ANNOUNCEMENTS
We always have a lot going on at the rattery.
Our most up-to-date info can be found on our Facebook page, however we will put the more important announcements here.
If you would like more information on anything we are doing, feel free to contact us.
Our best method of contact is always on Facebook, but you can also message us through our website.
Our most up-to-date info can be found on our Facebook page, however we will put the more important announcements here.
If you would like more information on anything we are doing, feel free to contact us.
Our best method of contact is always on Facebook, but you can also message us through our website.
January 22, 2024 Lots of Things Going On!
We have a few announcements for today
- We have a lot of boys looking for a home, so this is a great time to get males. The adoption fees are all waaaay down on them and there are plenty of really cute markings.
- We are planning out some out of area trips for AZ, UT, and the Orange and Riverside counties in CA to help more adopters have access to our rats without having to make the full drive to us. Details will be posted mostly on social media, so check for it on FB and IG.
- Our adoption fees will be lowering to $80 for first picks on litters in 2024. We will still be reducing fees more on the older ones that have waited a month or more for a home, too. As the cost of everything else is going up, we are bringing our fees down so adopters can use more of their money for caring for the rats and not the rats themselves.
October 30, 2023 Arizon Trip is ON! November 4, 2023 UPDATE
Our Yuma, AZ trip is finally happening!
There are only a few days left to get in on the trip. Please see the details on our Out of Area Appointments page. Please reach out ASAP if you would like to join the trip, we have booked several spots and deposits are all in already. You will need to fill out necessary forms and pay deposits quickly.
There are only a few days left to get in on the trip. Please see the details on our Out of Area Appointments page. Please reach out ASAP if you would like to join the trip, we have booked several spots and deposits are all in already. You will need to fill out necessary forms and pay deposits quickly.
October 5, 2023 We Got to Meet FaZe Rug!
https://youtu.be/rY45fQbFtoc?si=strfuniB39wOoANh&t=686
I mentioned that Special Agent 007 got to meet someone famous - so this is it! The video should start at the 11:35 mark where the part James Bond is featured in begins.
Funny story:
I've been pranked by people before saying they were someone they weren't and wasted time driving around to meet them, so when the representative for FaZe Rug got in touch with me, I didn't think it was real. My initial response was, "I kinda have something else to do" Which I did, it was happening really close to when I volunteer with my jr. high girls. There was no way I was going to miss out on my girls for a potential scam. I mean - I'd never heard of this person. (for the record, I had never heard of Robert Downey Jr. either until my daughters said "Mom! Iron Man..." Then I knew who he was. I'm just really clueless on famous people-they'd all starve if they depended on me for their livelihoods.) I was also one day post-op and in pain from dental surgery. Overall - it seemed too good to be true and the timing was just tough for me.
Anyway, short story long, I did end up setting up a meeting, FaZe Rug's guy actually agreed to have them drive all the way out to me so I wouldn't be late for my jr. highers (which I thought was really sweet of them). I still wasn't sure if I wanted to go alone, so I asked my kids if anyone wanted to go with me. They asked who it was and when I said FaZe Rug they all erupted in chaos - mostly reminding me how old and clueless I am. "How can you not know who that is?!"
(It's a gift) 🤷♀️
My kiddo and I headed out early - for a bit we thought they may not show up - but it really was him. I ended up having more fun meeting his "chauffer" because he seemed to really like Bond and was very nice to him. FaZe Rug and everyone else were not too sure about Bond at first, but they all admitted he seemed very sweet. I did spend a little time telling them about rats and showing them how to securely hold Bond so he would feel safe before handing him over. I'm always a little nervous when it is one of my rats, but Bond really seemed to like them all and he has not let his video appearance go to his head at all - still super sweet and humble.
Bond has had his very first litter with us, so if you would like one of his babies, I'm hoping they all take after him and are extremely chill and snuggly. This was his first time ever out of our rattery because he was never up for adoption at all, but he was really calm and good with all the people.
I mentioned that Special Agent 007 got to meet someone famous - so this is it! The video should start at the 11:35 mark where the part James Bond is featured in begins.
Funny story:
I've been pranked by people before saying they were someone they weren't and wasted time driving around to meet them, so when the representative for FaZe Rug got in touch with me, I didn't think it was real. My initial response was, "I kinda have something else to do" Which I did, it was happening really close to when I volunteer with my jr. high girls. There was no way I was going to miss out on my girls for a potential scam. I mean - I'd never heard of this person. (for the record, I had never heard of Robert Downey Jr. either until my daughters said "Mom! Iron Man..." Then I knew who he was. I'm just really clueless on famous people-they'd all starve if they depended on me for their livelihoods.) I was also one day post-op and in pain from dental surgery. Overall - it seemed too good to be true and the timing was just tough for me.
Anyway, short story long, I did end up setting up a meeting, FaZe Rug's guy actually agreed to have them drive all the way out to me so I wouldn't be late for my jr. highers (which I thought was really sweet of them). I still wasn't sure if I wanted to go alone, so I asked my kids if anyone wanted to go with me. They asked who it was and when I said FaZe Rug they all erupted in chaos - mostly reminding me how old and clueless I am. "How can you not know who that is?!"
(It's a gift) 🤷♀️
My kiddo and I headed out early - for a bit we thought they may not show up - but it really was him. I ended up having more fun meeting his "chauffer" because he seemed to really like Bond and was very nice to him. FaZe Rug and everyone else were not too sure about Bond at first, but they all admitted he seemed very sweet. I did spend a little time telling them about rats and showing them how to securely hold Bond so he would feel safe before handing him over. I'm always a little nervous when it is one of my rats, but Bond really seemed to like them all and he has not let his video appearance go to his head at all - still super sweet and humble.
Bond has had his very first litter with us, so if you would like one of his babies, I'm hoping they all take after him and are extremely chill and snuggly. This was his first time ever out of our rattery because he was never up for adoption at all, but he was really calm and good with all the people.
September 11, 2023 Arizon Trip in the Works! October 14, 2023 UPDATE
"I would love to adopt from you, but you are so far away from me!"
This is a common statement from many. We have been working on planning an out of area meeting to a few other states, but with a large driving route, the travel fee becomes a lot higher because the drive is so long I have to account for a hotel stay. With that in mind, I've decided to only travel to Yuma, AZ.
- 8-E out to Yuma, AZ
- I can stop at additional places along the way in Alpine, El Centro, etc. if anyone is interested. All stops will be along the I-8 freeway.
I will leave early on Saturday, October 7 to arrive in Yuma by 9:30a.m.
The travel fee is $100 per adopter, plus adoption fees for each rat and any items you request to pick up at the appointment.
Additional information is located on my Out of Area Appointments page. Please reach out if you would like to join the trip, we are booking spots now and taking deposits.
This is a common statement from many. We have been working on planning an out of area meeting to a few other states, but with a large driving route, the travel fee becomes a lot higher because the drive is so long I have to account for a hotel stay. With that in mind, I've decided to only travel to Yuma, AZ.
- 8-E out to Yuma, AZ
- I can stop at additional places along the way in Alpine, El Centro, etc. if anyone is interested. All stops will be along the I-8 freeway.
I will leave early on Saturday, October 7 to arrive in Yuma by 9:30a.m.
The travel fee is $100 per adopter, plus adoption fees for each rat and any items you request to pick up at the appointment.
Additional information is located on my Out of Area Appointments page. Please reach out if you would like to join the trip, we are booking spots now and taking deposits.
June 5, 2023 Upcoming Out-of-Area Meeting Available
My family and I will be visiting the Highland Games in Vista, CA on Saturday, June 24. I am accepting limited reservations for pick up on this day at the following location:
943 E Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084
This is near the Highland Games at a small shopping center.
