WANTED: GOOD HOME AND RAT DIET PLAN
RATS Harry and Ron just need a little bit of help to tip the scales in their favour.
The pair are only supposed to weigh about 500g grams each, but Harry is 650g while Ron tips the scales at a staggering 785g.
Animal Welfare League of Queensland education programs co-ordinator Kathryn Calthorpe said the two besties were now available for adoption from the Coombabah shelter – with one condition.
“They will need an experienced ratty owner to help them lose weight,” she said. “Otherwise this weight can shorten their already short life spans.”
Ms Calthorpe said the pair had been given a clean bill of health from the shelter vets, but needed to get more exercise and to reduce their food intake.
She said potential owners needed to feed them a good quality food including fresh fruit and vegetables and to avoid sugars and starches.
“As much as they like toast and sweet treats, it’s not healthy,” she said. “Like other pets, they were loved a little bit too much.”
Harry and Ron were recently returned to the shelter one year after being adopted out due to a lack of pet-friendly accommodation.
Ms Calthorpe said the pair were originally found at a Molendinar home over a year ago in an outside run with guinea pigs “in squalid conditions”.
She said rats made wonderful pets.