They call them the new man’s best friend. They are friendly, loyal, play games and do tricks with no training, require hardly any laborious cleaning and even eat like a human (with inevitably smaller portion sizes, of course). What are they? None other than rats. Domestic pet rats, that is.

Often known as the most misunderstood animal since Cujo, rats are making a red-carpet entrance into homes across the country, thanks to our own Mainely Rat Rescue (MRR). This organization was founded by four women, including Kim Jackson of Falmouth who is the Director of Operations for the rescue. They saw a need to save unwanted and misunderstood rats. Each one of the founders had previous animal training, whether it was working in the veterinary field or for local shelters and rescues, or just "re-homing" these pocket pets on their own. They rallied together, bringing their knowledge, contacts and resources and Mainley Rat Rescue was formed.

The rescue is now thriving, for people who are getting them for the first time and others who are looking to add more rats to their family. The rescue’s sole purpose is find homes for surrendered and abandoned rats and to educate the public on proper rat husbandry. People come looking to adopt a new pet and get a rat education in the process. Some rats are born in their foster home, and others are rescued straight out of snakes’ cages. While in foster care, they are properly socialized and cared for, allowing them to obtain the skills needed to make perfect companions.

So, why rescue rats? For a myriad of reasons. Pet rats, while misunderstood creatures, are gentle, friendly and quite social creatures that are genuinely people-loving and care for their human. They can learn tricks, from the training ones (learning their name, coming to their name, litter box training) to the no-training-required ones (playing fetch, chase and hand wrestling). They eat much like humans, making feeding a breeze! They are so similar to humans in their eating, in fact, that they enjoy the occasional piece of chocolate. Of course, like humans, their sweet tooth should only be satisfied in minuscule amounts.

Rats are often described as tiny dogs in their behavior. They are loyal and true to their humans, and even fun to house. MRR has a wonderful store that supports their nonprofit organization, which includes healthy food and safe bedding, colorful rat hammocks, and tubes and toys to play in and lounge on. These are the first rodents that do not need the boring wood shavings. Instead, one can use pieces of stylish fleece to decorate and personalize a cage, saving the hassle of disposing of dirty shavings. Instead, you can just throw the fabric into the washing machine. Rats can also be litter-box trained which allows even less clean-up.

These pets come in a unique rainbow of colors and patterns and have an average life span of two to three years. They are also afraid of heights, so they won’t jump off a cage or shoulder (which is their favorite place to snuggle with their human) even when you go for a walk outside. They can roam free outside the cage, with supervision, and will always come back making their loyalty incomparable. Gentle, affectionate, interactive creatures, a well socialized rat can be one of the best pets for children, and yet these pets are one of the most misunderstood in the world. One of the rescue’s foster homes is maintained by Zimra in Orono. At first, his mother was no fan of rats either. Then she met their first foster rats, Salt and Pepper, and fell in love with her Saltie.

"My mom is a true example that no matter how much you think that you hate rats…. you’d be surprised. Take my word for it!" Salt and Pepper have been adopted by Zimra’s family.

MRR has an impeccable reputation for transforming rat loathers into rat lovers. Melissa Bouchard of Palermo wrote to MRR, "A big thank you to Mainely Rat Rescue for all that you do to help the animals and a big thank you to Robin (MRR Vice President and Foster and Adoption Care Coordinator). Without her patience, guidance, and knowledge, I am ashamed to say I would have never considered getting a ratty or known how truly great pets these little guys can be. We are ratty lovers for life now!"

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Kim and Robin, the rescue has been growing in leaps and bounds. Kim says, "Not only are we here to help rats and other small animals, but we also consider ourselves public servants; helping the people who own rats is just as important as helping the animals themselves. I feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride when someone thanks us for helping them, whether it be for re-homing their pets or giving them advice on behavior or vet recommendations."

"I just want people to be aware of how wonderful pet rats truly are," says Robin. "When they think of adding a pet to their family, I would like them to consider rats and then call Mainely Rat Rescue to inquire about adoption. As with cats and dogs, there is another option: you don’t have to go to a pet store and support the backyard breeders. At MRR each rat has a unique story to tell. We really strive to find the perfect fit for every family. Our foster homes are absolutely wonderful and they give us a clear picture of their foster personalities which, in turn, helps us match families with their new pets. We could not do it without them!" Merry Jordan of West-brook, Maine is another key member of the MRR team.. She works tirelessly behind the scenes as the rescue’s online store coordinator, filling orders and shipping them to rat loving homes across the country.

This nonprofit organization depends on foster homes, donations and small amounts of profits from their store to keep it running as successfully as it has been. It recently received national recognition in an interview in "Animal Sheltering" magazine and more locally the rescue was honored at the New England Ratfest held in Connecticut. The board is 100 percent volunteer work but they hope to be receiving a 501(c)3 designation (tax exempt). They also hope to expand their rescue to obtain a shelter in which rats may reside until they find their happily ever after in a forever home.

So, if one is still not convinced that rats make the best pets in the world, www.mainleyratrescue.org can give further information. Also, checking out their website can show one how to adopt, foster, and financially support this growing rescue.

The rescue currently has foster homes in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and New York and has transported them to homes as far as Arizona and South Carolina. Hopefully their message will continue to spread their love for these wondrous creatures across the country and across the world.

Katy Rushlau is a summer intern with the Wiscasset Newspaper and will be returning to Hall Dale High School in the fall for her senior year.