There are two species of rats involved here. Rattus Rattus is the rat that carried the infected fleas during the plauges of Europe. Rattus Norvegicus is not believed to have arrived on the European mainland till near the beginning of the 18th century. There is also a school of thought that R. Norvegicus's aggression toward R. Rattus and subsequant overtaking of much of their territory may actually have helped end the last epidemic. The domestic rats you are torturing are Rattus Norvegicus, they were not responsible for the deaths you feel you need to avenge.

This is the only herp board I belong to because at least some members realize that feeder animals are living creatures that deserve to be treated with respect. I very much hope SouthB's opinions are not shared by the majority of this board. I'm going to go hug my pet rats now.