62 replies to this topic

[Elyse]

Let's not forget here that this is the news media we are talking about. They will twist everything, leave things out, and make it seem like everything is much more terrible then what it seems. To the people that know the truth get it out to the misinformed population but in a way that doesn't make you sound like your being pushy. This was a terrible thing that happened and I truly wish that the news would report these things properly instead of making us go into fear paranoid mode (like always). 

[morozova]

For more information on Rat Bite Fever, I recommend visiting this site to clarify some of the comments above.
My heart goes out to Aidan's family, and it is truly sad about what happened. He sounded like a great kid, he'll be missed.

I just read about a 13 year old boy who bought a rat from pet-co and died the next day. As pet-co is known for not treating there animals correctly, I am not surprised this has happened. The boy died from a disease his rat had, it was a bacterial infection. This just adds to the fact that you should always be very careful when buying a new small animal. If your hamster/rat/mouse ever bites you or scratches you, clean the wound immediately and disinfect it.

To read more about this subject, go to this link. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/child-dies-infected-rat-family-sues-petco-22671659

Remember to always be very very careful with your pets.

Stay safe everyone


ChocolateChip

I'd like to question this, if I may.

The article says the fever onset happens about three weeks after the contact, after the cut/bite heals. ChocolateChip said that he died the next day. How is that possible, if the symptoms happen about three weeks after contact? Either there is misunderstanding, the article is wrong, or he was infected by some other source and he just happened to get a rat the day before his death.

Now, about that third option. I highly doubt that he would be going out and getting a rat when he was almost at death from the fever. It would seem pretty obvious that he would be in no condition to get a pet. I think there is misunderstanding/misinformation somewhere in here, or the boy's parents were ignorant/not smart about this or the boy somehow hid it from his family. Does anyone agree with me here?...

Edited by SquishySquids, 28 February 2014 - 10:52 AM.

[IttyBitty]

I'd like to question this, if I may.

The article says the fever onset happens about three weeks after the contact, after the cut/bite heals. ChocolateChip said that he died the next day. How is that possible, if the symptoms happen about three weeks after contact? Either there is misunderstanding, the article is wrong, or he was infected by some other source and he just happened to get a rat the day before his death.

Now, about that third option. I highly doubt that he would be going out and getting a rat when he was almost at death from the fever. It would seem pretty obvious that he would be in no condition to get a pet. I think there is misunderstanding/misinformation somewhere in here, or the boy's parents were ignorant/not smart about this or the boy somehow hid it from his family. Does anyone agree with me here?...

 

If you look at the article, it states that he began showing symptoms of his illness weeks after the adoption.

That is all I will say for now. I'm not comfortable debating the subject, as what happened was truly heart breaking and I can't imagine how hard it must be for the family.

[Poofthecat]

I'm probably going to be the (EXTREMELY) odd one out, but this is how my state of mind has been since I knew what an animals was so..
Poor rattie! He's probably getting all the blame for something he did not intend

But the little boy is very tragic :( such a shame.. And everyone tries to blame someone but really nobody could've stopped it. If it wasn't that boy it would've been someone else ya know?

[chocolatechip]

He DID NOT DIE the next day! It took around 2 weeks for this to become fatal, and you must remember (at least to my knowledge) that a rat carrying this will NOT be sick in any form, at least from what we can see. This is tragic, yes, but there can't be blame solely on Petco.

yes your right, I apologize for the misunderstanding!!! It was 2 weeks everyone

[morozova]

Oh lol I feel so stupid now xD

[RedResilience]

I just feel like throwing my two cents in here because I have a very strong opinion on the subject. >< But I do agree that his death was tragic and horrible. Nobody should have to go through that or die because of innocent mistakes and poor quality breeders.

 

I have a few problems with this situation in general. It says, first of all, that the rat was for a ten year old boy. In my opinion, rats are not the best pets for little boys. Despite popular belief rats need a lot of care and attention. They are complex animals and need to be trained, played with for at least an hour every day, and given the proper space and care. This would be impossible for a ten year old boy to even think of accomplishing.

 

Secondly, the grandmother bought him the rat. Rats are not the type of pet that you just pick out and give to someone. The boy and his parents should have been in the store and should have picked out the rat together. Rats are always communicating with us, and maybe he would have picked a different rat if they had all taken some time to observe all of the rats. Rats rarely ever bite and perhaps a friendlier rat would have made it's presence known. I am guessing the grandma said "just pick one" and went with it. Yes, she had good intentions, but they were also uneducated and poor.

 

Third, apparently the ten year old wanted his rats to "get married" so his grandmother bought him a rat of the opposite sex. First of all you should NEVER breed animals unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing (and even then the world has enough animals). Secondly it is a very very bad idea to just stick two rats of the opposite sex in a cage without monitoring them or taking any precautions, which is what I'm assuming they did. This could have made the rat agressive and upset and thus caused him to bite the boy out of fear and stress.

