The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/16/09 Section: Variety

Media Credit: DANIEL SHIREY University student Rachel Blair carries her pet rats, Spraynard and Robert Stack, around on her shoulder. [Click to enlarge]

Hairless rat and dumbo rat Spraynard and Robert Stack are living the good life with owner Rachel Blair, who escorts them around the house in what can be considered the rat version of a helicopter ride: flying five feet in the air perched safely upon her shoulder.

"I always have scratches on my neck from carrying them around," the 19-year-old science illustration major from Watkinsville said. "I really wanted a pet, but I couldn't afford a dog or a cat, and rats have really great personalities and can ride around on your shoulders. A dog can't do that."

According to Blair, it is Spray and Robert's unique personalities that make them so endearing to own as pets.

"Spray loves to run around and climb on everything and everyone, so he is very active and kind of feisty," she said. "Because Robert is a little younger, he is a little more shy and timid and just likes to cuddle, so I hold him as much as I can to get him more used to people."

She equates this difference in curiosity and bravery to the fact that Spray has called her house home for over four months. She purchased Robert as a companion for him only two months ago.

This difference in time at home and the rats' very different personalities - and apparently smells - does sometimes lead to rat arguments over dominance in the house.

And, sometimes, Blair is not the only one who gets left with scratches.

"Right now, Spray has a little scratch on his face, and it looks so awful because he doesn't have any hair to cover it up," she said. "He got that because, sometimes, they will get into fights because rats are very territorial. It's never anything serious but just kind of 'you smell different and are in my space, so I am going to beat you up' kind of thing."

Despite the occasional scuffle, Blair says the two new friends are beginning to get along and she hopes to be able to make them roommates soon, once they learn how to get along and share one cage.

Editor's Note: Each week, reporter Courtney Smith will profile a quirky pet that belongs to someone on campus. This is the second installment in the series. If you or someone you know has a unique pet you'd like the University to know about, e-mail Courtney Smith at c5s@uga.edu.

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