This article is from the Summer I 1998 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

By Tanny Keeler

We were blessed with the acquisition of a baby rat who somehow managed to scramble out of a snake’s dinner dish right into our lives. We love animals. We have had dogs, birds, rabbits, sheep, a pot bellied pig, chickens, and turtles. All uncaged. Ratty fit right amongst us, won our hearts and in a very short time became my favorite pet of all. When she was tiny, she traveled in my pocket or sleeve as I went about my days work; when she advanced into adulthood she had free roam of our house—always coming when called, always scibbling down the steps to join us at breakfast and dinner, and each night upon hearing my voice as I read bedtime stories to the children, up popped Ratty to sit and listen too. Our fabulous and beloved Ratty died of cancer when she was 2½.