I found a rat
 

No, I did. Like, a domestic pet rat. I was out taking a walk around the neighborhood like I try to do every day, and here's this brown and white hooded rat not two feet from the sidewalk on the grass, with its head in a cup, or like the top of an aerosol spray can or something. Now, I used to have two rats, and I never get around to getting rid of anything so I still have all their stuff, including some of the feed mix I made myself, so I thought it would be negligent of me *not* to take this poor abandoned critter in, seeing as I have everything I need. But I wasn't gonna just pick it up, I mean, you never know, right, so I ran home and grabbed a Critter Keeper and a towel and ran back and picked it up (it held the cup over its head with its paws the whole time) and I took it home. I'm not sure what gender it is, from the size I guess male but its so dehydrated and its fur down there is so matted that its either a girl or a real dehydrated boy, if you know what I mean (rats are known for having huge balls if you didn't know). So I set up the travel cage with food and water and an Igloo and put it in there. Its real listless and weak. I got it to take some mashed apple from a spoon but then it just turned away, uninterested. I guess chances are good it won't live through the night. If it does I'll have to see if a shelter will take it or something, because I don't want to keep it.

Anyways I just thought that was an interesting story to share. Like I said chances are good I'll be telling you guys in the morning that the poor thing didn't make it.

I sincerely hope you'll be able to tell us otherwise. Regardless, I think it's great that you took him/her in like that. :)

I hope the rat lives. But I am sure there is a shelter or an organization near by that will take it.

You are a good person for helping that rat.

Poor, poor rat. Not poor that he got rescued, but poor because he was abandoned.

Somebody probably didn't want it and just let it go outside - it *may* have escaped but the former is more likely. It happens a lot. People think "Oh, its a rat, it'll be okay," but domestic rats pretty much never survive outdoors, they just don't go feral. I mean, the thing was just laying by the sidewalk with its head in a cup! I guess it was trying to find a place to hide and that's all it could figure out to do. Nope, not feral material, that one.

You'll have to tell us what happens...

-Marty 8-)

I hope it lives through the night. You were so kind to take it in!

It makes me happy to hear that you're attempting to save it's life, even though it also makes me angry that someone might have just let it out. It really irritates me when people see rats and just automatically assume they're disease-ridden and digusting and it doubly annoys me when people can't be bothered to look after (or at least find a good home for) a pet that they decided to get in the first place. I'm actually after a couple of pet rats at the moment but it's a bit awkward with my dog around, so I'm going to have to wait.

I really do hope it survives!

It did pull through the night, and had positioned itself under the water bottle. It occasionally lifts its head, drinks a drop or so, and lies back down again. But its refusing all food. Since it clearly can't eat the lab blocks and Suebee's I put in there, I put in a mini-crock with baby food and Nutrical right next to it so it won't have to move far to get it. But if rehydrating itself doesn't help then no food will.