Imagine All The Rats : Adoption Request

Before we begin, have you read our Adoption Process?
https://imaginerattery.wixsite.com/website/adoption-process

Please note that the purpose of this form is to initiate a conversation between you (the prospective rat parent) and us (the breeder).
Completing this application is the first step in adopting rats from us.

Why one form for both ratteries?:
While Imagine Rattery & All Rat Rattery remain as 2 independent ratteries, we do work closely together on similar lines. To make things easier, not only for potential adopters, but also for ourselves, we have decided to merge our adoption process.
This means that when submitting an application, you will have the opportunity to receive rittens from either/both ratteries.

Please note that it may take several days to read through and reply to each application.
Once APPROVED, you will be added to our active WAITLIST. (Private Whatsapp group - members will have the first pick of available rittens before they are added to the website/Facebook pages)

IMPORTANT:

This is an extensive form with a lot of information. Please ensure that you email/save a copy of this form so that you can refer back to it if you need to.
You will need to set aside 15 to 30 minutes to complete this form.
Our goal is not to make this difficult for either of us, we do have to read through all these applications.

We love and adore the rats we produce. We put a lot of our time, effort, and heart into our breeding program.
We care about what happens to each and every single one of our rats. We want to ensure that we find forever homes who will love and adore our rats as much as we would.
We have had bad experiences with adopters in the past, and in order to ensure that future rittens get the homes they deserve, we have overhauled our entire application process, which is how this new form came about.

We have noticed that some people can be very impulsive when it comes to getting a new pet.
Yes, it's a very exciting process, but it's also a lot of hard work and commitment.
We want to ensure that potential adopters are aware of the correct way to keep and care for their rats. We want to make sure that having rats as pets is truly something you are prepared for so that, hopefully, in a few months you don't regret it.

It is impossible to include all the information needed in just one form. We will do our best to highlight a few of the most important points.
More information can be found on our websites and Facebook pages. Please make sure you take a look at these before completing this form.

If you have any further questions you are always welcome to contact us.

If this process is too much for you, that is more than okay and understandable.
We are just not the right breeders for you and we wish you well on your journey to adopting pet rats.

PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN COMPLETING THIS FORM.
READ THE DESCRIPTIONS CAREFULLY.
YOU WILL BE DENIED IF YOU DO NOT.

*The completion of this form does not guarantee that your application will be approved. Additional information may be required and home checks will apply.

**If you are a returning adopter/breeder please contact us privately.**

We don't always have rittens available for adoption, and when we do, we have strict terms for all adopters to adhere to. Please note that we do have an extensive waiting list and we operate on a first come first serve basis.

When rittens become available we will make an announcement on our pages and websites. Please make sure that you stay in contact with us and keep an eye on these pages if you would like rittens from us.

IF your application is approved you will be added to a WHATSAPP group where updates on litters and available babies will be shared. You will be able to reserve babies when they are shared to this group.

Our goal is to find the perfect, forever home for our rittens.
We work very hard to produce the rats we have. We plan pairings months in advance and we are constantly communicating with other breeders and expanding our knowledge on genetics so that we can properly develop our lines.
Each life we bring into the world has been meticulously planned and is precious.

We don't want you to feel like you are under interrogation. We just want to get a feel for what you are looking for in a pet rat and what kind of life you would offer to our rittens.
The purpose of this form is to ensure that you have the rats best interests at heart and will provide a forever home.

Please also familiarize yourself with the varieties we breed in order to avoid disappointment.
We will occasionally announce what is to be expected in a line, however, we cannot guarantee that what we predict is what will be available to pet homes.

https://imaginerattery.wixsite.com/website/adoption-process

Imagine Rattery & All Rat Rattery are small hobby breeders. We breed exclusively for ourselves.

We occasionally have some rats we offer to the public as pets, however, we make it very clear that we also donate our rats to various Owl and Reptile rescues.

If you have any questions please visit the following links:https://imaginerattery.wixsite.com/website/faq

• Rittens are available to be RESERVED at 6 weeks of age once your DEPOSIT has been paid. (Available rittens will be posted on our websites/Facebook pages.)
• Rittens will be ADOPTED OUT at/after 8 weeks of age where your FINAL PAYMENT will be made. (Some lines might be kept back longer, individual adopters will be notified.)
• Rittens are sold in SAME SEX PAIRS or larger groups. WE DO NOT SELL SINGLE RATS. (More information about this can be found on our websites/Facebook pages.)
• Adopters must be 18 YEARS OR OLDER. (We do not adopt rats out as pets for children unless an adult will be the primary caregiver and responsible for the rats.)
• Our pricing is dependent on the number of generations the line has, as well as the complexity of the lines variety. Our rats start at R700 for a same-sex pair.
• You must have an APPROPRIATE cage BEFORE being APPROVED and added to the waitlist.
• Your adoption approval can be REVOKED at any stage without prior notice/explanation from the rattery. Our rats are important to us, and if at any stage, we no longer feel like you are a good fit, your application status can be set to denied.
  
