Application Process
Policies, please read thoroughly before filling out the application. The application must be fill out in full, in order to be considered. If you are a minor (under 18 yrs old) a parent or guardian MUST fill out the application.
I will keep approved applications for three months after posted litters. If I haven't heard anything from those on the list in those three months I will discard the applications. If someone wants to apply again, they may do so. It will start over after a posted litter if I post anything up for sale. Once I respond to an application email, if a response is not received with in 48 hours, I will discard the application.
This is a closed rattery, meaning I don't allow anyone to come into the my home. This is for my rats protection from outside contagions. If you want to see what my rattery looks like, I'll gladly show you photos. Please email me if you have questions.
I will always get first pick(s) of the litter, usually about 2-3 from each litter. Once I've made my picks, on who's staying, I'll post who's available, on the website. Then interested parties, that have filled out and had their applications approved will be able to pick who they would like. Once I make my picks and post those available , it's then first come first served.
WHY THE APPLICATION AND DO YOU HAVE TO FILL IT OUT?
When I started breeding in 2006, I did not have have applications or contracts for those that got my rats. I was hoping I could trust those that got my rats to be honest and uphold their word. Well that didn't go as hoped. I had ONE person lie to me. I had adopted out two Hairless to her and I tell her (as I tell all that get rats from me) that if you can NO LONGER keep them for what ever reason, you HAVE to give them back to me. She of course promise me this. A few months later, I happen to see that photos she sent me of them and how much she "loved" them, on Craigslist. I emailed her right away asking why they were on there. She gave me one excuse after another. I also reminded her of her promise to return them. I offered to meet her somewhere to pick them up and we made arrangement after arrangement and she kept canceling. I tried everything I could to get them back and eventually she stopped responding. So after that I started with the application and contracts. Do you have to fill it out? NO you don't, but if you want a rat from me and to be placed on my waiting list, then yes it needs to be filled out, it's something all adopters do. My rats are not just rats. I put a lot of effort into what I do in my breeding program. They mean a lot to me and to have them go to a dishonest person. That person made the application happen. I have been blessed to have some wonderful adopters that give my babies, that homes I ask for. Those that don't have problems filling out the application, those honest people. I can't thank you enough.
I prefer to have rats go out in same sex pairs . Rats extremely as social animals. They require the company of their own kind. It's been proven that rats, living with other rats live, longer, happier, healthier and and handle stress easier, then a single rat. Even if you feel you will be this rats best friend, they NEED their own kind. I understand many people already have other rats in their homes (YAY) but when new rats is brought into a new home, with an already established rat colony a quarantine time is necessary. (NO less the 4 weeks) In that time the new baby that has grown up with his litter mates will get VERY lonely and depressed if he does not have a rat friend to spend the quarantine time with. If you can prove that you have a young rat (SAME SEX) of similar age, then we can talk about it. I will also not sell to a home with multi sex home (meaning if they have both sexes in the home, unless they are spayed or neutered ) And if you really want a single rat, then also their health guarantee will be null and void as proper quarantine was not followed, as recommend. I also will not allow any rats to be sold to anyone, that will have their child as the sole care giver for the rats. More often than not that child will soon tire of their the new pet and stop cleaning the cage and caring for the rats on a daily basis, and the rats suffer. The parents then choose not to take over the care and then the rats are neglected and then given away to a shelter or rescue or put to sleep because the parent doesn't want to take over the rats care. I DO NOT want my rats to end up in a shelter/rescue or put to sleep because of irresponsible people, I will not put my rats in this potion.
For the fees for the rats, please check out the "Fees for Each Gene" Page.
Why do I ask "so" much for my rats?
Well because my rats are not the "run of the mill" rats... literally! My rats do not come from pet stores. The rats are pedigreed and the breeders I get them from knew their genetics, temperament and health back ground. I don't pay small fees for new breeding stock. All my rats that are born here, are held daily. Mom is checked daily. I check each ritten out. These big chain pet stores that sell rats, get them from small animal mills. Those rats are bred for ONE purpose only...supply and demand. They are not bred for temperament or health nor are the mill breeders working toward longevity. Their goal is to to sell as many as they can and produce as many as they can. They are sold for pennies on the dollar and a profit is made as they produce so many it's possible. All the fees I get from the rats I sell goes right back into the rattery. I don't even break even. I don't breed enough to come close to breaking even. I breed a few litters a year. I breed to improve my lines. I breed for temperament, health and working on longevity. The little money I get for the rats that go to new approved homes. Helps support the rattery.
