Yesterday, I was bitten by a rat…. 🐀

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!

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.

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…

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….

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.

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 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!

You really are kind.

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

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 ..😢

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’m a humanist and I’m not sure that this is a religious issue Shinamae 🤔. I just think you seem a very kind and caring person.

MissAdventure

The kindest, quickest dispatch method would be to let Duke do the job.
Over in a couple of minutes, instead of however many hours this has taken until now.

The thing is, Duke was not doing “his job” He was doing what he does with the cat pouring at it and trying to play with it anyway, as I’ve said the poor thing died during the night…😢
I know there’s a lot of Christians on this site. I am not a Christian. I’m an agnostic but still, I will not see anything suffer if I can see a way to help it.

pably15

Get pest control in ,you say you think they're under your hut, so they can get into your house,they carry disease especially in their urine, some of my neighbours and myself had rats in our houses, we contacted the pest control who came out and put poison down,then came back the following 2 weeks, to make sure they had been at the poison.and I'd let your neighbours know to be on the lookout.

I will not be doing that!!

Luckygirl3

Surprised you were not given tetanus.

Let the wee rat die. Or it will grow into a big rat that will reproduce at an alarming rate and infest your garden. Goodbye wee rat! Time to be recycled!

I checked on it earlier and it has died. I did have a booster tetanus.

Esmay

I would kill the rat .
It's suffering .
If there's one rat -there are more and your dog will seek them out .
It's his natural instinct.
I hope that the bite will not cause you any problems.
Please wear gloves next time if you must touch them.
I would not allow rats to breed under my shed -they are a health risk.
I know that you are tender hearted and kind !

I know some people who look like they could be a house risk and I certainly wouldn’t let them live under my Shed! 😱
As the rats don’t pay rent they shouldn’t be living there 😁but I don’t mind, as I have two cats and now a Patterdale I really think the head of the family should be saying “ We really ought to move now because she’s got two cats and that damn dog”
I know the cat has got a couple in the past and I’m sure when Duke is old enough he probably will as well and that will be nature far as I’m concerned,I will not put poison under the Shed to give those poor animals a disgraceful very painful death I would not do that. They can take their chances with the cats and dog.
About the glove thing yes it probably was an unwise thing to do but I was in the moment if I had gone to get gloves which hadn’t entered my head that poor little rat would’ve been even more terrified..

Shinamae

ViceVersa

Should have just let the dog deal with the rat. That's what I would have done.

What you would left another animal to be terrified out of its wits to be tortured by a dog would you?
Well, I wouldn’t

It wasn't meant to sound harsh. It would have been the easiest way to deal with the situation and you would have avoided getting bitten and all the potential consequences from that. When it comes down to it, if it's a choice between leaving the dog to deal with the rat (as it was bred to do) or letting a human get bitten by the rat, it's no contest really. That's the brutal reality of it.
I've lost count of the amount of 'casualties' I've had to deal with from our dogs (and cats) over the years. 'Nature, red in tooth and claw'.

ViceVersa

Should have just let the dog deal with the rat. That's what I would have done.

What you would left another animal to be terrified out of its wits to be tortured by a dog would you?
Well, I wouldn’t

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.

Often ferrets are used to clear farms overrun with rats.

I've watched on youtube, farms that are overrun with rats, and men with teams of patterdales that are called in to deal with the problem.
The dogs love it - the rats, not so much.
The dog just shake the rat, and its over in seconds.

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...

You were kind to help the rat to escape from the dog, but now you have to be equally kind and put him out of his misery.
And keep an eye on your bite and how you feel in yourself. 🤞

I hope your vet will be able to put it out of its misery Shinamae or as 25Avalon has suggested, you could contact the RSPCA.

I hate rats but couldn't walk away knowing my dog was killing it and doubt I'd have had the courage to pick it up either. I think you're both brave and compassionate.

The kindest, quickest dispatch method would be to let Duke do the job.
Over in a couple of minutes, instead of however many hours this has taken until now.