Anonymous asked: I know many rat owners who take them outside, and not one has ever lost a rat. It can happen to any sort of pet, but so can death around the home or even in a cage from unexpected, freak causes. They only seem to love the chance to explore grass and soil and insects and all those amazing things that come with the outdoors; and parasites that can infect rats are not common in most people's yards, or a significant problem with any regular maintenance of their health.
Well, hello intelligent anon! I’m glad none of your friends have lost rats, but it’s still not very safe. :C There are a lot of ways for rats to experience new things without being taken outside, and the risk present when you do really kind of kills the idea, especially when there are much safer alternatives. There are enough actual cases of birds taking away rats that I’m afraid I can’t really call it safe; the odds may not be ridiculously HIGH, but they’re not terribly low, either. Plus, there’s the problem of pesticides, which are used on a lot of lawns and which can be toxic, even in small doses. I wasn’t really joking when I compared it to loosing a dog to play in the road. I’m not the rat police, I can’t stop anyone from doing anything. But I don’t support taking rats outside when you can safely bring pieces of the outdoors to them. It takes only slightly more time, and has almost none of the dangers.
Thanks for not being rude or aggressive!
