I have gotten many of my breeder rats through adoption at my local PetCo. I adopted 2 females roughly a year ago. One of these girls was pretty skittish, and really didn't want a whole lot to do with me. The other was just the opposite. Any time I came near her cage, she came running, wanting attention. When I first got her, I considered not breeding her, simply because she was such an awesome pet. In fact, that's her name, "Awesome". Out of all the rats that I have had, she is the ONLY one that has ever LICKED me the way a puppy does! Every time I open her cage, she comes running, licks my hand, and wants attention. Well, today I found her dead in her cage. She apparently died giving birth, as there was one baby there with her (also dead).

Most of my breeder rats are just that, breeders. A few find their way into my heart. "Awesome" was the one that dug deep into my heart.

RIP, Awesome!

Steve