What to do about this rat?

Question

At my little brother's school, one of the grades (not his)  has a rat as a class pet. Today he showed her to me, and here's how they're treating her:
1) She's alone. They didn't even try to get her a friend.
2) Her cage seems too small to me. I think it's this one: http://www.superpetusa.com/product-list/habitat-defined-for-pet-rats.htm except without the accessories. Although it seems like hers is smaller than the dimensions listed.
3) She has nothing to do. There's no wheel, no toys, nothing. Just one ledge, a house, and a water bottle. I don't think there was even a food bowl.
4) She's injured- I don't know how it happened, but my sister noticed about a week ago (I've been meaning to see how she's doing since then) that she was missing a toe and her foot (front paw) is bloody. The wound seems to have healed on its own, but I doubt they took her to the vet to get it looked at.
5) They're using pine bedding. They also put hardly any in (the cage is pretty disgusting, and I think her feces might be a little bloody).
6) Her nose seems to be a little bloody/ crusty, but I'm not sure how abnormal this is. It also seemed overly wet and red, but again, I'm not sure exactly what a healthy rat's nose looks like.
7) She has food (Kaytee Forti-diet blocks), but they also seem to be feeding her sugary chemically (yes, that word doesn't mean what I use it to mean here) store-bought treats on a regular basis.
8) The room she's in is very noisy and active all day, and I doubt they have time to take her out very often. I think that one of the teacher's spends some extra time with her, but there's no way they're providing enough out of cage time to make up for the small cage and no toys or wheel.

I was unable to locate the adult in charge of the rat to complain to them, but I really want to do something to improve this rat's life. I don't want to call animal control, because even if they confiscated her, she'd probably have a miserable life and then be put down (she's really a very friendly and sweet rat who let us pet her through the bars and didn't bite or nibble). 
There's no way that I could take her- we already have a hamster and three mice, and one of my parents can't stand even to hear the word rat. The vet care she needs and introducing another rat (which would require another large cage, separate play time, etc.) would also be too expensive and time-consuming.
So, what should I do? (By the way, the kids whose class pet she is are very little and I wouldn't expect them to know better than this- but the teacher doesn't seem to have done any research. The teacher would also be the one responsible for her).

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

This is actually horrible. Based on what you said in #6, I would say she is developing a upper respiratory infection, probably a result of #5 which is pine bedding, wood shavings are HORRIBLE for pet rats, also other contributors to her having an upper respiratory infection are #8, stress. She is probably so stressed out the poor thing, and stress is a huge factor. Also you noted that the cage was disgusting and small, two other major problems because if it is unclean than the ammonia in her urine is probably building up and that can also cause upper respiratory infection. This is actually animal cruelty, because she can and most likely will die if her conditions are not improved, upper respiratory infection is a huge cause of death in rats, and it will need to be treated with antibiotics by a vet or she probably won't be alive in a months time.
I would go tell the teacher what I have just told you, and maybe this will help educate her, maybe awaken her to what she is doing and she might improve it's living conditions or try to rehome her so that someone else can provide the care that she is needing and deserving of.

I understand, where you are not the owner it is not your responsibility, therefore are doing what you can to help the poor girl, so good for you :) most people would walk on past stuff like that especially knowing it is a rat. And sadly yes that is horrible because it is supposed to be showing kids responsibility and the worst part if someone went home and bought themselves a rat after seeing how they were in the classroom, they will probably treat it the same way being small kids and thinking that that is the best way to keep a rat.. Sadly the outcome for this rats fate is probably going to be a sad one. Wish I was able to help the poor rat more.

Cheyanne · Answer

I agree 100% with Erica I have had been blessed enough to own many rats in my life and I also breed them so I have quite a bite of experience and it does sound like an upper respiratory infection. I prefer to use old t shirts and towels for bedding and then just wash them every couple of days. I can't think of anything you can do that is technically legal. Unless you want to offer them money for the poor thing and you rehome her yourself. Rats need love and attention in their short lives. (max 2 years on average) Good luck!!

? · Answer

That&#x27;s sounds horrible really go to the principle of the school or something that sounds so cruel why would people even feel the need to have a pet if it&#x27;s not going to be looked after horrible the crust on the nose I&#x27;d be wary of my gerbil had something similar and it turned out to be a tumour! Please just bring it to anyone&#x27;s attention that can do something

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What to do about this rat?

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