Details for these meetings is on the "Available Now" page. Please visit that page for more information.
943 E Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084
This is near the Highland Games at a small shopping center.
Details for these meetings is on the "Available Now" page. Please visit that page for more information.
May 25, 2023 Lots of Babies Available! Discounts Coming Your Way!
We have a lot of litters available and coming up for the end of May and June, but very few adopters signed up for them. If you have been hoping to get some Squeakin' Pups, but they were too expensive, discounts and reductions in fees are coming your way! We will be offering deals and discounts on our litters through May and June (July is pending). We have a nearly empty adopter list right now, so any babies you see, are up for grabs.
There is going to be a large gap in litters coming up from June 10-July 20 (minimum) as we have put all pairings on hold in May. The litters that are currently available will be the only ones available through July 20 (this date is increasing as we continue to hold back on pairings due to low adopter sign-ups.) Every year the summer time is busy, so this is not unusual, but we are hoping to find all of our babies homes before July if they were born in April/May. Please feel free to share our website and social media posts to get the word out. We have standard-sized and Dwarf available, along with a wide variety of colors, coat types, and ear sets to choose from.
There is going to be a large gap in litters coming up from June 10-July 20 (minimum) as we have put all pairings on hold in May. The litters that are currently available will be the only ones available through July 20 (this date is increasing as we continue to hold back on pairings due to low adopter sign-ups.) Every year the summer time is busy, so this is not unusual, but we are hoping to find all of our babies homes before July if they were born in April/May. Please feel free to share our website and social media posts to get the word out. We have standard-sized and Dwarf available, along with a wide variety of colors, coat types, and ear sets to choose from.
May 1, 2023 Upcoming Out-of-Area Meetings Available
I will be making two dates available in May for adopters to potentially meet me up Northward of San Diego. If anyone would like to be included in these rare meetings - please get in touch as soon as possible after completing your adoption forms. I will have limited spots and there is a small fee for out of area meetings. These will be discounted because I foresee having many adopters at them. The expected dates are May 13 and May 20 (possibly with availability on May 19 in the evening).
April 15, 2023 Shipping Rats Available Again
Squeakin' Pups is happy to announce that we are once again providing shipping of rats to customers. Full details on shipping can be found in our Shipping Information page under Adoption. In addition to shipping inter-state by airline, we always provide the option of scheduling out-of-area meetings through travel by car. The fees vary by destination and travel time. Details for out-of-area meetings can be found here.
April 6, 2023 Important Information for Future Spring/Summer Adoptions
Adopters, Please Read!
Every summer many potential adopters go on Spring Break and Summer Vacations with family. As the responsible pet owners they all are, they don't adopt right before needing to be gone for one or more weeks in a row. With this slow down in mind, our rattery will be having fewer litters in May-July. If there are more babies than adopters throughout the rest of April and into May, there may be no litters available in July at all. If you are interested in adopting over the summer (June-August) please apply now and include what your first available day to bring home babies is. This will help me to plan enough litters for everyone who may be interested.
April 5, 2023 Spring is Here and Boys are Going on Sale!
We currently have more baby boy rats than adopters waiting to take them home. Select boys are on sale now until all find homes. Please head over to the Available Now page for details on which boys and how much.
January 12, 2023 Potential Adopters - Please Read!
My list of approved adopters is up to 15 adopters, which will likely mean there is no space until February. I have temporarily closed the application forms until I can schedule at least half the list for meetings and make room for more. I give more updates on my Facebook page regarding things like this, so it would be good to check there or follow the page for updates on the rattery. I will reopen the forms as soon as possible.
December 9, 2022 Sad News - Don't Read If Sad News Is Too Much For You
Our space heater for our rat room stopped working at some point in the night last night and we lost many of our new babies. I will update the numbers over the next couple days, but I want to make sure there are no other residual effects the next day or two.
Prayers are very appreciated. Loss is a part of breeding, but when it is a technical issue like this there are a lot more tears for me because I feel very guilty and responsible.
Prayers are very appreciated. Loss is a part of breeding, but when it is a technical issue like this there are a lot more tears for me because I feel very guilty and responsible.
November 11, 2022 Christmas is Coming!
Everything you need to know about adopting in December.
Many more adopters start contacting me from October through the end of the year. Summer is over, vacations are done, everyone is feeling more relaxed and ready for a new family member. The increase in adopters also means I will be trying to increase my litters to accommodate everyone, however, it is not always possible to meet the demand, especially in December! I have scheduled 4 litters to (hopefully) be born in time to go to homes the first week or two of December. I have 2-4 more being planned and paired up this week so they will be ready the week after Christmas and the first week of January. I purposely have created a break between the early December and late December litters so I can enjoy the holidays with my family. I do not foresee having babies just before Christmas who need homes, but if I do and you request to meet with me any day from December 15-26, I will be charging a $300 "You are putting a damper on my holiday" fee for those dates and requiring the adoption of a minimum of 3 rats. If anyone asks for December 24-26, the fee is $1,000 and I might name it "Why ya gotta be a grinch" fee. I don't wanna be mean, but honestly, this is my favorite holiday. I get to hold candles and sing songs, and see people I never get to see. I like to have time to enjoy it and bask in the awesomeness that is Jesus' birthday.
The majority of our babies will be going to homes AFTER December 26. If your goal was to surprise someone with a gift - give them the cage and supplies for their gift and allow them to be part of the selection process after Christmas. Rat parents feel much more attached to their rats if they get to pick them in person. It is much more special that way.
If you want to adopt December or January, please get your application in once you have all you need to care for the rats (cage, bedding, food, etc.) Please consider my Etsy shops for getting those supplies. I really appreciate any way my fans can support my business. The sooner you are ready and have applied, the sooner you will get to pick. Even applying early, there may be a wait until late January or even February for those applying in December for adoption. I currently have 5 adopters waiting on the December litters, and we are not even halfway through November!
I plan to make at least one out of area trip in December. If you want to sign up for that, the fee is $100, and it will be on a Saturday from 11a.m.-2p.m. timeframe. I will pick either Oceanside, Temecula, Riverside, or Irvine for the meetings. Anyone interested should let me know what their preference on meeting sites is, first choice and second choice. I'll try to schedule where the most people would like to meet. If you have questions, please reach out on Facebook to @SqueakinPups
The majority of our babies will be going to homes AFTER December 26. If your goal was to surprise someone with a gift - give them the cage and supplies for their gift and allow them to be part of the selection process after Christmas. Rat parents feel much more attached to their rats if they get to pick them in person. It is much more special that way.
If you want to adopt December or January, please get your application in once you have all you need to care for the rats (cage, bedding, food, etc.) Please consider my Etsy shops for getting those supplies. I really appreciate any way my fans can support my business. The sooner you are ready and have applied, the sooner you will get to pick. Even applying early, there may be a wait until late January or even February for those applying in December for adoption. I currently have 5 adopters waiting on the December litters, and we are not even halfway through November!
I plan to make at least one out of area trip in December. If you want to sign up for that, the fee is $100, and it will be on a Saturday from 11a.m.-2p.m. timeframe. I will pick either Oceanside, Temecula, Riverside, or Irvine for the meetings. Anyone interested should let me know what their preference on meeting sites is, first choice and second choice. I'll try to schedule where the most people would like to meet. If you have questions, please reach out on Facebook to @SqueakinPups
June 4, 2022 New Adoption Forms and Out of Area Appointments
June started off on a bad note with me accidentally deleting both of my adoption forms when I was trying to clear up some Google drive space. I was very sad, but with the help of a few past adopters I was able to quickly recreate the forms. I added some new questions and reworded a few that had been bugging me for a while, so the forms are now new and improved (hopefully improved, I may still tweak them over the next month as responses come in.)
