Happy World Rat Day 2016!
Today we’re celebrating World Rat Day in two ways. Spotlighting an incredible organization dedicated to helping these lovable animals – North Star Rescue and celebrating our collaboration on an incredible exhibit The Rattie Uprising.
Based in the San Francisco Bay area, North Star took in over 1,000 small animals in 2015 and works tirelessly to promote responsible adoption. North Star’s Director of Operations, Jenn Paz, sees the misrepresentation of rats as a main reason why they continue to be mistreated. “There is a big discrepancy in the information given to people about animals they are deciding to add to their families,” Paz explained. “Unfortunately, small animals are still considered disposable.”
One goal of both World Rat Day and North Star Rescue is to illuminate rats as the charming, vivacious companions that they are. Just like dogs and cats, rats are capable of becoming deeply attached to their humans. Rats are especially intelligent and socially astute. The folks at North Star have seen children held back by anxiety blossom with the help of their friendly pet rats. After nursing their rescued small animals back to health either at one of its four outposts located throughout the Bay Area or in foster homes, the organization spares no effort to find each of them a loving forever home.
That entails a lot more than just spreading a rat-positive message. Another, less glamorous part of the equation is educating would-be small animal adopters on the special needs of rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and chinchillas. In 2012 North Star Rescue helped save over 1,000 rats that were living in unsanitary and dangerous overcrowded conditions created because the man who kept them, a self-described rat lover, had not known to separate them by gender. North Star, which has a no-kill policy, has since come to the rescue of hundreds of other small animals and small animal owners involved in hoarding situations. Through education, it helped prevent countless similar catastrophes from ever taking place.
Art for Animals’ Sake is partnering with North Star Rescue to offer guests of The Rattie Uprising San Francisco a responsible path to rat adoption. After experiencing a creative and inspiration homage to the rat in the form of original posters and other works of art, guests will have an opportunity to meet some small animals in need of homes, learn about their care needs, and begin the adoption process. Art for Animals’ Sake and North Star Rescue share a common philosophy – that a world that understands, respects, and empathizes with small animals is a world better capable of caring for all its human and nonhuman inhabitants. Both organizations are committed to empowering community members to educate themselves and make a positive impact on the lives of other living beings.
One of North Star Rescue’s outposts is at Dandelion Dreams, a boutique Paz opened that sells conventional supplies as well as creative, chic, and whimsical accessories for small animals and their humans alike. Today, on the 14th Annual World Rat Day, rat fanciers everywhere are showing their appreciation for their ratties by showering them with fancy treats, toys, and even surprise parties. If you happen to buy your pet a little something from Dandelion Dreams, a wonderful bonus is knowing that the store’s profits go toward supporting North Star Rescue’s important work!
Do you have a fun rattie picture or story to share? Join us in honoring this awesome animal by posting on Twitter with the hashtag #worldratday and #artforanimals.
Art for Animals’ Sake also launched a GoFundMe campaign in support of The Rattie Uprising today. If you love rats and want to see more provocative art and rat-positive publicity help us make it there!
Happy World Rat Day from everyone at Art for Animal’s Sake!
