Pipsqueak Rattery

05/08/2024

28/07/2024

Curiosity killed the cat, but continues to thrill the fancy rat 🐀

21/04/2024

Hello from our little family to yours. ❤️ Here are some boopy snoots and booties (the latter a courtesy of Albert... whilst he discovered a hole in the laundry basket, we unfortunately discovered a hole in Albert).
Have a pleasant evening everyone 🤣

10/03/2024

Hang out time with these three little boys = happy time 😊❤

29/02/2024

Absolutely 💪🐀❤

10/02/2024

A series of unsettling events 🤣

10/02/2024

On a scale of Ernest to Henry, how are you doing this weekend? 😅

(No, he is not dead. He just sleeps in the most distressing of ways to witness 🙃)

24/01/2024

Pink boops 🐽

11/01/2024

🦇

10/01/2024

Update on George - the rat who found his way to safety.

I took George to the vets today for a check, as he still had multiple issues that were keeping him in a bad way. Poor boy was already ill when he was dumped. Vet and those involved with George suspected he was dumped, and I was really hoping he wasn't. Looking very much like he was. In short, George was put to sleep this afternoon.

His bladder was rock hard, definitely an infection down there (made worse by his time trying to survive with poor hygiene, no defences, already vulnerable and ill), causing his p***s to stick out, swollen and sore. Bladder stone or tumor in his bladder likely the original culprit. Add further infection - poor thing was a mess down there. He was dribbling overflow as he could not properly urinate, so his underside was always wet. Urine getting into cuts and sores from his time trying to survive would be causing further discomfort. I did the best I could giving him metacam (painkiller/anti inflam) daily, and the treatment for fleas, but he would still be so uncomfortable with the severe bladder issue and complications. The vet said we did everything we could for him, but there wasn't any more we could do. He was very ill, and in such a bad state. He was peacefully put to sleep, and if anyone deserves some peace, it is that little old boy.

I'm sorry George, I hope you know how special you were. You did good, bubby. You got yourself to a sanctuary, and I'm honored to have been your home for this short time. You will always have a place here. You did everything right, and I hope recuperation, good food, rehydration and love gave you some relief. I know there wasn't much other relief for you, wee lad. Rest easy. You will always be remembered, and I will continue to hurt for you. Not for your passing, but for the way you were left to pass. Stress, fear, starvation, dehydration, and confusion for a little rat already so unwell would have been absolutely horrific. No animal deserves that. You didn't deserve that, and I'm so freaking relieved that you wandered into the place you did, and ended up here for a slight reprieve. I hope you felt some relief being cared for. I'm sorry I couldn't do more.
Rest in peace sweet boy. Heaven gained the most innocent of angels. 🐀🌈

Please, if an animal in your care is unwell, no matter how small, help them to have a peaceful ending. Don't dump them. Death doesn't always happen quickly - and being alone, traumatized and malnourished doesn't help.

In the slim chance that George truly was lost, please do still reach out. I would love for his family to have been missing him, and if you are his family I would love to share his time here in more detail to comfort you. But if he was "let go", I hope you also feel some relief to know he's okay now. He is being cremated and will be in a little wooden box engraved with George with his own space on the shelf. He managed to find his way here. I couldn't let him go again.

04/01/2024

Update on the little lad 🐀💙

He is going by George - as one of the guys who found him thought he suited George.

Have not had any success in locating his owner, or knowing whether he is in fact lost or whether he was released/dumped (hoping not).
I'll keep trying, because he is such a beautiful wee lad. Someone must be missing him. In the meantime he is very welcome here, and coping well with recovery. ❤🏡

Thank you for your support and care for George. Here are some photos from his first day stretching his legs in a playpen. (Flea treatment means careful steps).

02/01/2024

RESCUED RAT 🐀 IS ANYONE MISSING HIM?