I am happy to announce that I am going to be offering an Out of Area Appointment around mid-late July for the litters we will have then. My kids will all be on summer break and I will have more space in my schedule to take a day off. The day has not been set, but I will keep everyone posted once the litters have all been born. We have one here already (born June 2!) and 2-3 more may make an appearance, but the pairings were a little slow because I'm working on bringing back some Dwarf to the rattery. I am hoping 2 more litters will be born this coming week with a 3rd possible the week after. The OOAA will have a fee on top of all adoption fees. The fee will cover my gas, time, and a meal, if one is necessary while I'm out due to the length of the appointments/driving.
I am happy to announce that I am going to be offering an Out of Area Appointment around mid-late July for the litters we will have then. My kids will all be on summer break and I will have more space in my schedule to take a day off. The day has not been set, but I will keep everyone posted once the litters have all been born. We have one here already (born June 2!) and 2-3 more may make an appearance, but the pairings were a little slow because I'm working on bringing back some Dwarf to the rattery. I am hoping 2 more litters will be born this coming week with a 3rd possible the week after. The OOAA will have a fee on top of all adoption fees. The fee will cover my gas, time, and a meal, if one is necessary while I'm out due to the length of the appointments/driving.
April 22, 2022 The Pet Savvy - I've Been Quoted!!!
I was asked for my opinion this month by The Pet Savvy for their new article on the top tips for first-time rat owners. It was really exciting to be asked for my opinion and see my name in there with other well-loved breeders, like Carol from LASR (my fave from the mentioned group). Whether you are new to rats or not, I think you can get some good tips from the article to help you with your rat care.
April 21, 2022 Upcoming Litter of Squeakin' Pups
We have 3 boys still looking for a home, if you would like to adopt now. See them in the Available Now section.
We have new babies in the rattery. They will be available to go to homes in late May (between 5/20-5/30/2022).
We updated the website to show Upcoming Litters once again. Details will be posted as they are available.
We will accept applications for them once they are posted in "Available Now".
We have new babies in the rattery. They will be available to go to homes in late May (between 5/20-5/30/2022).
We updated the website to show Upcoming Litters once again. Details will be posted as they are available.
We will accept applications for them once they are posted in "Available Now".
February 27, 2022 Upcoming Litter of Squeakin' Pups
Our newest litter is posted under "Our Rats/Available Now". Full details can be found there!
January 2, 2022 Upcoming Litter of Squeakin' Pups
We have a litter coming up. We will be able to accommodate 3 adopters for male and 3 adopters for female (approximately) for this offering. Information will be updated on Facebook and the website as of the first week of January (as soon as I can get photos and post them). Approximate go home dates will be the last week of January or first week of February. I am tracking weight and growth. Most babies are Satin, which tend to be lighter in weight than standard coat rats. Males will likely reach benchmarks first and be available before females. Adoption fees for first picks will be $100. Please do not message me directly requesting babies. The adoption forms will be posted and that is the ONLY way you may express interest. I will approve adopters from those who apply and send a notification. There will be a deposit required to schedule a date for picking out and taking home your new Squeakin' Pups. I will not be reserving specific babies for anyone. All selections are based on when adopters reserve a date/time for picking. All the additional information on that will be included in the post - I don't know what days are available for picking yet.
I'm not sure if I forgot anything, but if I did, that information will likely be included with the official birth announcement. Sorry I don't have more info now, it has been rather crazy here with the holidays. I'm finally getting a lull in things and should be able to have all that info out shortly. (Which in "me" time usually means the next 7-10 days. Also apologize for that. Those of you who have been fans for a while know just how much I do on a daily/weekly basis. It's a little ridiculous. >.< I do love you all, though, so I hope that makes up for it a bit! <3)
I'm not sure if I forgot anything, but if I did, that information will likely be included with the official birth announcement. Sorry I don't have more info now, it has been rather crazy here with the holidays. I'm finally getting a lull in things and should be able to have all that info out shortly. (Which in "me" time usually means the next 7-10 days. Also apologize for that. Those of you who have been fans for a while know just how much I do on a daily/weekly basis. It's a little ridiculous. >.< I do love you all, though, so I hope that makes up for it a bit! <3)
September 10, 2021 Squeakin' Pups 15th Quarterly Critter Nation Raffle
Our 15th Quarterly Raffle is up and going! We started accepting entries September 1st, but there is still time to enter by the September 30th deadline.
You can find information on the raffle on our new "Quarterly Raffle" page. Be sure to read all the rules for the raffle before entering. There are always lots of prizes!
We offer free bonus entries to fans of our social media pages when they enter each week (you must have a new paid entry to qualify - look for those posts on all our social media platforms for more information.
You can find information on the raffle on our new "Quarterly Raffle" page. Be sure to read all the rules for the raffle before entering. There are always lots of prizes!
We offer free bonus entries to fans of our social media pages when they enter each week (you must have a new paid entry to qualify - look for those posts on all our social media platforms for more information.
Rattery Update
It feels like the rattery life has been quite the yo-yo this year. I've had a lot of "last litters" as my health has taken turns for the worse, then been able to provide more as health improved. I am starting to settle into some stability with my health now and I'm hoping to be able to pair up my youngest girls for one last round of litters for November/December going home dates. I'll be matching everyone up this week and announcing litters in October for those litters that are successful.
I have a lot of adopters who are interested in still adopting. I have scaled back the rattery a TON the past two years. We went from 6+ litters per month to only 2 at most. Please know that we cannot provide babies to everyone seeking, but those who have been waiting for babies longest or are returning adopters in excellent standing will have preference over new adopters and general returning adopters. Our adoption forms are turned off right now. We will turn the application and disclosure form on when we have any litters to offer.
I have a lot of adopters who are interested in still adopting. I have scaled back the rattery a TON the past two years. We went from 6+ litters per month to only 2 at most. Please know that we cannot provide babies to everyone seeking, but those who have been waiting for babies longest or are returning adopters in excellent standing will have preference over new adopters and general returning adopters. Our adoption forms are turned off right now. We will turn the application and disclosure form on when we have any litters to offer.
May 14, 2021 Squeakin' Pups 14th Quarterly Critter Nation Raffle
After taking a break for most of 2020, our Raffle is making a comeback! We started up the raffle May 4th, but we are opening it up to fans who visit our website in addition to fans of our Facebook page. You can find information on the raffle on our new "Quarterly Raffle" page. Be sure to read all the rules for the raffle before entering. There are always lots of prizes!
Rattery Update
I am taking everything day to day at this point. Since the last update, things have changed on a nearly daily basis. I am posting updates to Facebook, but I did want to let everyone know that my treatment plan has been helping with the Lupus flare I am in right now. Unfortunately, the cure has some side effects of its own and the balancing of dosages for the treatment has been problematic. We have several litters coming up, but the prognosis for recovery has gotten longer, instead of shorter. We will likely have no litters through the summer months. May and June, with possibly a few late deliveries for homes in July will be the last until I am on better footing with my health.
Adopters who are interested in adopting this year will need to fill out the application forms as soon as possible and keep a close eye out for the litters as they are posted. Discounts are available to past adopters who have kept in good contact with us regarding their past adoptions.
Adopters who are interested in adopting this year will need to fill out the application forms as soon as possible and keep a close eye out for the litters as they are posted. Discounts are available to past adopters who have kept in good contact with us regarding their past adoptions.