After Adoption
I want a relationship with you and the ones that come back to me I really appreciate that you enjoy my babies and want to get more ratties from me again. You will be placed at the top of the waiting list. I wish I could give them away for free, but I have to support them some how, as all the fees go right back into the rattery. I make no profit.
Deposits
Deposits are to be paid via PayPal or money order, NO personal checks are accepted. I prefer PayPal. Deposits are NON-refundable, and is half of the fee. It is to be paid before time of pick up(usually when the pups are about 3 weeks old) to hold the rats. Then at time of pick up, the remainder of the fee is due in cash, no personal checks. For example if you are wanting to adopt standard 2 rats, each rat is $20. The non-refundable deposit with PayPal, is half of the fee plus $1 making the deposit $21, then the other half per rat is due at time of pick up. Non-refundable deposit is due a few weeks before we schedule pick up, then the remainder of the fee is due at that time.
Reservation
Rats posted as available are ready to go home and can be reserved immediately. You have 48 hours to get back to me before being moved to the bottom of the list. If you want to wait for another litter, please let me know. If I am holding a rat longer than one week, after they are ready to go home, and I have not heard from you to schedule a pickup time, then the deposit will be forfeited and the rat will become available again.
MEETING
I don't allow adopters to come to my house, this is for the safety of my family and my rats. I have know rattery friends getting robbed after meeting, what they thought was an interested party and they then get robbed days later. This is nothing personal, but safety for my family is important. Also outside zoonoses can come in on people and I won't risk my rats health. Please be understanding of this.
Waiting list
The waiting list works on who ever is first on the list gets first picks of what's available, second on the list gets second and third gets the third choice and so on and so forth. This is already stated above in the first part of this page at the bottom.
How my reservations work: When rats in a litter are old enough to show markings I will chose which rats I wish to keep, I will always get first pick(s).
The Pick Up
I prefer to arrange to meet on a specific day and location where I can meet multiple people.
- I will pick a time and location and give ample notice to make the trip as efficient as possible with the interest in meeting as many people as possible. This is usually on Saturday or Sunday.
- I will only offer a costume meet up to the person who has paid for their rittens in full prior to this meeting.
- Meet ups on my terms are always free of additional charge, and custom meet ups in Frederick are free of charge (though do require the rittens be paid in full), but any driving required outside of these areas will incur additional fees for gas and time.
- Please remember to bring your own cage for transporting your new rittens, NO cardboard boxes!!!. If a cardboard box is brought at time of pick up I will NOT allow the rats to leave my possession. I don't care how far you have traveled.
- Adopters will be required to sign the contract.
- Final payments for the rittens will be due at this time.
Our Future Together
Our relationship doesn't end when you bring your rittens home. We are available for the life of your rats if you ever need help or advice. We will also take our rats back at any point in their lives should the need arise. We also require the buyers to stay in touch with us. We can gain a better grasp on our lines and wheat we are producing when certain information is made available on all rats produced by us. Help us breed better animals by keeping us informed on your rats progress.
- We require updates on our rats periodically throughout their lives. This will help you know what we are looking for and help us identify any issues within the line.
- We ask that you notify us when the rat(s) die and let us know to the best of your knowledge what the cause of death was. A vet's statement or necropsy would be invaluable.
- Most correspondence is done via e-mail, though we do ask you notify us if there is a change of address, phone numbers and of course e-mail address.
BREEDERS
I do work with breeders, as we all have to start some where, BUT my goal in my breeding program isn't to supply people with rats. It's to improve my lines. Now I can't keep all the babies from each litter and that's why the other pups leave into new homes. I will work with breeders on a case by case basis. BUT understand that I'm going to be picky. I was too lenient only once and that person ruined it for others to come, by NOT returning the stock they got when they decided to not do their program. Breeder stock fees will be more than pet stock fees.
Application must be fill out in full in order to even be considered
I expect timely responses. If you take more then a few days to get back to me, then I don't feel you are committed to the sale, and you will be dropped to the bottom of the list or dismissed all together. You can email me and say that you are going on vacation or what have you, but if nothing is heard after my initial response to your first email. then you have a few days to respond, until your possible adoption is dismissed all together.
