Ethics
- We do not sell feeders or rats that are intended to be bred to produce feeders under any circumstances. We realize herps have to eat and are neutral on the subject of feeding humanely euthanized rodents to other animals, but we do believe health and temperament data is lost in heavily hard culled lines to a degree that the line is no longer suitable for pets and these lines are pets.
- We do not sell to pet stores or any similar method which does not allow for screening and staying in touch with adopters.
- Southern Charm Rattery does not euthanize healthy animals or unhealthy ones unless treatment options are exhausted and quality of life is considerably diminished.
- We employ an adoption application and contract.
- Adoptions to breeders are extremely few and far between. It is not beneficial for me to adopt to people I do not know very well as I fully expect to be capable of working closely with anyone I send my lines to. I am open to getting to know new breeders and I advise other breeders on their rats, ratteries, adopters, etc. often.
- CHRM Rats always welcomes rats we breed back and we ask adopters to keep in touch to let us know how our rats are doing.
- We adopt out rats in same-sex pairs only even if you have other rats at home.
- We do not take orders for certain varieties.
- We breed to improve the species as pets, not to adopt out babies.
- We also do not breed often if we can help it -though much more often than we would like for the time being due to having so many new lines- so we don't always have rats available.
- If you want babies then watch our "Available Rats" page or subscribe to our blog.
- We no longer have a waiting list as so few people actually wait. We are now first come first served based on application approval.
- Our rats are pets and are treated as such. They are kept in clean cages with free choice Native Earth blocks, a dry treat mix, fresh foods, and clean water provided daily. They have enrichment and are taken out for play time often. They are treated for illnesses with medications prescribed by a licensed veterinarian and are never left to suffer physically or mentally.
Goals
We have basic goals for each rat and various goals for each line.