April 21, 2021 INFO: Our Current and Future Litters
We are still having a few litters every 1-2 months as we continue to shrink our rattery down to only our own personal pet rats. As many of my fans on Facebook know, my Lupus had a very significant flare up in 2020 leading into 2021. The flare went undetected because my symptoms were seemingly unrelated to my usual range of known symptoms and issues that I've had for over 20 years. April 2021 I discovered the Lupus has begun to affect my internal organs, specifically blood, kidneys, heart, and lungs to a significant degree. My regimen of care is having to be significantly altered as a result. The basic treatment I am undergoing will be a hard reset of my immune system, which will take me to zero immune response, or close to it. Due to this, my TEAM of medical professionals monitoring my care have advised me that the rattery is a high risk situation due to the cleaning, care, and maintenance of the rats and potential exposure to bacteria inherent in that. An infection at any point during this reset of the immune system could be fatal, so I'll have to be very alert and cautious about bacteria exposures. Even the bacteria natural to my own body will pose a threat to me. There's really no avoiding them 100%, but my TEAM has a laundry list of things I can do to lower my exposure rate.
With all that in mind, I'm really struggling with the letting go. My fans know how much I love my fur babies. They are a little piece of my core identity! If I'm not a rat breeder... who am I? The question really hurts to think on and it lingers. I know I do much more than just "breed rats," but the loss of this aspect due to having the choice removed is much harder than a few weeks ago when I was just trying to make the rattery a little smaller for the sake of not having to be quite so busy all the time. In one instance, I had a choice. Now, I do not.
There is a list of interest on my Adoption Info page here. I will try to keep that up to date, but the most current info on all things adoption will always appear on Facebook going forward. It is just much easier to update and alter than my website is. All communications should also go through Facebook or the Messenger app associated with it. Part of my self-care is to try to work less and rest more. My energy levels are extremely low due to the anemia that resulted from some of the damage being done by the Lupus. Keeping communications central to one point and updates in one main place is part of my self-care. I'm really sorry to all who do not have Facebook or hate it - I completely understand when anyone doesn't like social media - but it is where I'm most well-established and known, so it will continue to be my preferred place to operate. I definitely won't deny anyone adoption if they aren't on Facebook, but reaching me and getting a response or information will be much more difficult and slow. Completing the process will take longer and you may not adopt at all due to that fact.
For my many fans who have been reaching out with words of encouragement and support - THANK YOU! You have no idea how much it means to me to have the outpouring of love that I have right now. I have a really positive outlook on my health and wellness. I am very encouraged that my kidneys show no signs of damage, they are just struggling to filter the amount of junk my body has dumped on them. Once the treatment stops the damage, they will be A-OK, which is a miracle in itself considering how long the flare was going without me realizing the seriousness of the smaller symptoms I did have. My TEAM is optimistic that the treatment will work, my body will recover, and we can switch to a more conservative plan of care in 3-6 months. Prayers, good wishes/thoughts, and encouraging words are all very appreciated during this journey. God has always taken good care of me - heck, I'm pretty sure it was Him that put me in the tight spot that sent me "accidentally" to my doctor and resulted in the serendipitous finding of what was wrong while looking for something completely different. I know He loves me and He's got this all under control - even if my entire body is out of control. I can't trust my own cells, but I can trust Him.
If anyone feels led to "do something" for me, the things I am asking are just the promoting of my different Etsy shops. I don't want anyone to have to donate anything if it isn't in their means, everything you can do is free except for the time it takes to do it. My Etsy shops have been the primary way we pay bills in my house, so keeping them going is 100% necessary, even now. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, here is a list of easy and free ways to do so:
1. Like me on Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram with @SqueakinPups or go direct with these links
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SqueakinPups for our rattery page or www.Facebook.com/SoSqueakinCute for my daughter's pet rat costume page.
- Instagram: search @SqueakinPups (Me) or @So_Squeakin_Cute (Tahlia's pet rat costume profile)
- Etsy (pet rat bedding, toys, treats, and more) : www.SqueakinPups.etsy.com
- Etsy (pet rat costumes by my daughter Tahlia): www.SoSqueakinCute.etsy.com
- Etsy (fabric and craft supplies, mostly for requesting custom pet bedding. It is my inventory of fabrics): www.FabricCraftSupply.etsy.com
As the rattery is shrinking, I will be adding a shop for little girl skirts (to start), baby blankets for humans (to start), and possibly 18" doll skirts (to start.) If you have an interest in those types of sewn items, you can check back here periodically and I'll announce them to fans in all my various ways when I am able to launch them. The sewing is easy for me to do a little here and there and maintain rest and my new "plan of care and maintenance of the defective Eliza body" as we are lovingly calling it around here. It is my greatest asset that I have something I can do with little strain and still provide. (See, God takes care of me! He made me really creative and talented in just the right ways! Almost like He saw this coming... hmm...)
2. Post to your own social media accounts regarding any of my Etsy shops you think someone would be interested. Posts can be links to the shops, photos of items you bought in the past, or recommending my shops as somewhere to go when anyone else posts a request for recommendations.
3. Use the hashtag #SqueakinPups or @SqueakinPups if you are recommending me in a post or comment. This will get my name seen more and direct more traffic to me and put me higher in search rankings. Including other hashtags such as #petrats #petbedding #ratcostume or #shopsmall #shoplocal all help, too.
4. Link my Etsy website addresses on your own website or posts. The more times my Etsy shops are linked, the more often they will come up on search engines like Google.
5. Pin my items in any Pinterest boards you may have that are relevant to the item. Have a "Rat Toys" or "Rat Cage Ideas" board? You can pin some of my bedding items, toys, or other rat related products to those boards and others will get a chance to see me.
If you do even just one of these things it takes only a minute or two and one well-placed link could attract $100 of orders easily. My only request is please, PLEASE do not share anything about me being unwell. You can post that I'm amazing, have great stuff, talented, etc. but I do not want anyone to manipulate with sympathy in an effort to generate others to click the links. I'm not a go fund me. I'm not about tugging heartstrings because no matter what - even if not a single person posts a post or comment - God's got me. I know that more than anything else. Everything is going to be all right. I've already walked through worse and my life is constantly becoming more than where I started. He is so faithful and He loves me so much (I think I'm His favorite. Sorry, not sorry, 'cause it's awesome!) I'm full of joy, hope, and confidence.
Sincerely,
Eliza <3
P.S. Just a quick reminder that if you have questions, please feel free to ask. I am always here to help!
I am still just as committed to supporting all my adopters as always. I am still here for you.
With all that in mind, I'm really struggling with the letting go. My fans know how much I love my fur babies. They are a little piece of my core identity! If I'm not a rat breeder... who am I? The question really hurts to think on and it lingers. I know I do much more than just "breed rats," but the loss of this aspect due to having the choice removed is much harder than a few weeks ago when I was just trying to make the rattery a little smaller for the sake of not having to be quite so busy all the time. In one instance, I had a choice. Now, I do not.
There is a list of interest on my Adoption Info page here. I will try to keep that up to date, but the most current info on all things adoption will always appear on Facebook going forward. It is just much easier to update and alter than my website is. All communications should also go through Facebook or the Messenger app associated with it. Part of my self-care is to try to work less and rest more. My energy levels are extremely low due to the anemia that resulted from some of the damage being done by the Lupus. Keeping communications central to one point and updates in one main place is part of my self-care. I'm really sorry to all who do not have Facebook or hate it - I completely understand when anyone doesn't like social media - but it is where I'm most well-established and known, so it will continue to be my preferred place to operate. I definitely won't deny anyone adoption if they aren't on Facebook, but reaching me and getting a response or information will be much more difficult and slow. Completing the process will take longer and you may not adopt at all due to that fact.
