23/08/2025
A Saturday Read: A Tougher Year for Rats—And How We’re Helping
Over the past few months, you may have noticed that many of our intakes have been a little different than in years past. We asked ourselves: what’s changed, and how can we best accommodate this shifting landscape? We want to be transparent about what’s happening and share how our community can help.
🐀 What we’re seeing:
Recently, many of the rats coming into GRR have had very difficult starts—little to no socialization, poor care to outright neglect, or the result of accidental litters or bad sources. Because of this, we’re seeing more and more medical needs and now, lots of personalities that take extra patience to build trust. This isn’t unique to us—it’s something rescues everywhere are noticing as more rats arrive in rougher condition than in years past.
💡 What this means for adopters:
Some of our rats may need more time to settle in, a quieter home, or an adopter willing to work gently through their nervousness. That doesn’t mean they can’t become wonderful companions—it just means they need a little extra patience and understanding to get there. For some, their happiness looks like being a happy cage companion to other rats rather than a people-focused pet—and that’s completely okay. They can still lead full, enriched lives surrounded by their own kind. Others may simply need a comfortable, loving home to live out their golden months in peace.
❤️ Why we’re here:
These rats don’t get a choice in the care (or lack of care) they were given early on or where they come from. Our mission is to give them that chance—through vetting, patient fostering, and finding the right matches. Every adoption still changes a life. We’re also different from a high-volume shelter or a low-funded facility where animals can be overlooked, minimally vetted, and adopted with little transparency or follow-up. GRR is the region’s only rat-only rescue. We are no-kill, 100% volunteer-run, foster-home based, and entirely supported by donations. That means adopters get not only carefully vetted rats, but also the ongoing support and guidance they need long after the adoption day.
🙌 How you can help:
✿ Adopt: If you’re open to older rats, those who may need extra time to build trust, or even rats who shine best as cage companions to your already amazing crew, you can make a huge difference.
✿ Foster: At GRR, we have many different types of foster homes—from intake fosters, to special needs, to our “Angel Homes” who provide comfort care. Right now, we especially need patient fosters who can work with shyer or “still learning” rats, as well as those willing and able to take on medical needs with enthusiasm and compassion. You’ll have the GRR’s full education, support and backing every step of the way.
✿ Support: Donations go directly to medical care and supplies that allow us to continue saying yes to rats in serious and desperate need, we really could not do this with out you. Please visit https://linktr.ee/garatrescue to make a difference today!
With your help, we can keep giving these rats the second chances they deserve. Thank you for supporting them, for trusting us, and for believing that every rat’s life has value.
