Adoption Policy
All of our rats must be returned if you cannot keep them or if you already have placement, we would like to know where they are going. We must be notified and have first rights if a breeder decides to rehome one of our rats. We do not want our rats in danger of becoming feeders!
None of our rats will be allowed to leave before 5 weeks. After we pick the rats we want to keep, adopters will be allowed to pick according to their place on the waiting list.
None of our rats will be allowed to leave before 5 weeks. After we pick the rats we want to keep, adopters will be allowed to pick according to their place on the waiting list.
** Deposit ** New Starting 8/1/2009
A $5 deposit will be required to Reserve a rat. This deposit is non-refundable. When someone expresses interest in a rat, I will 'pend' the rat and must receive the deposit within the week. If no deposit is received, then the rat will be 'available'. Plans to pick up the rat will need to be made by the time they are 5 weeks old. If I have not heard from you 48 hours after it is posted that the rats are ready to go home, then the rats will be 'available' again. I am very good about sending out emails and calling adopters, but it ultimately has to be the adopter's responsibility to arrange pick up. The deposit will go towards the total adoption price. Thank you for understanding.
Fees
- Breeders, inquire for individual pricing -
$20 single rat (must have a rat of same sex in household).
Manx - contact for adoption fee.
$5 discount for each rat over 2. Ex - 3 rats - $55 ($40 for the 2 and $15 for the 3rd and any other rat thereafter)
$10 for retired breeders and rats over 10 weeks.
All adoption fees must be made in cash or money order and are due upon pick-up.
$20 single rat (must have a rat of same sex in household).
Manx - contact for adoption fee.
$5 discount for each rat over 2. Ex - 3 rats - $55 ($40 for the 2 and $15 for the 3rd and any other rat thereafter)
$10 for retired breeders and rats over 10 weeks.
All adoption fees must be made in cash or money order and are due upon pick-up.
All adopters will be required to sign an adoption agreement. You must be 18 or older or have a guardian contact me in order to adopt a rat. If you are under 18, I am happy to discuss adoption with you, but I will have to talk to a parent/guardian in order to reserve a rat and when it is pickup time. If your rat has any health problems, we must be informed since it is important in developing healthy lines. Adopters are placed on a waiting list on a first come, first serve basis. Blue Skies has pick of litter of all litters and breeders have priority over regular adopters. If you are on the waiting list and decide not to adopt, please notify me ASAP. This will not automatically exclude you from future adoptions.
Travel
We may be willing to meet adopters in surrounding areas. If it is further than 30 minutes away, we may require a fee. If we are traveling to that area anway, there will be no fee. Although the bigger cities (Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc) are further away, I may be willing to meet without a fee if there are several rats being picked up or if we decide to enjoy a day exploring those cities...we enjoy travel so it gives us a good excuse to explore different areas.
We will be happy to discuss a meet up, if needed, so don't think our rats are unavailable because you are in another area! Sometimes we travel (mainly in the summer months) and would be happy to deliver your rat if it is along our route. If a travel fee is required, it needs to be paid before pickup is scheduled. Your contact cell phone # is absolutely required if we are traveling to meet you.
We will be happy to discuss a meet up, if needed, so don't think our rats are unavailable because you are in another area! Sometimes we travel (mainly in the summer months) and would be happy to deliver your rat if it is along our route. If a travel fee is required, it needs to be paid before pickup is scheduled. Your contact cell phone # is absolutely required if we are traveling to meet you.
Breeders
While I do not discriminate against new breeders, you must display a knowledge or at least a willingness to learn about rat genetics. I will be happy to discuss genetics and answer any questions you may have. I need to know your policies in your rattery, including quarantine, adoptions/adoption contracts and your breeding goals. I would like to have a relationship established with any new breeders and would like to be informed of pairings of any of the rats from BSKI. I would like to know about the conditions the rats will be kept in and how many litters you are planning on having at a time/each year. I do not agree with mass production of rats and do not think it is possible to produce healthy, social rats when you're breeding 8+ litters at a time. I know many breeders do it, but we are not one of them and I will never agree with it.
If you are a new breeder, I want to know you are commited to the rats and improving lines. I will not allow anyone under 18 to have any of our rats for breeding purposes. Sorry, but I think that's very young and you aren't settled enough to make a long term commitment. I've had people contacting me for rats while they are still living with their parents (who don't like rats). That's just bound to end up in disaster....with me scrambling to rehome everyone that came from my rattery. I want to know you're settled and have a stable living situation. Sorry if it sounds harsh, but a lot of ratteries have been popping up in this area, only to disappear a few months later...I just want a stable situation for my rats. With that said, I'm a very nice person that is willing to answer any questions and help when I can....so feel free to email me :-)
If you are a new breeder, I want to know you are commited to the rats and improving lines. I will not allow anyone under 18 to have any of our rats for breeding purposes. Sorry, but I think that's very young and you aren't settled enough to make a long term commitment. I've had people contacting me for rats while they are still living with their parents (who don't like rats). That's just bound to end up in disaster....with me scrambling to rehome everyone that came from my rattery. I want to know you're settled and have a stable living situation. Sorry if it sounds harsh, but a lot of ratteries have been popping up in this area, only to disappear a few months later...I just want a stable situation for my rats. With that said, I'm a very nice person that is willing to answer any questions and help when I can....so feel free to email me :-)
Shipping
A lot of people have contacted me about shipping lately. This is quite a chore to do, so I will not even entertain the idea of shipping unless you are adopting at least 6 rats from me. I will not ship illegally, the rats will be shipped according to guidelines. Shipping generally runs $180 + and I will require a health check (to be paid by the buyer) on all rats being shipped. An approved container must also be purchased, by the buyer. As you can see, this easily costs several hundred dollars, even before adoption fees. All the adoption fees must be paid, before I even begin working on shipping the rats. This is very time consuming and if I am to do it, the individual(s) have to be serious about it. I really don't get anything out of shipping, it takes a lot of planning and a lot of my time.....quite frankly, it's a lot easier to find homes in my area. I will only ship to breeders, no pet homes.....sorry, it just isn't worth it.