Companion animal rights

[bitspike]

My girlfriend and I, after weeks of preparation, got three mice this morning from a small-animal rescue.  We've read about what to feed and provide them to keep them healthy and happy while we look after them, but I've also read a lot about mouse 'training' and I'm not sure how I feel about it, exactly.

Comments

[orphe_]

in adopting these animals, you'll become their family, their parent and caretaker. it is incumbent upon all caretakers (no matter the species) to train their charges in some way, to teach them how the world works, to provide entertainment, stimulation, and socialization. as long as you are attentive and let them guide you, doing more of what they're enthusiastic about and dropping activities that aren't necessary and that they don't seem to enjoy, you'll only be doing what any responsible guardian should.

woah, long. But I love my little Fizgig

[bizwac]

I know the feeling.
I feel kind of bad 'naming' Fizgig, but then... well, I was named and I didn't get a choice. And her name doesn't seem to... do anything. We call her Fizgig, and refer to her as such (particularly then because you sidestep the my ferret thing, which also seems just like she's an 'it', an object). We call her all types of names though, and get an equal response. (Nez and I call each other lots of names too, so calling Fizgig fuzzlebutt and squishymuffin is like she's really a part of the family). and I always imagine that when she meets other ferrets she introduces herself as something like "Queen Quintessfinnix, Explorer of Trousers, and Hider of Pens

Re: woah, long. But I love my little Fizgig

[maosaynoah]

This is awesome. I enjoyed reading about Fizgig. I don't have any companion animals living with me right now (well, my fiance...). But I always thought it would be cool to adopt a small mammal and give them their own room like that. Just remember to keep it 100% safe - I know how curious ferrets can be, and there are many things that could be dangerous like lose wires. But I'm sure you know all that.

I like the part about not forcing play. Many people don't think of that. Fizgig is lucky to have you.

By the way, I'm not sure if the "my ferret" thing is an issue - because we refer to people like "my friend", "my boss", or "my mom". It doesn't necessarily indicate ownership - just the relation you have with them. Your ferret probably thinks of you as "my human".

Re: woah, long. But I love my little Fizgig

[bizwac]

Yeah, it used to be 'my bedroom' (for when my parents visited to give the illusion that my SO and I have separate beds :P), and it had computers in it, but now it's just a bed, some tubes, hammocks, chairs, hidy holes etc. I felt bad because she doesn't have too much fancy stuff, but we're innovative so we make stuff with what we have/find on the streets. One day I was despondent, thinking how crap it must be for her and no sooner had that thought entered my head than she jumped onto one thing, then onto another, another and another (we made kind of levels that she can jump onto using chairs and cages and stuff) and she came on the bed as if to say "nah, it's so fun mummy!". :D

Re: woah, long. But I love my little Fizgig

[infloresence]

Oh god - "Queen Quintessfinnix, Explorer of Trousers, and Hider of Pens" - that is so cute. I look after rats so I can appreciate that.

[dorisp]

Well, I think it takes a shift in perspective. Don't look at the mice as pets, look at them as kids. That helps clarify things a bit. For example, would you take your kid to a vet if they were sick even if they didn't want the pokey needles? Would you bath them if they were covered in lice even if they protested? Of course, you would so it makes sense to name them as parents would name their children. Also, would parents lock their kids away and never socialize them for fear of infringing upon their rights? Nope

[infloresence]

My rats have their own room in my house. They have a whole wardrobe to themselves. When we move to a new house I plan to convert some bookshelves into a jungle gymn for them, with perspex on the front and back, hidey holes, swings, ropes, food surprise nooks and rat hammocks.

Rats make the best friends.

Agreed with all but the food recommendation...

[weeona]

Regal Rat is certainly far from the worst food out there (Kaytee, I'm looking at you!) but it's still not ideal, IMO

[frogsmom]

try not to think of it as _training_ but as communicating.
i had a very special rat many years back, who learned to come when he was called, get in and out of his cage "on command", and stay on a particular piece of furniture, and stay on my shoulder.
not because i rewarded or punished- but because i said the same thing for the same thing consistantly, and he learned what i was saying.
i also have dogs that i have trained without a punishment/reward system. and i have been told many times over that i have the best behaved dogs someone has ever seen.
these are domestic mice, and they need us to help them survive.
they are intelligent, and can benefit with us trying to live _with_ them, instead of us just having them live in our homes.
they will probably be more satisfied, and fulfilled if you do try some, (for lack of a better word) "training"
and props to you for adopting them in the first place- you likely saved their lives!

training stuff.

[genkki]

when i worked at a zoo about 30% of our efforts went towards creating enrichment activities. the zoo had pretty elaborate 'natural' looking, large, enclosures for the animals, but the fact remains that the animals are trapped in a way smaller than natural space. animals (at least in zoos) that don't get enough enrichment activities will exhibit stress behaviours like pacing, repetitive grooming etc