This boy was discovered today walking into an industrial building in Onekawa, dehydrated and hungry. He is tame and fairly placid, clearly a pet who has been through hell for a couple weeks. He wasn't in a good way.
Went a picked him up and I've made him his own space. Was difficult to see whether he was a boy or girl because he was so dirty/muddy and ge****ls not in the best shape. But he's a wee lad, and he's done so well today. What a brave move walking into the place he did, and thank God the people who found him have hearts and sought him help. If he'd been turned away I truly don't think he would have tried again. He was struggling.

Notes to potential owner (if out there)...

• Have given him as much of a gentle wash as I can without traumatizing him, and when drying him discovered he has fleas/mites. He sat in my arms wrapped up in a towel so calmly and had a wee head massage. While he was there we gave him flea/mite treatment - rat dose - and will be changing his bedding daily until they're gone. It's quite bad, so will be a big job.

• He appears to have a bite on his lower lip, or an injury from a tooth growing too long. Not quite sure, but half of lower lip is hanging down a bit. The last 2cms of his tail also appears burnt or cut off from circulation. I'm keeping an eye on these and have provided him with soft foods as well as rat biscuits in case eating is painful. I've also provided him lava ledges if he needs to grind his teeth down. Covering all bases.

• His system is clearing out from what he will have been eating. Giving him fruit and vegies and good rat biscuits to help, and a big bowl of water in his cage. He's been drinking heaps.

• Despite what he must have been through, he is doing okay, and has had a big day (probably many big days - but this was one of good outcome). He is settled in his space and comfortable. We watched Brooklyn 99 together and he had a nap. Needed it. He has clean towels, huts and snuggle blankets.

If this is your boy and you want him back, please message me through the Pipsqueak Rattery page. He is safe.

31/12/2023

An earth-goodbye to my last three girls. My world is so much emptier, but yours will be full now forever. The best little family I've ever known is complete again.

Rest in peace Peanut, Maisie and Eponine. What strong, loving and kind girls you were here. You deserve all the good things you have waiting for you. All the adventure your soul could crave. The love so abundant it fills the air around you. Bodies without illness, pain or discomfort. You deserve it all, and I'm sorry that life couldn't be like that longer on earth. It's not fair, wee girls. I'm sorry.
Thank you for everything you have taught me and helped me realise about life. I am so grateful to have been with you in yours. The respect and admiration I have for you girls is endless. It's a special feeling being able to trust so strongly, too. Mutual calm and knowing. I'll miss that. And wow, I'll miss you.
Rest in peace Peanut 💌🐀🌈 Caring, observant, loyal and nurturing. I am so proud of you.
Rest in peace Maisie 💌🐀🌈 Thoughtful, kind, intuitive, and knowing. I am so proud of you.
Rest in peace Eponine 💌🐀🌈 Curious, adventurous, free-spirited and loving. I am so proud of you.
Love, a mama who is honored to have been your home and human.

"Be good to each other.
I am so very proud of you.
You are so very safe,
and you are so very loved,
and I'll see you in the morning."

- one last time, our nightly mantra 🌠❤

28/12/2023

❤

Be kind to every kind

20/12/2023

My sweet rats when I put on Shrek for movie night for the 45th time

12/12/2023

Update - home found ❤

🐀 GIRLS LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME 🏡

Three beautiful wee ratties are looking for their new home. They are a bonded female trio and must go together.
Ages 5 months, 1 year, and slightly over 1.
The two brown girls are mum and daughter (lovely to be together!), and the lighter girl was adopted into the family from a previous situation, with well-earned health and happiness (and very special to the owner). They are deeply cared for by their current owner, but need somewhere with more time than she can currently give them.