For my many fans who have been reaching out with words of encouragement and support - THANK YOU! You have no idea how much it means to me to have the outpouring of love that I have right now. I have a really positive outlook on my health and wellness. I am very encouraged that my kidneys show no signs of damage, they are just struggling to filter the amount of junk my body has dumped on them. Once the treatment stops the damage, they will be A-OK, which is a miracle in itself considering how long the flare was going without me realizing the seriousness of the smaller symptoms I did have. My TEAM is optimistic that the treatment will work, my body will recover, and we can switch to a more conservative plan of care in 3-6 months. Prayers, good wishes/thoughts, and encouraging words are all very appreciated during this journey. God has always taken good care of me - heck, I'm pretty sure it was Him that put me in the tight spot that sent me "accidentally" to my doctor and resulted in the serendipitous finding of what was wrong while looking for something completely different. I know He loves me and He's got this all under control - even if my entire body is out of control. I can't trust my own cells, but I can trust Him.
If anyone feels led to "do something" for me, the things I am asking are just the promoting of my different Etsy shops. I don't want anyone to have to donate anything if it isn't in their means, everything you can do is free except for the time it takes to do it. My Etsy shops have been the primary way we pay bills in my house, so keeping them going is 100% necessary, even now. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, here is a list of easy and free ways to do so:
1. Like me on Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram with @SqueakinPups or go direct with these links
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SqueakinPups for our rattery page or www.Facebook.com/SoSqueakinCute for my daughter's pet rat costume page.
- Instagram: search @SqueakinPups (Me) or @So_Squeakin_Cute (Tahlia's pet rat costume profile)
- Etsy (pet rat bedding, toys, treats, and more) : www.SqueakinPups.etsy.com
- Etsy (pet rat costumes by my daughter Tahlia): www.SoSqueakinCute.etsy.com
- Etsy (fabric and craft supplies, mostly for requesting custom pet bedding. It is my inventory of fabrics): www.FabricCraftSupply.etsy.com
As the rattery is shrinking, I will be adding a shop for little girl skirts (to start), baby blankets for humans (to start), and possibly 18" doll skirts (to start.) If you have an interest in those types of sewn items, you can check back here periodically and I'll announce them to fans in all my various ways when I am able to launch them. The sewing is easy for me to do a little here and there and maintain rest and my new "plan of care and maintenance of the defective Eliza body" as we are lovingly calling it around here. It is my greatest asset that I have something I can do with little strain and still provide. (See, God takes care of me! He made me really creative and talented in just the right ways! Almost like He saw this coming... hmm...)
2. Post to your own social media accounts regarding any of my Etsy shops you think someone would be interested. Posts can be links to the shops, photos of items you bought in the past, or recommending my shops as somewhere to go when anyone else posts a request for recommendations.
3. Use the hashtag #SqueakinPups or @SqueakinPups if you are recommending me in a post or comment. This will get my name seen more and direct more traffic to me and put me higher in search rankings. Including other hashtags such as #petrats #petbedding #ratcostume or #shopsmall #shoplocal all help, too.
4. Link my Etsy website addresses on your own website or posts. The more times my Etsy shops are linked, the more often they will come up on search engines like Google.
5. Pin my items in any Pinterest boards you may have that are relevant to the item. Have a "Rat Toys" or "Rat Cage Ideas" board? You can pin some of my bedding items, toys, or other rat related products to those boards and others will get a chance to see me.
If you do even just one of these things it takes only a minute or two and one well-placed link could attract $100 of orders easily. My only request is please, PLEASE do not share anything about me being unwell. You can post that I'm amazing, have great stuff, talented, etc. but I do not want anyone to manipulate with sympathy in an effort to generate others to click the links. I'm not a go fund me. I'm not about tugging heartstrings because no matter what - even if not a single person posts a post or comment - God's got me. I know that more than anything else. Everything is going to be all right. I've already walked through worse and my life is constantly becoming more than where I started. He is so faithful and He loves me so much (I think I'm His favorite. Sorry, not sorry, 'cause it's awesome!) I'm full of joy, hope, and confidence.
Sincerely,
Eliza <3
P.S. Just a quick reminder that if you have questions, please feel free to ask. I am always here to help!
I am still just as committed to supporting all my adopters as always. I am still here for you.
January 1, 2021 Happy New Year! We have more babies!
Happy 2021 everyone!
I am making a note to let everyone know that we are currently in the process of offering our newest litters to our wait list for pick ups on January 7 and 9. The wait list of approved adopters is not very long, so if you would like to possibly pick up your new babies on one of those days, you can still apply through our Adoption menu. If you do apply, please be sure to fill out BOTH of our adoption forms. We have an application form and a disclosure form. The application gives us information on you and your rat preferences. The disclosure form allows me to get much needed information out to all my potential adopters and ensure there are no big areas where you might need help or education on rat care and nature. Many people message me worried the disclosure is a test, but it's not. It is a tool for both you and I to use to help you be able to take the absolute best care of my Squeakin' Pups that you can. I hope that relieves some of the pressure I've been hearing others are feeling when it comes to filling out the forms.
If anyone misses our January 7/9 adoptions, we will be having more babies able to go to homes on January 14 and 16. The offerings for them will begin after all our spots for the 7/9 are full. If you are looking to stay more up-to-date on adoption news, please follow us on Facebook. I communicate on there much more often than I do on the website because it is easier to make posts and edit things. Not to mention I get notifications on messages much faster through Facebook than I do via email.
I am making a note to let everyone know that we are currently in the process of offering our newest litters to our wait list for pick ups on January 7 and 9. The wait list of approved adopters is not very long, so if you would like to possibly pick up your new babies on one of those days, you can still apply through our Adoption menu. If you do apply, please be sure to fill out BOTH of our adoption forms. We have an application form and a disclosure form. The application gives us information on you and your rat preferences. The disclosure form allows me to get much needed information out to all my potential adopters and ensure there are no big areas where you might need help or education on rat care and nature. Many people message me worried the disclosure is a test, but it's not. It is a tool for both you and I to use to help you be able to take the absolute best care of my Squeakin' Pups that you can. I hope that relieves some of the pressure I've been hearing others are feeling when it comes to filling out the forms.
If anyone misses our January 7/9 adoptions, we will be having more babies able to go to homes on January 14 and 16. The offerings for them will begin after all our spots for the 7/9 are full. If you are looking to stay more up-to-date on adoption news, please follow us on Facebook. I communicate on there much more often than I do on the website because it is easier to make posts and edit things. Not to mention I get notifications on messages much faster through Facebook than I do via email.
December 6, 2020 Christmas Closure Dates
We will be closed on December 23-26 for Christmas. I will not be accepting messages or phone calls on Dec.23-26.
I will return on December 27 for anyone who would like to adopt after Christmas.
If you would like an appointment on any of the days we are closed, there is a VERY LARGE fee to fit you in and space is very limited. Appointment requests must be made by December 15th. Starting fees are $100 for appointments between Dec.23-26.
In lieu of giving actual rats on Christmas. We recommend that you give a cage and all supplies for them and make an appointment for picking rats in person the week after Christmas. This gives a greater sense of ownership to the one receiving and is a very special event in itself. The supplies create joy and excitement, while picking in person makes the rats a lot more special to the one receiving.
I will return on December 27 for anyone who would like to adopt after Christmas.
If you would like an appointment on any of the days we are closed, there is a VERY LARGE fee to fit you in and space is very limited. Appointment requests must be made by December 15th. Starting fees are $100 for appointments between Dec.23-26.
In lieu of giving actual rats on Christmas. We recommend that you give a cage and all supplies for them and make an appointment for picking rats in person the week after Christmas. This gives a greater sense of ownership to the one receiving and is a very special event in itself. The supplies create joy and excitement, while picking in person makes the rats a lot more special to the one receiving.
August 9, 2020 New Litters Are Available
We are scheduling adopters for in-person selection of new babies.
We finished notifying everyone from our past adopter list and the response was very low due to our long absence. We have cleared out our old adopter listing and started anew, so now is a great time to express interest before the list gets long again. If you would like to schedule for either of our currently available litters, just fill out an interest form to get things going.
