Pet Help Needed

[vifferman]

When the cats have seriously injured a bird, my other half will place it face-down on the grass and decapitate it with a spade. Not sure that would be a good option with a rat, they are a lot bigger. Please be kind, whatever you do, I know it's a rat but it's obviously been a much loved pet!

I did that to one of our goldfish that was sick; I didn't mean to cut it in half, just stun it. OOps...
We had another one recently that looked bad - had blotches and things on its body, and kept hiding in the plants. I think it may have had a neighbour's cat claw it. I was hesitant to take it out, given the last decapitation, so I procrastinated. Now it's looking very healthy and happy, so it's just as well.

I've had no hesitation killing other rats about the place. It was very bizarre, chasing a rat around our kitchen with a piece of wood, when we had pet rats downstairs. But they're quite different - the wild rat moved like greased lightning, whereas our rats are fat, slow, and very interesting. If you stroke them, they chatter their teeth with pleasure.

I was hoping Shibby would recover like the goldfish, so I've been procrastinating there too... Plus it's a bit upsetting, after being responsible for / watching our dog getting run over, then having to pick him up, tell the rest of the family, then take him out to the in-laws farm to bury him. That still upsets me more than my Dad dying. Time for some more

(Cue non-smiley smilie emoticon, blowing nose loudly...)

[vifferman]

slingshot. a big fuck-off slingshot. Then he gets one last 'wheeeeeee' and then the thud on the ground would probably finish him off (tis a sad end), plus you'll never find him, so you won't have any blood to deal with..

let us know how far you get him tho, ay?

LOL. Going out in style, huh?
I had a thought along those lines - duct-tape him to the top of my helmet, then go for a 200km/h run up SH16, a few scary stunts, scare the poor bugger to death.

[Ixion]

..
When the cats have seriously injured a bird, my other half will place it face-down on the grass and decapitate it with a spade. Not sure that would be a good option with a rat, they are a lot bigger. Please be kind, whatever you do, I know it's a rat but it's obviously been a much loved pet!

Sword is quick and clean, I've used it on wild rats. But you need to be reasonably good, cos a rat is a tricky target. You need to get the head off with one clean blow. By accounts, victim doesn't feel much if anything. Can't say I've put that point to the test personally.

If it's still eating and you have access to some sleeping tablets you could try giving it a whole tablet in food. That ought to be a big enough dose to knock it out, so it won't suffer whatever you do .

[crashe]

You have a couple of options......

Do you want your children to see you doing this?
If not, then put it (the rat) in a bag and onto the end of a exhaust pipe.
That will be reasonabally quick... the rat goes to sleep and then its dead.
Then bury it.

Other option ring the vet find out the cost and take your children so that they can say goodbye to the rat. Vet can cost a fair bit thou.

You can then bring the rat home and then do the whole buriel ceromony thingee in the back yard.

Then the children will have an understanding about how pets die etc.

If you do to decide to bury it.... then dig a really deep hole as other animals can dig it up... even if you put something heavy over the grave, animals will move it.

A friend buried her cat, and had a huge heavy ornament over the gravesite.
Neighbours dog dug it up and she wasnt too happy to see the leftover remains of her dead cat lying on the driveway when she got home from work.

[Wolf]

If it were a larger animal such as a dog or cat and you had access to [someone with] a .22 firearm, that would be the quickest and most humane (more so than the vet, IMO) but for a small creature, the recommended method is Ether according to one of my books on looking after birds (with a section on what happens if you've done everything you can and it's time to get humane).

[John]

If it were a larger animal such as a dog or cat and you had access to [someone with] a .22 firearm, that would be the quickest and most humane (more so than the vet, IMO) but for a small creature, the recommended method is Ether according to one of my books on looking after birds (with a section on what happens if you've done everything you can and it's time to get humane).

shawnoff + rats = endless fun.

[c4.]

My Father found that my sisters rats became very sick and died while she was away in America.
Rat poison? Who said any thing about rat poison???

[Trakxntrials]

Hey look you fellas - I am the biggest animal lover here. Please, don't do anything dumb - "What goes around, comes around". If money is an issue, take the rat to the vets and explain that - they would rather you be honest with them, than put the animal in any undue harm. If you dont want to take it to the vets, then the SPCA is another option - but be honest with them. I worked as a Vets assistant for the SPCA and also a local practise and I am speaking from experience. Be kind and do the right thing. Please

[Trakxntrials]

Vifferman, what area are you in ???

[James Deuce]

Go to the vet dude. My best friend is a veterinarian, and she's accustomed to putting down animals, explaining to children that it's humane/painless for the little beasty and waiting with the family etc.

It's a sucky thing to have to do (I worked as a vets assistant when I was 16) but it's DEFINITELY more humane than a hammer/wall (WTF!) or suffocating. Animals KNOW when they're suffocating and scrabble for breath...not at all pleasant.

Not from carbon monoxide poisoning. It suppresses the hypoxic drive and you don't feel the need to breathe. You go to sleep and you don't wake up.Might be a bit gentler if you use a long hose so you don't bombard the animal with exhaust noise.

[Beemer]

Not from carbon monoxide poisoning. It suppresses the hypoxic drive and you don't feel the need to breathe. You go to sleep and you don't wake up.Might be a bit gentler if you use a long hose so you don't bombard the animal with exhaust noise.

Unfortunately it doesn't work fast and I can't see a rat gently falling asleep with its head in a plastic bag. If money is a problem, I'd donate $5 to the cause myself rather than see an animal suffer.

Sorry, I'm just a big softie!

[James Deuce]

Unfortunately it doesn't work fast and I can't see a rat gently falling asleep with its head in a plastic bag. If money is a problem, I'd donate $5 to the cause myself rather than see an animal suffer.

Sorry, I'm just a big softie!

Heehee - I don't have a lot of time for rats and my wife commands me to kill them instantly - usually whilst hanging from the ceiling by her fingernails and toenails.

[WINJA]

I HAD TO SEND A PET TO HEAVEN RECENTLY , I TOOK ITS HEAD OFF WITH A SPADE , VERY SAD

[Big Dave]

For once i'm with Winja - take it outside, put on the ground and kill it. Cricket bat would let you get some practice in. Shovel will do the trick too.

[oldrider]

Winja is the only real animal lover on this thread. Just do it. Do it quick, do it clean and do it once. Get on with life. The kids will get over it quicker than you will. (or the rat for that matter) John.