The Chatsworth 24

On Wednesday, April 10th, 2002, an undetermined number of black and cream hooded domestic rats were dumped at the West Valley Animal Control and Care Center in Chatsworth, California. The abandoned animals were left crammed together, male and female in an extremely small cage, until euthanasia procedures could be undertaken on Friday.

The shelter was never able to give rescuers an exact number of animals in need; to the best of our knowledge, the final count was somewhere between twenty-four and thirty. Before the Friday euthanasia deadline, at least seven rats were adopted out into loving homes. After intense negotiations with the shelter director, the euthanasia deadline was extended until Sunday, at 4:00 PM.

After an exhaustive publicity effort between various internet lists and small animal rescues, more rats were adopted into safe and loving homes on Saturday; however, a large number of animals still waited at the shelter on Sunday morning, including a number of potentially pregnant females.

At noon on Sunday, the remainder of the rats, both male and female, were 'bailed out' and sexed, then distributed across the Los Angeles area to various rescues and individuals.

Despite West Valley's assertion that, "no one wanted rats", every single rat was rescued and placed into either a permanent home or foster care. There are a number of extremely disturbing points about this episode:

• West Valley had no intention of actively trying to adopt out the rats. If the problem had not been brought to the attention of a local rescue, a large group of innocent rats would have been euthanised for no particular reason. The shelter justified their stance by stating West Valley is a 'dumping ground' for unwanted animals, and shelter resources are over-taxed. In addition, because the adoption fee for rats is only one dollar, West Valley must balance 'advertising' animals that will provide herpers with a cheap food source against any possible adoptions. (Legal Note: City of Los Angeles shelters are not permitted to screen adopters.)
  
  
• One female rat was found on Saturday to have a badly mangled tail; medical care was only offered after a concerned visitor pointed out the problem. The rat still required veterinary attention on Sunday after being adopted, in addition to two additional females with ear infections.
  
  
• The abusive woman who dumped the rats requested her cage be returned after her 'pets' were dead, and the shelter indicated they would comply. Nothing will prevent this unknown woman from simply filling the cage up again - and dumping more rats at a future date. And no one seems to know how such an appalling situation developed in the first place. (Legal Note: Because the cage was initially left at the shelter with the understanding it would be returned, West Valley must now return the cage to avoid being possibly charged with theft.)

• At this time, three female rats are receiving veterinary attention. One female, 'Monkee', has had her injured tail amputated in order to make the remainder of her life more comfortable and prevent infection. A second female 'Dizzy' is extremely ill with an ear infection, which is being treated with a combination of steroids and antibiotics. On Tuesday, another female 'Rags' presented with head-tilt, and will be following the same regimen as Dizzy.
  

• An unknown number of female rats are pregnant after being housed with males in the same cage for several days at the shelter. Their progress is being monitored, and any 'rittens' will be available for adoption at a later date.
  

• Other outstanding health problems include obesity, bite wounds, and anxiety caused by the extreme stress these animals were forced to endure.

The following two rescues are currently caring for Chatsworth Rats. Any donations of supplies or funds would be gratefully received, especially considering the potentially huge number of newborns due to arrive in the near future. Please contact these rescues personally for more information on donation procedures, needed items - and future adoptions!