When the rats/mice/ASF are bought/born they are classified as food or pets, a pet will never be food although food can become pet if I want it to be. I don't allow myself to get attached to the food, but I love my pet rats, they are just as important to me as my pet snakes. I deal with the euthanasia of cats and dogs for no reason other than lack of homes while volunteering at the animal shelter and have even held animals for the shot so I guess at least the rats serve a purpose and its necessary for my snakes.