  *NB: Deposits are used to purchase adopters boxes, toys, foot, etc for your new baby rittens. If for whatever reason the rat you reserve is no longer available, your deposit can be used towards another rat. If you change your mind and would like a refund, admin fees will apply. 

If you are impatient and want rats IMMEDIATELY, then we might not be the right breeders for you.

We cannot stress this enough: We ARE NOT a pet shop.
We don't have stock of available rats at the drop of a hat.
We are ETHICAL and RESPONSIBLE breeders, we breed with a purpose and have set goals in mind for each and every single rat we produce. Selling is NOT our first goal, we breed with a purpose in mind and do not just flood the market with an abundance of rats.

We understand that we may share pictures of rittens to our pages/websites, but please note that we are often working on several lines, and some of these lines are not yet available to the public.

How long do you have to wait?:

Generally, most of the time when you contact us you will need to be prepared to wait 3 to 6 months for a pair of rats, and depending on the line you might also be waiting upwards of a year.
​
If you want rats with specific markings/colours/coat types/ear types, your waiting time might be a bit longer.

We hope that those coming to us are doing so because they want wonderful, amazing, well-bred rats. This takes time and patience to achieve.

If your application is DENIED:
- You will be notified and reasons for this status will be provided at our discretion.
- You will have the opportunity to re-apply if applicable.

If your application is PENDING:
- You have not yet completed the application and submitted all the necessary information.
- You do not have an appropriate cage.
- We would like to contact you and open up a dialogue to get more information from you about your application.

If your application is APPROVED:
- You will be contacted and added to the private WHATSAPP group.
- All the information you need will be shared with you privately/on the group.

*If you have been approved and no longer want rats, please notify us. If you do not, this may influence your approval for rats in the future.
*If you have received your rats you will be removed from the waiting list group, if you ever want to adopt from us again please contact us privately.
*You are welcome to contact us and ask questions regarding the status of your application at any time.

Please see our Facebook pages/Websites for more information on this process.

RETURNS:
If you no longer want or are no longer able to care for your rat/s, we ask that you return them to us.
We will always take back any rat/s not matter the reason.
Refunds for the rat/s will not be given and the rat/s must be returned at the buyer's expense.

Rats need to be returned in an appropriate cage.

Please note that once you return your rat/s you relinquish all rights to the rat/s. We will then decide if the rats are to be re-homed/retired/etc. We want our rat/s to go to the best quality of life possible, and we will do anything in our power to facilitate this.

REFUNDS:
We will never sell a rat that we don't believe will make an ideal pet with no hormonal/aggression issues. However, if for any reasons you experience these issues with your rats we will do everything in our power to assist you or we will take the rat/s back. if you choose, we will offer a replacement from a future litter where possible.

Deposits are used to purchase adopters boxes, toys, food, etc for your new baby rittens. If for whatever reason the rat you reserve is no longer available, your deposit can be used towards another rat. If you change your mind and would like a refund, admin fees will apply.

https://imaginerattery.wixsite.com/website/adoption-process

I will never advise anyone not to do a proper quarantine. That being said, I understand most pet owners do not from lack of ability or preference and understand it is a personal choice. Your current rats could potentially infect the new babies as well though, which would make our health guarantee impossible to keep without a proper quarantine.

I fully expect you to have done some research on rats before you fill out this request.
If you answer "I don't know" or "please tell me" YOU WILL BE DENIED.

I very much support new owners! But you should have done research on pet rats before wanting to adopt, in order to know if it is something that is right for you and that you can properly care for them.

It may be that their best diet, bedding, care, just will not work for you, your family, home or lifestyle!

We have TONS of information on our websites/Facebook pages. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Please just be open and honest but also be as specific as possible.
If your answers are not specific or do not answer the question, you may be DENIED.

Please be as specific as possible. I am looking for a brand name, dimensions, etc... Telling us "a good large cage" or "3 levels" gives us no real information & does not answer our question at all. If you have not yet purchased a cage we have info on our websites/Facebook pages for cage advice. You MUST have a cage and show proof to be approved. (Also if it is not an approved cage from our website, you should probably message us before you purchase it....)

Rats are seen as exotic animals and require an exotic animal vet. MANY cat/dog vets will NOT see rats.
Exotic vets also charge more than they do for cats/dogs in most cases.

This is important to know before you bring home a new pet. If there is an emergency you do not wish to scramble to find a new vet and hope you are able to travel to them.

We now require everyone who adopts from me to provide us with a name of a local exotic vet that they will be using if needed. You do not need to be a current client, this is literally as simple as contacting the vet and asking if they treat rats. It is just part of being a responsible pet owner.

Trust us, we know this part of the application sucks.

Please do not just assume your current vet will see the rats, and please do not lie we will check!

We will try our best to be prompt with reading and replying to each of the adoption requests. It is dependent on our schedules and how much time we have. We try to answer everyone within a day or two but please know it may take up to a week to respond.

We would like to thank Once Upon a Mischief Rattery & Maineiac Mischief Rattery for letting us borrow and adapt parts of their applications :)