My girlfriend and I have recently started a small animal rescue centered around feeder rats, mice, and other small animals that are either frozen or fed live to reptiles, ferrets, or other animals. We absolutely love these little guys, and we own 3 adult rats, 24 weaned rats, 2 hopper mice, 1 adult gerbil, and 5 gerbil pups. I am very passionate about saving small animals, but we can't house very many more in our 2 bedroom apartment without overcrowding their bins. 

This is where we need help. Thousands and thousands of rats and mice are bred to die, and many more are born in pet stores because the employees and management can't be bothered to house the males and females separately. These babies are taken hours after they are born and set into a freezer to die. If rats or mice look sick, they are set in the freezer too, but they will stay alive for hours. I love my rats, and thinking about them freezing to death or being eaten alive breaks my heart. 

If you are a reptile lover, feeding live small animals to them can injure them as well.

All I am asking is that 1. The ASPCA or the Human Society push to end live feeders being sold in the United States. 2. For stores, companies, and individuals to be barred from housing their rats in enclosures with both males and females if they do not had adequate room for them to house them and the babies healthily. 3. For rats, mice, guinea pigs, and other small animals to be given the same rights as dogs and cats. 4. For all feeders to be put up for adoption under the guidelines above.

Nobody would feed their snake a living puppy, or even a frozen one, and if they did, it would be considered disgusting by everyone that heard about it. Why should rats and mice be different. They are clean, so long as you clean their cage just like a litterbox or dog run. They are friendly and sweet if you treat them with love, just like dogs and cats. And they are mammals, they feel physical pain just like we do. 

Please, help me put an end to this evil practice and to save thousands of little animals. 

Just as important, please see if you can adopt feeder rats, especially if they are nursing or are pregnant so long as you can house them appropriately and give them a full, happy life. We cannot solve this problem with petitions alone.