This article is from the WSSF 2017 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.
By Karen Robbins
Carol A. Gamble, Pixie Pocket Pets, Ontario, Canada
RE: Carol submitted a Registered Rattery form, however, she can’t come to the shows here and get her animals
critiqued to meet the requirements.
Q I’m just wondering how that is possible cause where I live in Ontario, Canada, we don’t
have shows close to us, and I know of at least 3 other breeders in my area that are registered with you and don’t show
their rats. Can you please explain this to me?
A We have several members in Canada and several have an ad on our online Breeders’
List, but that is not the same as being an Official AFRMA Registered Rattery. So, no, we don’t have any Official
Registered Ratteries in Canada. A lot of people say registered
when they are referring to becoming a member,
placing an ad, having their name on our Rattery/Mousery Names page, or even when making an entry for a show. Our
Official Registered Rattery program requires more than just becoming a member and breeding
as you can read in the rules for that.
Since you joined, your breeder name of Pixie’s Pocket Pets will be added no charge to our Rattery/Mousery Names page.
Also, if you would like to place an ad on our Members’ Breeders’ List page, you can use the online form to add this to your membership (no AFRMA showing requirements to be listed there).
Sounds like there are enough rat breeders in Ontario, Canada, to get together and get shows started in your area.
Update: I would love to show my rats but unfortunately there are no shows around here and yes, that may be a good idea [about getting something started there, Ed.], I will have to look into that.
Alayah Vandersleen, Alberta, Canada
RE: Alayah submitted a Registered Mousery form, however, she was not a member, can’t come to the shows
here, or get her animals critiqued.
Q That’s OK. I thought AFRMA was for Canadian breeders as well. I will instead become a
pet breeder then and focus my efforts on temperament rather than showiness.
A We have several Canadian members and some are listed on our Breeders’ Page. You do not have to be an Official Registered Mousery for that, just a member. There are many breeders that are not able to go to shows but still breed towards a written standard of which temperament is a part of breeding for show. We can accept your membership though if you would like to join and be a member.
You can try contacting the Fancy Mouse Breeders Association since they have had shows in Wisconsin to see where their upcoming shows are going to be and perhaps you may be able to attend one of theirs.
Glad to see you were interested in becoming a serious mouse breeder. If you have any mouse questions, let us know.