This LPT caused my wife some sadness tonight. Please everyone, don’t get animals as unexpected gifts during your holiday parties.
We were at a Christmas party that was doing a White Elephant style gift exchange and someone thought it would be funny to get a live rat from a pet store and put her in the gift pool. It scared the girl who picked out the package the rat was in and stressed me and my wife out because it was obvious the little thing was terrified. No one wanted to take it and there was talk of feeding it to a snake, letting it go outside (it’s a domesticated rat, so it wouldn’t fare too well), and other things.
We both have had ratties as pets in the past and know why wonderful pets they can make, but can’t currently take on the responsibility of owning one. It made us really sad to see it get passed around as brief entertainment and curiosity at a party.
PLEASE! Do not gift live animals to anyone. Pet ownership is a responsibility and even small animals should be cared for by someone who can handle the responsibility.
