Apologies for late replies, I've been so tired and busy. Plus... I sunburned the top of my head! Grr. Weird when you have an itch on the top of your crown and it just burns to try to get the little itch. I live in upper Midwestern America, so our summers get pretty intense here. Standing outside when it's sunny and 82 degrees F (~ 27-28 degrees C) is absolutely miserable.
Okay, time for responses.
People on Craigslist/Kijiji! *facepalms* I took Callum home for $300 USD, not including cage, his bajillion toys, bajillion food and water bowls, and just about anything else he needs. People definitely see animals as just a money thing. Anyone who asks more than a $100 on Craigslist is just looking to sell, not rehome. I SORT OF understand a small rehoming fee, to keep away the flippers and to keep away the bad type of impulse purchasing (those who buy a bird to get a bird and have zero worry for the bird's safety and have no intention of researching and keeping the bird healthy), but ideally I'd like that they hand over the animal(s).
I frequently pick up unwanted pet rats off of Craigslist. While I would love to take the animals for free, some people immediately stop responding to you when you won't offer money and some of the rats I've picked up rats in some.... Bad conditions. Really bad. I'd rather pay to get the rats out of the situation than have them be sold as snake food or to someone unaware of what owning rats are like. As someone's already mentioned, mice are clever little buggers and rats are no different! Mine know their names, how to get kisses, what treats are, etc. Rats are smart enough to learn and remember commands/tricks, grieve over lost mischief members, seek their human out for love and comfort, etc. Are rats for everyone? No. Would I recommend a rat for everyone? So long as they're ready to fall deeply in love with such a tiny creature and then say goodbye almost as soon. It broke my heart to lose my baby, Gideon. They very much feel like miniature dogs with bald tails and long whiskers.
At least where I live, people who own birds seem to be incredibly rude... I'm not saying every bird owner is rude or whatever, just for whatever reason, I run into the really mean ones. And they all live at least two hours away and I'm just 30mins from my state's capitol... Maybe the means ones are attracted to Craigslist and that's how I meet them
Shame, if that's how it is.
I'm a bit possessive in the fact that I don't like people just walking straight into where Callum is sitting and just getting in his face. He's patient to a point, but the instant that's crossed, he gets crabby and then I deal with that long after they're gone. He and I usually have screaming fests to relieve stress afterwards LOL! I scream into a pillow, he hears me, immediately responds, I do it again, and it continues on... I know, I need new friends who can handle this extremely exotic and fascinating thing that is my little Callum.
As for the horsey, her name is Patches. The vet recommended that she continues walking the affected leg so that it doesn't become stiff and scar in a way that'll affect movement after the healing process is done. She's definitely improved since last Friday. She's walking a lot better and I'm keeping the area clean. Only problem is the horse flies. They love to land next to her injury and even with her and I's relationship, someone could pay me and I still wouldn't slap a horse fly right next to her wound.... I'll get the other spots though. I guess I'm a bit of the little miracle worker with her around the ranch. She's a stubborn old lady that loves to follow me around. Even the ranch owner can't always get her to do things and once I step in, she'll do what she's asked like "Fiiiiiiiine...."
I was honestly a little scared coming in last Monday. I was afraid she wouldn't make it the weekend. Thankfully she did. I guess me getting involved made her adamant that she wasn't going anywhere yet.
The vet also told us to keep the area as dry as possible and let it do the draining. She's had shots of antibiotics and painkillers as this has progressed, so she's not going at it alone.
Never been shot with a BB and don't know that I intend to ever try it. I already have poor knees for being in my early 20's.
I totally understand wanting to be a Mauler when you meet/see an animal for the first time. I understand the want to feel and experience a rat for the very first time. But those who have met the animal, yet constantly need to handle, pet, bug, etc. the rat need to back off a bit. My rats are incredibly tolerant and quite loving, but they do need personal time, away from the humans.
Ugh, it frustrates me for those people who treat budgies and finches differently! When I first got my little Burd, I was definitely in the same boat of "oh, he's just a little parakeet, he isn't like a real parrot." Now that I have a "real parrot" I know better. Makes me mad and embarrassed that I thought that way and try to teach others differently. However, for someone interested into getting a "real parrot" one day, I would definitely recommend a budgie first with PROPER care so people can get the feel of a bird. Of course, Burd was and never would have been as loud as Callum, as messy as Callum, but he craved my attention and love just as much as Callum. In my books, if someone can handle the budgie sqwuaks, they MAY be able to handle the parrot shrieks. Never hurts to meet the bird of your dreams first.
As for just jamming two birds together with zero care for the aftereffects.... Jeez. Feel like someone of that age should know better, especially when it's not even their bird to begin with!
One day, I'd love to get a little backpack for Callum and bring him out with me. I'd probably have the backpack on my chest just so he can see me and feels a little safer. I'm sure he'd love to see the world from outside my home...
Anyone who gets mad when my animal bites them is generally removed from my life instantly. Huge dealbreaker for me-- if you can't handle my animals, you can't handle me. I always value my animals first, sorry sweetheart. I have yet to have a backstabbing bird or a lying rat. Even my snake is more honorable than some people. (To those who are concerned, no the snake is not in the same room as any of my animals, none of my animals are fed to the snake, and the snake is never handled when the birds or rats are out).
I understand animal phobias until it becomes "You have to move YOUR bird out of YOUR house because I'M here and I'M afraid of birds." Bird was here first and bird tends to be a better companion. Sorry, but the bird stays, you can leave. Plus, I generally don't appreciate people bossing me around in my own home or with my companions.
I have arachnophobia, but I can handle a caged tarantula. Where I live in the US, we're MOSTLY free of venomous spiders, but yeah. If the animal makes me uncomfortable, I'll just decline from going over there and making a fuss.
One last thing about rats-- my boys never stink! Litterboxes and litterbox trained rats are a dream. I also do clean them and their cage frequently. I have an all-male group, intact, and they all live in harmony, beg for kisses, beg for treats, and are just great cuddlebuddies.
I look forward to Grady, my TAG, doing more of this. He and I are still new to one another, but it has happened a few times.
. I went for coffee beans in the pantry this morning and a huntsman ran across my hand. I startled Ellie with my shriek and sent my hubby running to the rescue. He saves spiders, flies etc...but today he asked if I would like him to kill it or set it free...I said kill it...he didn't, just laughed at me LOL...
...now where were we???
lol.
