#rat rescue

[tesseractj]

Because the last post was so sad, here a happy Piper pic. She's doing so well, I'm very proud with this rat. She's getting braver and more trusting every day. She's a real sweetie too.

[veganspaghettios]

This is Nosh "Noshua", third pic is the original post his first mom found him through. I took him in from her because he was a biter and I diagnosed him with a case of needing a change in environment after trauma.

He's got an appointment to see the vet but he's already in the process of passing. I've been giving him steam time a few times a day, and taking naps with him as often as possible. His one request is laying with me right now, and I, for one, cannot tell him no. The first night I made a pallet on the rat room floor and just slept in there with him as long as I could.

[rattyioli]

A few days ago I came across a very serious hoarding and abuse case going on about 4 hours away from me in Ohio. luckily a rescue has been able to get some of the rats out and they're receiving medical care and lots of love. Any of you who can go to the pipsqueakery facebook page to give them some support would be appreciated, even if it's just liking their posts to get the info out there. these poor babies need lots and lots of love.

[mandsleanan]

To be loved....

Is to be changed.

[fbwzoo]

..... anyone in or near Kansas City and have or want male rats? Found a post of a boy alone in a critter trail 😭 we can't take him but I could drive him a couple hours this weekend....

[glynnisi]

Captain Ratmerica?

(ShieldShock Ficlet- Darcy Lewis/Steve Rogers) for my 'Rapid Imaginings' collection

(Read on Ao3 instead)

It wasn't Darcy's first lab explosion. It might have been the largest. It was her first time that an explosion took down an entire building with it. The science building of the Avengers' Upstate Base was destroyed.

Darcy was still inside.

If you make your own luck? Darcy was a lucky, self-rescuing princess.

For years, she'd dealt with Jane's lab explosions. So, she knew how to read indicators. She knew which lab counter had been constructed to withstand getting stomped by the Hulk. She saw the indicators hit 'red' and she ducked under the right lab counter. So, when the building collapsed, Darcy didn't die. She wasn't even injured much. She had some scratches from fallen debris.

But, she was stuck.

Buried.

It was dark. The only noises she heard clearly were the sounds of shifting rubble and a far-off claxon that elevated her heart rate more. She urged herself to stay calm because she didn't have much oxygen left- easier said than done. No phone signal. She kept the phone in her hand, in case that changed. She fidgeted with the phone and with her engagement ring. She really wanted to live and make it to that wedding.

Hours passed.

The damned claxon blared on. Darcy hated the claxon. She loved the claxon. She began to wonder about the claxon.

She leaned against the counter leg, knees up and arms wrapped around them. The space under the counter was mostly-rubble free. She listened, not sure what she hoped to hear. She stared at the too-black darkness, hoping to see light.

Squeak

Darcy fumbled with her phone and turned on the flashlight, hardly able to see at first.

Squeak

She shrieked and flailed, "Go, away, rat! Nooooo! Don't eat my face."

"Darcy? Is that you? Oh, thank God!"

Darcy stopped screaming and nearly passed out, dizzy. "The rat's talking? I cracked. I'm insane. Steve? I..."

"Darcy. Calm down. You're not insane. Well, not very insane. The rat is trained to find survivors. He won't hurt you, honey. He's there to help me get you out."

Darcy's mouth fell open. "Captain Ratmerica? I mean... What?"

*muffled, relieved chuckle* "There's a two-way radio on the rat, Darcy. This is Steve. We're gonna get you out. What's your situation? There's a lot of interference. The explosive residue is emitting false heat signatures. Where were you when the building fell?"

"My situation is that I'm under a ton of rubble with a talking rat," Darcy groused. "Other than that, I'm fine. Late for our dinner date, but fine."

Squeak

"Are you wearing a backpack, Ratmerica? Oh, my God. That's adorable." Darcy let out a tense breath. "I'm under my lab counter, the Hulk-stomp-proof one? Limited air. Captain Ratmerica should leave and stop breathing my air."

Rubble shifted more. There were scraping and falling-rock noises. Crashing sounds. Darcy put her face down against her knees and hoped the rat wouldn't get squashed. Or touch her.

A hint of air movement blew into her under-table bubble. "Air?"

Then, everything changed. There was light and air and everything was dusty. And, she was in Steve's arms and she was okay. He carried Darcy out, bridal style, whispering, "got you, love. You're gonna be okay."

"What about Captain Ratmerica?" Darcy laugh-cried against her fiancé's shoulder.

Squeak

-END

-inspired by the rescue rats post

[bellsn-whistles]

saw a rat being kept alone in a tiny cage on my local buy/sell website and it has ruined my day. the poor thing was being sold WITH her tiny cage and the listing described her as a “perfect first pet.” i’ve posted about her on local facebook rat groups hoping someone can give her a good home but my goodness the amount of despair i feel for this little creature

[otterpuppss]

ALSO I forgot to post it but Frankie's world put out a really cute calendar to help the ratties there- my art is on the front so I'm legally obligated to post it lol dm them at their insta @frankiesworldrescue if you want one