Okay so my name is Emma and a couple of weeks ago I was outside of the Library at surrey central, bc, canada. There was this adorable, fluffly little rat all curled up in a ball, her tail was black and complete dead weight (rats normally use they're tail's movement for all sorts of different things). She was convulsing and shaking and suffering to death very very slowly. The security guard came out (I was hoping to put her out of her misery, I would've but I am homeless and only have one pair of shoes and I'm really not sure If i couldve had the heart to stomp on her, even tho honestly it was in her best interest.) He just stared at her, I told him that all he could do is put her out of his misery. He told me it didn't matter. Which is fucking ridiculous. I threw her some dog food, hoping she could atleast have a nice last meal, and she started convulsing more and throwing up and shaking violently. THe security guard and a few of the workers just stood there and starred. Told me to just let her die slowly and that it didn't matter. She slowly, while squeeling uncontrollably dragged herself into a corner hopeing to get some darkness, warmth, and privacy, and still the people crowded her, garbage pinchers in hand waiting for her to suffer to death so that they could throw her in a little box and into the trash. I asked the security guard what possibly could've happened to her. He told me that there is a "rat palace" underneat the library, with all sorts of things that will attract them, toys, climbing things, food, but EVERYTHING is covered in rat posion. I tried to explain to him that this made NO SENSE. what the HELL are rats doing wrong??? they don't want ANYTHING to do with people, they wil avoid you at all costs. They clean up the streets by eating all the trash people leave around, and are actually very smart and sanitary animals. Why are they being treated any differently than a hamster when rats are actually WAY more intelligent. What if this female rat had children she was trying to feed? she walks into this "rat palace" filled with food that she thinks she will be bringing back to her babies, and ends up suffering and dying. Being crowded and gawked at until she slowly suffers to the sweet release of death. He told me that there are MANNNNY of these around the city and that he thinks they are right. I don't understand why we should be hurting animals that do absolutely no harm to us. There have been 0, i repeat ZERO cases of rats in surrey biting people, or even approaching people. Why kill them? Anyone who has had a pet rat has to feel for this situation. please. I don't ever want to have to see a rat suffer to death just for tyring to eat ever again. It is NOT RIGHT