To celebrate our Pink Is Beautiful campaign, I thought I'd post the stories of the PEW rats that have touched my life since I got involved with rat rescue. They have been some of my most special rats and they were actually the first rats I had!
Harry, Herman & Howie
I met these boys in the spring of 2006 while I was volunteering at the Victoria SPCA. They had been at the shelter for nearly a year after their previous owner surrendered them when he didn't have the time for them any more. Because they were similar looking PEW rats, they were overlooked again and again in the shelter. I'd never met rats before, and these 3 were quite big so I was a bit afraid of them at first, which was silly because they were incredibly gentle!
I mostly kept my distance from the rats while I was at the shelter until one day they snuck into my backpack and stole all my stuff when I wasn't looking. I looked down into the rat cage and saw the corner of a receipt sticking out of the rats' bed! I moved their blanket and found my pen and papers all hidden in their bed too. This pretty much sealed it that these rats needed to come live with us. We got rid of our TV to make space for another cage and the boys came to live with us in August 2006.
These 3 rats were incredible! They were so affectionate and loyal. They loved to cuddle, and would brux and boggle instantly when I held them. Sadly, we only had a year before they started to get quite sick and pass away. We lost Herman first, then Howie a few months later, and Harry a few months after that. It was heartbreaking to lose these guys so soon. I have so many good memories of these boys, though, and I couldn't ask for more amazing first ratties.

Rolo
I met Rolo and his brother Wrigley in the Spring of 2007. A friend who does small animal rescue up-island had taken these 2 boys in when their owner couldn't look after them any more. They were both seniors in failing health and my friend had never had rats before. We went to visit and the boys settled in our arms so easily, we knew it was probably meant to be.
Rolo was over 2 years old by the time we got him and he had severe bumblefoot as well as 2 tumors, and paralysis in his back legs. We treated the bumblefoot the best we could, but it never went away completely. Despite all his troubles Rolo still had a lot of happiness. He loved to eat snacks, and when I would help him groom and give him a nice soft bed he was so happy! He loved his brother Wrigley a lot too, so it was really sad when Wrigley passed away suddenly.
I introduced Rolo to Harry and Howie after Herman passed away and the 3 boys were the best of friends. Rolo was always shy with me, and got a lot more out of the company of rats. I was really glad my 2 boys were so good to him. Rolo's health slowly deteriorated until he was suffering and we had to put him to sleep. I was so glad to have given him a real comfy retirement time, but it was sad to once again lose a rat so soon.

-- Reese