Please copy and paste to an email, and email it to
[email protected]
"Please consider your responses to be a binding agreement. If we agree to sell you any animal it is based on your responses to the questions below and any questions posed prior to you taking possession of an animal. In taking possession of an animal from us, you are agreeing that you will not change anything from the responses that we have agreed to. Should you decide, or need, to change your responses to any of these questions (or others posed prior to your taking possession of an animal) it must be discussed with us prior to doing so or it will be considered a breach of the agreement. Should the agreement be breached, we retain the right to reclaim any animals that have been acquired from us."
There are 37 questions below. Understand that ALL must be answered, in order for the application to be considered. If there happens to be some that are unanswered at time of the first review, I will let the applicant know and give them one chance to correct it. I will usually replay quickly. If I don't respond within 48 hours, there is something missing on the application. I get several that have not been completely filled out. If a question doesn't apply, put an "N/A" where the answer would go. I have been trying to be patient and respond to those that fail to answer all of them. I won't do that any more. If I haven't responded with in 12-24 hours, then I highly recommend reviewing your application and look for missed questions. If you are a breeder, please go to the "Breeder Application Page" and fill that out.
Please copy and paste the bellow in red, on to the email. Please fill it out and sent it to [email protected]
1. Date :
2. Age of applicant month and year of birth (you must be at least 18 years old to apply, if under 18 a parent or guardian must full this out)?
3. First and last Name :
4. Full address and zip code :
5. Phone number:
6. Email:
7. Best method of contact?
8. Facebook Name, if different from above (If I am unable to view your Facebook page, I will not approve the application?
9. How did you find out about MAC Rattery, (Google search, if on line please state the source, another breeder or a website with breeder contacts)?
10. Have you applied before, if so have you gotten rats from MAC?
11. Vet reference and number,( even if it's just your normal small animal vets number).
12. Vet reference that sees rats, if it's not the same as your other pets veterinarian:
13. Two personal references (name and relation to you and phone number).
14. Do you rent? If so please provide your landlords number and or email.
15. Are there any smokers in the home and if so where is it done, in or outside the home?
16. Why are you choosing to go through a breeder to get your next pet?
17. How many are you wanting to purchase, one, two or more?
18. Please state what type, color, sex, age you are looking for, if you are looking for a certain color or dislike another please explain why?
19. What are you looking for in a rat (temperament)?
20. Have you ever owned rats before, if so what happened to them?
21. If you haven't had rats in the past, why did you choose them, what experience do you have?
22. If you have had rats in the past or present time, where did they come from?
23. What type of bedding are you or do you use?
24. Where else have you applied, rescues other ratteries, if so where?
25. When are you hoping to get that new family member?
26. Will this be a child's pet, if yes how old is this child?
27. If yes, will an adult be present during the time the child is playing with the rat?
28. If you have other rats in the home, do you plan on quarantining the new arrivals and if so where?
29. What other pets are in the house hold (I'm not going to freak if you say a snake or three, I have two snakes) ?
30. If this is going to be a child's pet, who will be the care giver (cleaning the cage, feeding, watering) of the pet?
31. What type of food do you currently feed or are planning of feeding, where do you buy it?
32. Are you looking for just a pet or are you hoping to breed, if you are a breeder please put your goals and what you are hoping to achieve in the rat you are applying for, and please list your website?
33. IF approved, and at some point you can no longer keep the rats from MAC Rattery, are you will to return the rats, as part of the contract signed at time of pick up?
34. If you have never had rats or handled them, have you ever had an allergic response to them?
35. Are you aware and understand that there is a fee that goes along with the rat(s) and a deposit that is NON REFUNDABLE!!!????
36. Do you currently have rats in your home, if so what are their sexes and are they spay or neutered?
37. Do you understand that, MAC Rattery has the right to refuse ANY application for any reason without needing to notify applicant, or give an explanation as to why that applicant was refused?
38. Did you fill out all the questions? Remember that if any are left black, the application will be rejected.
By submitting this application you acknowledge that MAC Rattery has the right to deny your application for any reason and in the event you are approved you will have to sign a contract.
All the above must be filled out, if not the application will not be considered.
IF you are unsure about a question please email and ask.