If you are interested, flick me a message. Experienced rat owners, or eager new rat parents, either way we can discuss what the girls would need and whether your home would be the best fit for this trio. As always, I am prepared and happy to help you, the current owner, and the girls to have a smooth transition with everything in place for these beautiful girls to thrive. 💛

07/12/2023

Dose of the Fancy Bat 🐒🥬

07/12/2023

Apologies for not being active the past wee while, and thank you for allowing me the space.
Anyone who has come to Pipsqueak will be familiar with the sibling group - my own ratties. Due to the breeder of Edith and Oliver (brother and sister) not having separated them, Edith gave birth a day after adoption, 2 years ago. All of the siblings developed cancer and health issues from 1 year old onwards due to the inbreeding, and with also losing our other dear old rats, it's been a big 6 months of end of life care, love, and loss. So thank you for the time and space.
Here are some of the set-ups I put together for elderly play time, featuring the family. The last photos are Maisie, Eponine and Peanut - the last of the crew. 🥺❤

Keep reaching out if you need me. Always happy to help, and a lot less busy now.

07/12/2023

❤

04/12/2023

😍

28/09/2023

"A small act of kindness means everything to that little creature...please be always kind🥰" -

08/07/2023

29/05/2023

Foster monkeys from SPCA Hawke's Bay 🐒
Five very lively boys who love to cuddle together, play fight like any young siblings, and get ecstatic over exploring new spaces.
Keep an eye out on the SPCA adoption page in the near future as SPCA New Zealand have recently had a large admission of rats they've spread out between centers.

15/05/2023

Happy Edith 😊❤

13/05/2023

FEMALE RATS NEEDING A HOME 🐀🏠💕
(On behalf of a friend of Pipsqueak.)

Three sweet girls are needing a good home. Rosie, Maisie and Bella are sisters, all 1 year old, with plans to stay together.
They have been with a caring owner who is no longer able to look after them, and has reached out for help in finding the girls a new home.

There are expectations that need to be met if you are interested in adopting. I often rehome through the shelter here, but due to recent full capacity, the girls will ideally go from their current home straight to the new one. If you are a keen first time rat parent, I am happy to organize a time for you to come in and see some of our set-ups so you have a better idea of what you will need to provide. Guidance to create an appropriate set-up is something I am always keen to give! Alternatively, if you have experience owning rats and have the means available, I can give you direct contact details for the girls current owner.
Note: Owner is willing to rehome the girls with their current cage, so this is an available option. All other care needs will need to be provided by you as their new human. This includes food, bedding, toys and potential medical care in the future. And most importantly... time and love.

Flick me a message with any questions you have. The girls will only go to a home that is deemed appropriate.

Pictured (in order) are Rosie, Maisie and Bella.

13/05/2023

Usually cleaning cages makes me feel good, knowing they will be excited to explore and have everything fresh again. That happened with the first two cages. Lots of excitement from both the rats and myself. Then I went to clean Edith and Annie's cage. Again, going in with the mindset of a fresh and clean start. As soon as I was taking bits and pieces out and scooping out all the h**p, it was obvious that I was destroying an actual house. Edith has always been a talented homemaker, but wow. She had clearly spent hours upon hours moving h**p, toilet paper, blanket pieces, toys etc and building actual walls and structures made of these gathered belongings. She had food hidden in these protected spaces, and had moved a soft tunnel to hide the entrance way that her and Annie were hanging out in when I took them out for cleaning time. With each scoop, I uncovered her precious hard work and destroyed it - all at once. With each scoop my heart ached to go back and not have interfered. I feel overwhelmingly guilty and sad. Edith had a vet's visit today (accompanied by Annie) as both aren't well. Edith is on stronger antibiotics now for her breathing, and Annie has cancer. They are our wee old girls. And I thought I was helping by organising their belongings and space for them, but honestly tonight I'm not sure. My heart hurts for the amount of work that those two wee oldies put in to creating their special space, only to have it taken away. All of the savored food - gone. All the small pieces of handcrafted blanket - gone. All of the incredible structures - gone. That really hit my heart hard tonight. I feel so sad and so, so guilty. I tried to make up for it by putting in new snacks, new tissue paper etc, but the sad is still there. Edie was so panicky when I came to put her back in, and she's been crying since.
Rats are so beyond what people give them credit for. Or give them. They treasure their belongings. They have weird, special stuff that they are attached to, just like us. For Peanut half a year ago, it was a damp, stinky piece of paper towel. She was so distressed when I cleaned their cage that day, and she got into the rubbish bin and sifted through the used litter and bedding to find her piece. She came back out with it and took it into a corner of the newly cleaned space. For Bruno and Chester, it was an old, faded red wooden square that was once part of a toy. That was their most treasured item. After Bruno passing, it continues to be Chester's. With Edith tonight, it was so much more than an item. That's what hurts. I can save the other's funny little treasures from clean to clean, but I couldn't save that incredible little world she made. Logically, I know I had to clean it out to keep them healthy. But then again, that doesn't feel like justification enough. Telling her that doesn't stop her heart from hurting and the feeling that her world and her special belongings are gone. And it sure as heck hasn't stopped my heart from breaking. I'm still breathless from having my own long worked-on structures suddenly wiped out. The rug pulled out from under you feels like too small of a metaphor. Effort, care, endless work, hard earned comfort, safety and things so painfully precious and once-off... Gone.
Lots of hugs for Edith tonight. And lots of new things to help her start again. I just need to pick my heart up off the floor and catch a breath first. Sorry wee girl. 💔

