WINNIPEG – If you think the Winnipeg Humane Society adopts out only cats and dogs, think again.
The shelter recently took in two rats and their 17 babies.
“We still have five babies left that we are waiting to get into a home,” said Judy Dean, with the Humane Society.
It isn’t uncommon for the shelter to have a rat in its care, Dean said.
Even though they make some people squirm, a rat isn’t a bad animal to share a house with, provided it is in a cage, she said.
“All rats make really great pets, but when they are little, you can train them to do so many things, and they were hand-raised by our foster parents, so they are really social,” said Dean.
You can adopt one of the rats for $6.95; however, be prepared to play with it.
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“They are fairly easy to take care of but they are social, so as long as you have an hour or two to interact with them in a day,” said Dean.
In addition to rats, the Humane Society also has birds looking for homes.
“We often will adopt out budgies, finches, cockatiels, love birds,” Dean said. “People don’t think we have birds, but there usually isn’t a time we don’t have birds.”
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While dogs are one of the most commonly adopted pets, the colour of their fur makes some pooches less popular.
“Black dogs are always the longest to get adopted,” said Dean, who doesn’t know exactly why that is.
The average length of stay for an adult dog at the Humane Society is 24 days, but for a black dog the average is 38 days, she said.
“It is a significant time for them to stay here and really, there is no reason why,” Dean said. “They make just as great pets.”
If you take a black dog home, the Humane Society offers a discount in the gift shop as well as invitations to exclusive black dog events.
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