If you are an adopter who already filled out an application, please be sure to let us know and we will match your new notification of interest with your old application. We will only be pulling old applications back in until September 1, 2020.
We finished notifying everyone from our past adopter list and the response was very low due to our long absence. We have cleared out our old adopter listing and started anew, so now is a great time to express interest before the list gets long again. If you would like to schedule for either of our currently available litters, just fill out an interest form to get things going.
If you are an adopter who already filled out an application, please be sure to let us know and we will match your new notification of interest with your old application. We will only be pulling old applications back in until September 1, 2020.
August 1, 2020 New Litters Are Arriving!
ANNOUNCING: We will be meeting with adopters to pick from our available babies in person on Saturday, August 8th, 10a.m.
Attached is a photo showing what Agouti looks like when they are adult. The color is not easy to capture in baby photos. It is the natural coloring of rats. Each hair is banded with a gray, gold, and black band. The width of the color bands can lend a slightly different shading to each rat. Those with more of the golden band will be a reddish brown tone, while those with a larger black band will be a dark chocolate in appearance. The individual hairs themselves are NOT brown.
There will be two slots open to pick that day, one for boys and one for girls. I am not sure on adoption fees right now. I've been debating $50/ea or the same $100/ea as before our break. I haven't offered anyone in a while, and I don't want to drown in requests since I'm only scheduling two people for Saturday.
To give everyone an idea of what to expect, here is my tentative list of adopter types and what's happening next:
- First in Line are all adopters who are already approved. If you are on this list, you will receive a notification to confirm if you are still interested in adopting with me. Those who do not respond within one week will be dropped from my approved list and will need to reapply.
- Second in line will be anyone who applied but has not yet been approved. I will message everyone to see if they are still interested in adopting. Interested adopters will have their applications processed. Those not interested will be removed and they will need to reapply if they change their mind later.
- I will not be accepting new applications from today until I change the application slightly.
Changes that are coming to the adoption process to make things easier on me:
- I am going to create an "Interest" form that will be much simpler to fill out than the full application. The Interest form will have a section for interested individuals to notify me of their interest in specific available litters. When those litters are close to being offered, I will message those interested persons to let them know where they can fill out an application if still interested and any pertinent information in regards to that litter and adoption. This way everyone does not need to fill out the full adoption forms (which are lengthy) until they are ready to adopt, and I won't spend as much time on approving applications (which are lengthy). Less work for all.
- Adoption applications will have a fee to process. It will be $5 per application. This is only requested for those who have been notified that their litter of interest is up for reserve and it is time to fill out the forms. There is no fee for the disclosure form.
- Picking preferences will go in order of when adopters are approved. Adopters can only select from babies if they have completed the full process of submitting forms, paying their application fee, and being approved. Being approved may take longer for some adopters than others if your application is incomplete, you have no cage or supplies pre-purchased, or if there are any problems with your application. It is important to be fully rat-ready when you apply. Right now things are taking much longer to get via mail, and in person purchasing may not be available in all areas, so supplies are best ordered ahead.
- Communications will all be on Facebook through my page. If anyone is not on Facebook, they will be notified of the need to reach out here. I've had a few difficulties with emails in the past, but everything seems to arrive fine on Messenger and through the page.
Like everything, I'm going to try this out and see how it works. Thank you to everyone in advance for your patience during this time. I will be updating the website and my forms soon. They probably won't happen in time for this litter, but I'll post on the page when the updates are complete.
Attached is a photo showing what Agouti looks like when they are adult. The color is not easy to capture in baby photos. It is the natural coloring of rats. Each hair is banded with a gray, gold, and black band. The width of the color bands can lend a slightly different shading to each rat. Those with more of the golden band will be a reddish brown tone, while those with a larger black band will be a dark chocolate in appearance. The individual hairs themselves are NOT brown.
There will be two slots open to pick that day, one for boys and one for girls. I am not sure on adoption fees right now. I've been debating $50/ea or the same $100/ea as before our break. I haven't offered anyone in a while, and I don't want to drown in requests since I'm only scheduling two people for Saturday.
To give everyone an idea of what to expect, here is my tentative list of adopter types and what's happening next:
- First in Line are all adopters who are already approved. If you are on this list, you will receive a notification to confirm if you are still interested in adopting with me. Those who do not respond within one week will be dropped from my approved list and will need to reapply.
- Second in line will be anyone who applied but has not yet been approved. I will message everyone to see if they are still interested in adopting. Interested adopters will have their applications processed. Those not interested will be removed and they will need to reapply if they change their mind later.
- I will not be accepting new applications from today until I change the application slightly.
Changes that are coming to the adoption process to make things easier on me:
- I am going to create an "Interest" form that will be much simpler to fill out than the full application. The Interest form will have a section for interested individuals to notify me of their interest in specific available litters. When those litters are close to being offered, I will message those interested persons to let them know where they can fill out an application if still interested and any pertinent information in regards to that litter and adoption. This way everyone does not need to fill out the full adoption forms (which are lengthy) until they are ready to adopt, and I won't spend as much time on approving applications (which are lengthy). Less work for all.
- Adoption applications will have a fee to process. It will be $5 per application. This is only requested for those who have been notified that their litter of interest is up for reserve and it is time to fill out the forms. There is no fee for the disclosure form.
- Picking preferences will go in order of when adopters are approved. Adopters can only select from babies if they have completed the full process of submitting forms, paying their application fee, and being approved. Being approved may take longer for some adopters than others if your application is incomplete, you have no cage or supplies pre-purchased, or if there are any problems with your application. It is important to be fully rat-ready when you apply. Right now things are taking much longer to get via mail, and in person purchasing may not be available in all areas, so supplies are best ordered ahead.
- Communications will all be on Facebook through my page. If anyone is not on Facebook, they will be notified of the need to reach out here. I've had a few difficulties with emails in the past, but everything seems to arrive fine on Messenger and through the page.
Like everything, I'm going to try this out and see how it works. Thank you to everyone in advance for your patience during this time. I will be updating the website and my forms soon. They probably won't happen in time for this litter, but I'll post on the page when the updates are complete.
July 17, 2020 The Move That Never Ends
The move did not go anything like we planned. There were setbacks galore and I am still dealing with the fallout of everything. It is looking like we will finish with the old house (FINALLY) by July 31 or sooner. I am working on that primarily but with "fire put out" duty at the new house as things break or need immediate attention.
What does this mean for the rattery? Well, we have two litters that are about 2.5wks old right now and they will need homes. I have not been able to post them or take photos to show off, however. It is likely that next week sometime (probably the weekend) I will post photos of the babies for everyone to see. I will also announce a day and time that adopters can come pick out babies in person, if they so choose. I will give preference on reserving slots to adopters who have been waiting the LONGEST to adopt. The groups will be:
1. Anyone who was approved already in June.
2. Any new applications not yet approved, but received in June.
3. New applications received July 1-7.
4. New applications received July 8 and after.
I will likely have a time limit for when adopters need to respond back on interest in the meet up. I will schedule everyone with a deposit only. The deposit will be equal to 50% of the adoption fee for the total number of babies that each adopter wants to select when they meet. I will schedule less adopters than the number of babies available for the first meeting to ensure everyone has some selection for their appointment time.
Once the first meeting is over. I will do the process over after updating which babies remain un-adopted.
I have put another hold on litters because there have been so many things going awry with the move in. We don't even have our furniture fully moved in because I've been running around getting repairs done instead. None of it is too terrible, it is all just very inconvenient (like 3 weeks with no stove, washer, or dryer). I appreciate everyone who has shown support and lent encouragement. The new house is awesome - we'll get there - it just needs some attention right at first. Our litters also need lots of attention, which is why I have put them on hold until I know the house is not going to throw any more daily curveballs at me. I don't want to have 3-4 litters on the way and end up losing power to my rat room or something. 100 degree weather is not good for baby rats. (We had sudden power loss in a bedroom and living room so far... but it was actually just that we didn't know how to work the 20 light switches that are in every room... this house is a little too upgraded for me... eeps!)
