are the ones most likely to enter a rescue, and the least-likely to leave.  Any rescue will tell you, PEWs are hardest to place! They are difficult to take pictures of without "evil glowing eyes" so many people looking online pass by their pictures for more appealing rats.

So if their temperament is the same, why are these rats so overlooked?  At best, most people only have one PEW in their colony if any at all.  Some describe them as "creepy" due to their eyes.  Other people just find them boring.  Many just have trouble telling them apart!  To a lot of people, white rats remind them of labs, a trait they find unappealing.

PEWs are often born in unplanned litters, due to the fact that it is a phenotype created by many combinations of genes.  They are among the most common color of rat, if not the most common.  Often these guys sit at rescues and shelters and in the worst-case scenario, they are euthanized to make room for "prettier" rats.

How you can help:

Next time you have room for a rat, and are considering a rescue, don't just go for the pretty colors.  Everyone loves the merles, nekkids, champagnes etc and they are almost guaranteed homes.  Instead, do a rescue and a rat a favor and choose the "Plain Jane" in the litter.  Not only will you be helping an oft- overlooked rat find a home, you'll find that they are the same inside as the pretty ones!  If you do adopt one of the "pretty ones" consider adopting a PEW to go with it.

A lot of people have no problems lecturing on the adoption of cats over kittens from the SPCA, and yet have no qualms about walking away with the prettiest rat in a rescue litter, leaving the PEW siblings and mother behind!  Don't be that person!

Other types of rats that have difficulty: normal wildrat-type agouti and black hoodeds.  Just too common!

Luckily PEWs do have one break.  Due to some states, such as Alaska and Nevada (or is it only some cities in Nevada?) only allow PEW rats.

Feel free to copy and paste this anywhere you wish,or to use the ribbon. You don't need to credit me.  Below is a signature-size ribbon."