10/05/2023

I will never get sick of derpy Charlie photos. 😛

02/05/2023

This post hurts to make, and I've put it off for a week because my heart needed to breathe. It hasn't much. The pain still aches.
Bruno, sweet baby, may you rest in peace. I am so, so sorry that I didn't get to you sooner, and that I couldn't save you. With little hopeful signs at the vet office, it really seemed like we could, and I can honestly say, sweet boy, we tried. We wanted to so much it hurts. So many tears have been shed mourning a better outcome. Your Nanny's heart broke. Beautiful boy, you were so very loved. Because hearts cannot break if they aren't stuffed so full of love. Please forgive me, Bruno. I am so sorry.
Bruno, the beloved family member, the snuggliest little snuffle, and the other half to his dear brother Chester, passed away 25/04/2023. He was such a special boy. As he was surrendered, we have little knowledge of his beginnings, but my God are we blessed to be the family he and Chester were guided to in life. Bruno had the most lovable round face and an extremely loving nature. More like a small boy in the body of rat. He was named after Bruno, the child in the classic film (based on the book) The Witches due to these special characteristics. He was a Nanny's boy. He was a Mama's boy. He was a royal neck scarf, and an excited, snuffly kisser. He was Chester's other half. He was friends with a wonderful boy who enjoyed cuddles with him in his wheelchair. He was such a good boy.
Bruno drifted off into peaceful nap in my arms, with the comfort of strong painkillers, whispered love, and his mama's chest rising and falling. Nanny prepared him a hospital-cage in the lounge and we prepared for a night on the couch comforting and loving him while he rests with the sedating painkillers. Then we would focus on recovery. As much as it hurts to accept, God had a different plan for our angel. Sweet little Bruno relaxed into sleep, hugged into my chest, and took his last breath before curling up into forever sleep.
We love you Bruno. Here, and wherever souls go next. May you feel it forever with as much warmth and holding as the snuggles we shared together on earth. And may your Nanny, with her heart so full of love and hurt, know that you felt it so fully, and floated to heaven in soft cotton wool made of her care.
Chester misses you. We miss you. Fly high beautiful Bruno, and rest in peace. You did so good. 🌈❤

02/05/2023

Awesome work Yasmin! 💪

Appreciation post!
A huge Thank You from our team at SPCA Napier to this lovely young lady Yasmin!

Fundraised and bought supplies for the kittys and doggo's mostly by herself!

The animals in need really appreciate these donations, and thank you to everyone that helps the furr babies ❤🐕🐈