Lastly, I am shutting off new applications as of today. Until I can get all the current applications sorted out, I don't want any more to come in and new adopters thinking I am ignoring them. I'm really sorry everyone - I would much rather be loving on my babies, but I'm stuck with manual labor at the moment.
What does this mean for the rattery? Well, we have two litters that are about 2.5wks old right now and they will need homes. I have not been able to post them or take photos to show off, however. It is likely that next week sometime (probably the weekend) I will post photos of the babies for everyone to see. I will also announce a day and time that adopters can come pick out babies in person, if they so choose. I will give preference on reserving slots to adopters who have been waiting the LONGEST to adopt. The groups will be:
1. Anyone who was approved already in June.
2. Any new applications not yet approved, but received in June.
3. New applications received July 1-7.
4. New applications received July 8 and after.
I will likely have a time limit for when adopters need to respond back on interest in the meet up. I will schedule everyone with a deposit only. The deposit will be equal to 50% of the adoption fee for the total number of babies that each adopter wants to select when they meet. I will schedule less adopters than the number of babies available for the first meeting to ensure everyone has some selection for their appointment time.
Once the first meeting is over. I will do the process over after updating which babies remain un-adopted.
I have put another hold on litters because there have been so many things going awry with the move in. We don't even have our furniture fully moved in because I've been running around getting repairs done instead. None of it is too terrible, it is all just very inconvenient (like 3 weeks with no stove, washer, or dryer). I appreciate everyone who has shown support and lent encouragement. The new house is awesome - we'll get there - it just needs some attention right at first. Our litters also need lots of attention, which is why I have put them on hold until I know the house is not going to throw any more daily curveballs at me. I don't want to have 3-4 litters on the way and end up losing power to my rat room or something. 100 degree weather is not good for baby rats. (We had sudden power loss in a bedroom and living room so far... but it was actually just that we didn't know how to work the 20 light switches that are in every room... this house is a little too upgraded for me... eeps!)
Lastly, I am shutting off new applications as of today. Until I can get all the current applications sorted out, I don't want any more to come in and new adopters thinking I am ignoring them. I'm really sorry everyone - I would much rather be loving on my babies, but I'm stuck with manual labor at the moment.
June 19, 2020 We Are Taking A Break
The reduction in fees a couple weeks ago created a huge spike in adopter interest and we had to raise adoption fees again to manage the number of messages and applications we were receiving. We put a hold on new application approvals a week or more ago and will be approving new applications finally after June 20th. We will likely only be able to accommodate 1-2 of the new applications for adopting per gender prior to having a break in litters for at least a month. We did not want to move pregnant or nursing moms, so we will have a delay in the litters with new ones appearing in possibly late July or early August. When we do return, we will likely have a large number of adopters at first and the fees will remain high. Once we are able to get most adopters on our wait list matched with babies, we will begin lowering fees once again.
Right now, I don't have much specific information on July/August adoptions. We are focusing on finding homes for the last few of our babies we do have now and the move to our new house. I will update things on Facebook and here as I know them. Facebook always has more updates than the website, so we recommend everyone become a fan there for all the in between updates we have.
Right now, I don't have much specific information on July/August adoptions. We are focusing on finding homes for the last few of our babies we do have now and the move to our new house. I will update things on Facebook and here as I know them. Facebook always has more updates than the website, so we recommend everyone become a fan there for all the in between updates we have.
**IMPORTANT: We are having a planned break in litters for July and possibly into August as well. New applications will not be approved until after the first litters are offered to adopters who applied prior to June 20, 2020.
June 7, 2020 We Are Moving
I didn't want to announce anything until it was official, as we've been possibly moving for almost 2 years. It is official, though, we are moving! We will be in that process all month long into July and there will be quite a few changes once the move is complete.
We are reducing all adoption fees to help find homes for all our babies prior to the move next month. All future litters not already paired are on hold until we settle in. More details will be posted on Facebook as we have them. After July adoptions, we likely will not have any litters available in August-October. There are a lot of changes that will take place in our family in addition to the move, and those will take priority over new litters. We may still have retirees available during that time. Nothing is set in stone yet as we are just starting this process.
We are reducing all adoption fees to help find homes for all our babies prior to the move next month. All future litters not already paired are on hold until we settle in. More details will be posted on Facebook as we have them. After July adoptions, we likely will not have any litters available in August-October. There are a lot of changes that will take place in our family in addition to the move, and those will take priority over new litters. We may still have retirees available during that time. Nothing is set in stone yet as we are just starting this process.
April 12, 2020
Happy Easter Everyone! (AKA: Update)
I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter in spite of all the coronavirus weirdness. I have been praying for all my family, friends, and fans that you would stay safe and healthy through all of this.
We are still OPEN during this time. We are making reservations and meeting with adopters, however, we have some safety features in place to help keep everyone healthy and safe. If you are interested in adopting, please go to our "Adoption" menu to view all information regarding adoption. You will need to be PRE-APPROVED before a litter is made available to have the best chance at reservations, especially if adopting girls. If you wait until the litter is made available to reserve to apply, you application may not be complete until all babies are reserved by others. If you have questions I am most easily reached on Facebook with my page there right now.
We have a litter of HAIRLESS that was recently born coming up. Also, we have a litter that includes DWARF. There is a very limited number of both and we will not have more for at least 3-6months. Apply early and message me your interest so we can begin to discuss your options.
We are still OPEN during this time. We are making reservations and meeting with adopters, however, we have some safety features in place to help keep everyone healthy and safe. If you are interested in adopting, please go to our "Adoption" menu to view all information regarding adoption. You will need to be PRE-APPROVED before a litter is made available to have the best chance at reservations, especially if adopting girls. If you wait until the litter is made available to reserve to apply, you application may not be complete until all babies are reserved by others. If you have questions I am most easily reached on Facebook with my page there right now.
We have a litter of HAIRLESS that was recently born coming up. Also, we have a litter that includes DWARF. There is a very limited number of both and we will not have more for at least 3-6months. Apply early and message me your interest so we can begin to discuss your options.
March 20, 2020
Reservations and Adoptions
The Eggs litter is being monitored to see if there are any Dwarf. All indications say no, but we want to hold off on offering them for a bit longer to be sure. We are checking weights again on Saturday, 3/21.
I am holding off on reservations for girls until Saturday when I do weights for the Egg litter again. If anyone is interested in adopting girls and wants to include the DOR litter with their reservation, I'll accept requests from them. I would like those little girls to find homes prior to the younger babies finding homes, so adopters willing to love them too are my favorite right now.
I am still accepting reservations on boys. I will also be meeting for in-person picking of boys on Saturday. You will need to contact me early Friday to be put on the schedule.
I am holding off on reservations for girls until Saturday when I do weights for the Egg litter again. If anyone is interested in adopting girls and wants to include the DOR litter with their reservation, I'll accept requests from them. I would like those little girls to find homes prior to the younger babies finding homes, so adopters willing to love them too are my favorite right now.
I am still accepting reservations on boys. I will also be meeting for in-person picking of boys on Saturday. You will need to contact me early Friday to be put on the schedule.
February 18, 2020
This Will be a Slow Year
I will be having another surgery (hopefully the last) on my left hand this year in/around April/May 2020. In preparation for that, I am not doing as many litters this year as I did last year. The hiccups I had with the last surgery have made me more cautious about this year's. I will be at the very minimum for litters until I know the surgery has gone well and I won't need another follow-up surgery (as I did last year.)
