Yesterday, I was bitten by a rat…. 🐀

If you are that concerned about rats, mice and possibly birds being ‘tortured’ I think you have the wrong pets.

You really are kind.

All is well, which (sort of) ends well

You do sound extremely kind.

However, you may be brought other small furry creatures from your gorgeous pup when he is older.

Keep some gardening gloves, plastic bags and a spade close at hand!

I’m afraid that if I thought rats were living under my shed, I would get in touch with pest control to deal with them. They breed rapidly, can do a lot of damage to wiring, etc, and are a huge health risk. They are not something I would want running about in my garden if I knew they were there.

Shinamae

MissAdventure

Ah, I missed the part about ratty dying in the night.
Apologies, I thought he was still alive and suffering, with no chance of fending for himself.

I went to see him 6:30 am he was barely alive. I went down again at 9:30 and he had gone. I’ve got to dig in a little grave….. can’t bear to put him in the rubbish or in the compost ..😢

Make sure you wear gloves then, and bury it deep so it isn’t dug up.

ViceVersa

It's what Patterdales were bred for. The pup would have acted on instinct and would have put the rat out of its misery without any interference. No bite, no hand-wringing...

Excuse me, I’m not hand wringing….

Jaxjacky

If you are that concerned about rats, mice and possibly birds being ‘tortured’ I think you have the wrong pets.

Well, that’s your opinion..
I’m not stupid. I know how nature works…

Ziplok

I’m afraid that if I thought rats were living under my shed, I would get in touch with pest control to deal with them. They breed rapidly, can do a lot of damage to wiring, etc, and are a huge health risk. They are not something I would want running about in my garden if I knew they were there.

All God’s creatures, why should we decide whether they live or die?
As long as they keep themselves to themselves, I’m not going interfere with them. I suspect now that that young rat was probably ill anyway as he was out in the daylight and I think it’s quite rare for rats to be out unless it’s dark.

Shinamae

Ziplok

I’m afraid that if I thought rats were living under my shed, I would get in touch with pest control to deal with them. They breed rapidly, can do a lot of damage to wiring, etc, and are a huge health risk. They are not something I would want running about in my garden if I knew they were there.

All God’s creatures, why should we decide whether they live or die?
As long as they keep themselves to themselves, I’m not going interfere with them. I suspect now that that young rat was probably ill anyway as he was out in the daylight and I think it’s quite rare for rats to be out unless it’s dark.

That’s my take on it. I’ll leave you alone if you leave me alone. If not I’ll try things like using essential oils ( peppermint seemed to get rid of the ants that try a little invasion once a year). The waspinator seems to have deterred the wasps this year. But if that doesn’t work I move on to the extermination bit if it poses a risk to my health or my dogs. On the other hand I will never accept that ticks perform anything useful on this planet…oh how I loathe them!

Chestnut

I couldn't watch an animal suffer like that. If there was no man around I would grit my teeth and hit him over the head with a hammer a few times. I just can't bear to think of the pain that animal could be in. Just do it. 🥺😢

Oh my God, I could never do that to any animal,hit it over their head with a hammer so all it’s blood and brains go everywhere no thank you.. 😱

Sago

We had a Patterdale Terrier, I miss her every single day.

I’m trying to put a photo of Duke who is Patterdale cross border terrier and 16 weeks old but it keeps saying the image is too big and I have put bigger images on before this is my last try 🤷‍♀️

MT62

Ooh you are brave 🤣I don’t like rats.
Funnily enough I watched a YouTube last night, clip of a woman who keeps them as pets… so clever, doing tricks & all sorts.
I think it’s the teeth & tail that puts me off.

Pet rats are different, though. They're born in captivity.

I think they make amazing pets (much better than gerbils or even rabbits) but I really dislike wild ones.

Lollin

25Avalon can you tell me where you bought your ultra sonic pest repellent from? I had one for years but it stopped working and I know they do not all work, so if you’re happy to recommend I’d be grateful.

I think I got it from Coopers of Stortford. It’s a plug in with a night light that emits electro magmatic and ultra sonic waves. There were two in a pack and it’s by Pestreach. It’s also ok if you have a dog. Idk how well it works but no rats or mice or spiders even 🤞atm.

And this is where he is buried wrapped in two freezer bags and a good amount of disinfectant sprayed on the top…😇

You buried it in a pot?!

That must be the best send off a rat’s ever had 😁

Oreo

You buried it in a pot?!

Wrapped in plastic?

Shinamae

I have a new puppy patterdale cross with border terrier,16 weeks old (and I know his breed is a ratter) and he gets on very well with my young cat about 15 months old. My older cat George is nine he wants nothing to do with either of them. He will just sit and look very aloof if they are performing which they do rolling around in the grass with each other.
Anyway, I digress, Yesterday morning I let Duke out for his run around my garden,is quite big and even though the ground isn’t hot at this time of morning the Sun is still beating down so I will not take him out for a walk til about 9pm this. He can run around in the garden and come in when he’s finished.
In the morning he was down the bottom of the garden and he was barking quite frantically. I knew he had something there when I went. It was a terrified little rat. I pulled Duke off and put him indoors went to get the rat picked him up. Was trying to walk him to safety and he bit me.I know he must’ve been terrified so I don’t hold a grudge against being bitten by him 😵‍💫
111 advised a tetanus the Hospital after being checked, I haven’t had a tetanus jab since 99
So I got two buses to get to local A&E long story short They basically washed the wound with iodine they put a dressing on. and gave me some antibiotics and that was it basically
I came home let the dog out and he went straight to the place he went before and that the poor rat he had moved at all. I don’t think he could move, so I picked him up again (I probably shouldn’t, but did it because I don’t like to see anything in a state of fear 😰 )
Anyway I put him in a little container with some grass and some water and thought he really not gonna make it, but I’d assume that he would pass away in peace and quiet and out being pounced upon by dogs and cats
I have been out this morning he’s still alive, but his back legs are damaged and I don’t think he’ll survive. I am going to ring my vet and see if anything can be done.
I know, I probably do have rats under my Shed and that’s my business before anybody jumps on me, I do have two cats and now a terrier as well, so I’m hoping that the head of the family will be talking to the family of rats and say” Hey, it was bad enough with two cats now she’s got a blinking terrier. We really must move on.”
I will not poison down or set nasty traps (I don’t want any creature to die in agony)Have seen him this morning and he seems very weak. I think his back legs have been damaged so like I say I will get hold of my vet…

a small container in my small shirt with a bit of grass and some water

Ahh does look quite cute though 😊

Ahh does look quite cute though

Dead cute now!

Chestnut

I couldn't watch an animal suffer like that. If there was no man around I would grit my teeth and hit him over the head with a hammer a few times. I just can't bear to think of the pain that animal could be in. Just do it. 🥺😢

Now there is a lot of us suffering on here, would you hit us over the head with a hammer 🤣🤣🤣

merlotgran

^Ahh does look quite cute though^

Dead cute now!

🤦‍♀️🤣🤣

shysal

I keep a rubber mallet in the house, ready to finish off any badly injured animals brought in by my cat. It is a hard thing to do, but the kindest. I wouldn't think of taking your rat to the vet, you have to be cruel to be kind and put it out of its misery.

Probably charge her a fair amount to put the thing down 😩

Just so you know……

Shinamae

Just so you know……

Ahh good to know 👍🏻

I took an injured bird to a local vets and they treated it free of charge although it didn’t survive.