 

And finally, Petco did have them sign a release paper when they purchased the rat, stating that they are not responsible for anything that happens and that animals do carry dieseases. They also have warnings in the store and online. As much as I have problems with Petco, it was not their fault. The breeder is to blame.

 

I just feel like this could all have been avoided if people actually LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT A PET BEFORE THEY GET IT. So many people throw an animal in a cramped cage with a companion they've never met and then wonder why it isn't friendly. It is my biggest pet peeve when people come in to PetSmart and basically say, "I want a hamster but I don't want to spend a lot of money or take care of it, so what are the cheapest and crappiest options you have?" When I try to educated people and show them our best products, they ignore me and buy the animal prisons, as I like to call them. This is why animal die. This is why people get bitten. This could all be avoided with a little research and a lot more respect for animals...

[Fudge&Sassy]

It's not common, Plus if he was bit most people clean it. If he did i fell sorry but it can happen with any  animals. I mean its right next to a dog or cat

[MegaHamster]

Lets all sit around for HH Moderator to lock this thread now for name-calling, or linking to another site... or le GASP 

 

ARGUING 

[Mika]

Lets all sit around for HH Moderator to lock this thread now for name-calling, or linking to another site... or le GASP 

 

ARGUING 

 

I hate to have to call anyone out, but I feel like this comment was rather confusing. No one has called another

names nor have there really been any potential sparks for an argument. Unless I'm blind and don't see them at all 

 

There will be discussions and disagreements to a topic like this, especially with the aspects of the article the way it is.

But i don't think it's wrong for these members to feel the way they do either. I'm sure you might feel the same way if it

were a topic involving something you're passionate about, like many of these members to the idea of owning rats ^_^

I know that I can agree with a lot of what's been said, and by various members, so i don't see a fault in it, in my opinion.

Edited by Mika, 07 March 2014 - 11:03 AM.

[MegaHamster]

I hate to have to call anyone out, but I feel like this comment was rather confusing. No one has called another

names nor have there really been any potential sparks for an argument. Unless I'm blind and don't see them at all 

 

There will be discussions and disagreements to a topic like this, especially with the aspects of the article the way it is.

But i don't think it's wrong for these members to feel the way they do either. I'm sure you might feel the same way if it

were a topic involving something you're passionate about, like many of these members to the idea of owning rats ^_^

I know that I can agree with a lot of what's been said, and by various members, so i don't see a fault in it, in my opinion.

I'm talking about how the HH Moderator sometimes just comes along and be like

 

"Oh i'm sorry but I dont like how you all are linking a topic/video/etc and I'll remove that link." Dont you see how he/she normally does that? It's getting on my nerves. That or he'll/she'll come around and remove parts of a person's sentence and it really bothers me. 

 

I'm sorry for getting off topic real quick but I really need to mention that and I'll get back on topic. *_* 

 

I just wanted to know if anyone felt the same way as I did, you could PM me about that if you dont want to get this thread off topic. 

[Lon]

 

 

"Oh i'm sorry but I dont like how you all are linking a topic/video/etc and I'll remove that link." Dont you see how he/she normally does that? It's getting on my nerves. That or he'll/she'll come around and remove parts of a person's sentence and it really bothers me. 

 

 

It's their job and responsibility. The video or part of post would be 99% of the time, against HH rules

Edited by Iris ♥, 07 March 2014 - 11:20 AM.

[MegaHamster]

It's their job and responsibility. The video or part of post would be 99% of the time, against HH rules

i just have been having anxeities i guess and maybe need someone to talk to... IDK? I dont mean to blame it on anyone. Though, the thing is I tend to blame it on everyone else *sighs* 

[LoriS]

The part that gets me: This was MY PetCo in MY home town... So now, people here are trying to pass ordinances to ban ALL pet rodents.
Ummmmm.... Hello, every heard of cat-scratch fever (I say as directed towards my neighbors)? No one in good ol' Santee is petitioning to ban cats!
I recently got bit by a chuhuahua and had 14 puncture wounds, had to get a tetnus shot and antibiotics.

It truly is a tragedy. But how many rats are sold each year and how many cases are there of this type of thing happening. PLUS.... For all we know, the rat could have got strep in his cage at their house if the cage hadnt been properly maintained.

I was wondering if any of you had heard of this story. This is soooooooooooooooooo typical for people from Santee to pull these kind of Shenanigans. The focus shouldn't be on the rat, it should be on the little boy who lost his life and on ways to help his family.
AND
Focus on educating people on hygeine and proper care of small animals.
Personally, I have anti-bacterial hand sanitizer by each bin or cage and use it before and after handling each pet.

Edited by LoriS, 07 March 2014 - 02:47 PM.

[Dusk]

If you're confused just PM HH Moderator. Dont talk about it on completely irrelevant topics.