I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. We will have very few babies to offer to approved adopters. We will be retiring many of our older rats, however. If you are interested in meeting older rats, you can schedule a meeting at any time for that. Retirees and older babies are always $20/each. Return adopters may qualify for a discount if they have kept in contact regarding current rats from us.
I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. We will have very few babies to offer to approved adopters. We will be retiring many of our older rats, however. If you are interested in meeting older rats, you can schedule a meeting at any time for that. Retirees and older babies are always $20/each. Return adopters may qualify for a discount if they have kept in contact regarding current rats from us.
August 28, 2019
In-Person Adoption Event! Labor Day, 92020 area
We are having an in-person adoption event on Labor Day at two different times. You must pre-register for the event to receive full details. There is an event on the rattery page with details, or you can message us to sign up.
To sign up for the events, you will need to: 1. Be an Approved Adopter 2. Be available for one of the TWO times we have available for selecting your rats. 3. Pay a $10 non-refundable deposit The events are for picking in person from babies that are able to go home on the day of the event. If you are interested in specific babies, please reserve them ahead for pick up. We will not guarantee any babies at these events as all adoptions are on a first to pick basis. How the event works: 1. Select from one of two times to view babies, 9:30-10a.m. (2 slots available per gender) or 5-5:30p.m. (2 slots available per gender) 2. Pay your $10 deposit 3. Receive an appointment time to arrive. 4. Show up at your designated time and select your rats. Each person will have 10 min to select rats before I open the babies up to the next person in line. Either adopter may choose and pay fees on babies at any point after their scheduled time. Meaning if person 1 cannot decide by the end of their 10min, and person 2's time begins and they already know which babies they want, they can pay and take home their babies prior to person 1. This will help keep everything moving smoothly. 5. Pay and take home your new Squeakin' Pups. Other Items of Note: - You will need a carrier on the day of the meeting. Must be fully enclosed with holes/spaces no larger than 1/2" to prevent escape. - We also accept CASH ONLY on the day of the event. - If any adopter decides not to adopt rats on the day of the event, the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. - Items from our Etsy shop and Oxbow rat food can be purchased if ordered ahead by no later than Saturday, 8/31/2019 at 8p.m. - Preferred Adopters may have a special deal on any non-adopted rats at 6p.m. after all scheduled adopters have picked their rats. If you are a Preferred Adopter, please message us for details. |
July 18, 2019
In-Person Adoption Event!! YUMA, AZ
I will be traveling to Yuma, AZ on Monday, July 22, between 8a.m.-9a.m. for an out of area appointment. Anyone interested in meeting me in Yuma for rats, or along my route (I'll be taking the 8fwy) can contact me on Facebook here: www.Facebook.com/SqueakinPups
or you can contact me through email: [email protected] There will be a fee for the meeting, but it will be significantly less than the usual OOAA fee. I can meet with adopters on my way out to Yuma, in Yuma, or on the way home from Yuma. If interested, you will need to be an approved adopter and have your entire deposit paid prior to Saturday at noon. |
July 18, 2019
END OF SUMMER SALE
End of Summer SALE:
We are offering a sale on all our babies for the rest of July 2019. First Squeakin' Pup is full price Second Squeakin' Pup is 20% off Third Squeakin' Pups is 40% off Fourth or more is 60% off All rats must be picked up by no later than 7 days after reservation. Rats can be reserved ahead or adopters can pick in person. This offer is only valid for Approved Adopters. Not approved yet? Find information on getting approved here: Become an Approved Adopter |
June 11, 2019
First Aid Kits - On Hold
I have removed our First Aid items page from the website TEMPORARILY. I made up as many boxes as possible before my surgery in May, but we sold out of them really fast. I will restock as soon as I am able, but business may not be back to usual until after the summer.
I'm sorry for any inconvenience. |
June 1st, 2019
We are having a sale in our Etsy shop on all our soon to expire listings.
www.Etsy.com/shop/SqueakinPups
All of June you can save 20% off on all soon to expire listings. We will update every 10 days or so with new listings set to expire within 2 weeks. Check back often for more deals!
May 27, 2019
Adoption Meet Up Available
We will be meeting May 30 and June 1 to meet with adopters who would like to adopt in person. The meeting will be in the 92020 zip code.
Thursday, May 30, 2019 10a.m. start time: First pick for boys is taken. First pick for girls and 2nd pick for boys available to reserve.
Saturday, June 1, 2019 10a.m. start time: First pick for boys is taken. First pick for girls and 2nd pick for boys available to reserve.
Send us a message if you are interested in participating in this event.
Thursday, May 30, 2019 10a.m. start time: First pick for boys is taken. First pick for girls and 2nd pick for boys available to reserve.
Saturday, June 1, 2019 10a.m. start time: First pick for boys is taken. First pick for girls and 2nd pick for boys available to reserve.
Send us a message if you are interested in participating in this event.
May 4th, 2019
Important Information for Summer 2019
I will be having surgery on my right hand May 7, 2019. My response times and ability to meet in-person will be significantly slowed by being one-handed. I will mostly likely be scheduling 1-2 in-person adoption times each week, beginning after May 15th, and not doing reservations ahead of time to meet adopters one-by-one. The final determination for this will be AFTER my surgery, when I know more of how I'm feeling and what I can actually do. It is expected that I will have zero use of my right hand beyond physical therapy for the first 4 weeks, then incrementally increasing use for two more months after that. I will not be able to drive, so availability will be hampered somewhat by that.
I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Summer is usually my very slow time of year, so it was the best time to schedule the surgery. I'll need a second surgery on the left hand at some point in the future, but it may not be until next summer (as my family really can't have me down and out for 6 months straight.) Prayers and well wishes are greatly appreciated. As the surgery date has gotten closer, I'm feeling more nervous about the whole thing. I really appreciate everyone having patience with me and being understanding. I feel bad that I won't be as responsive and helpful as usual for the next month or more. I will try to check messages at least once a day, but I'm sure I'll miss some days, too.
I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Summer is usually my very slow time of year, so it was the best time to schedule the surgery. I'll need a second surgery on the left hand at some point in the future, but it may not be until next summer (as my family really can't have me down and out for 6 months straight.) Prayers and well wishes are greatly appreciated. As the surgery date has gotten closer, I'm feeling more nervous about the whole thing. I really appreciate everyone having patience with me and being understanding. I feel bad that I won't be as responsive and helpful as usual for the next month or more. I will try to check messages at least once a day, but I'm sure I'll miss some days, too.
December 21, 2018
We will be CLOSED on December 23rd-26th.
We will not be doing any approvals, reservations, meet-ups, or messaging during this time. We will return to normal business on December 27th.
If anyone wishes to reserve or meet up during our Blackout dates for Christmas, there will be a large convenience fee. I charge $100 if you schedule 48 hours in advance during blackout dates and $150 if scheduling less than 48 hours in advance. Meeting during my blackout time is subject to availability. I am on vacation and already have quite a bit planned for myself, so I may not be able to squeeze anyone in, even if they are willing to pay the convenience fee. I have very few blackout times during the year and try to always be here for my adopters, so cutting into that limited time has a very large cost associated. The convenience fees are completely separate from adoption fees and are solely for the purpose of making pick up more convenient for my adopters.
Anyone who is considering adopting for a gift for someone during the Christmas season should consider giving the cage and all appropriate accessories and needs for the rats on Christmas day, then allow the person receiving the gift to select their own new rats. Having a hand in the selection of the new family members will give a much greater sense of ownership and love to the person you are giving the gift to. I find that Squeakin' Pups who are picked by their humans are cared for much better than those that are selected by someone else without the person's input.
If anyone wishes to reserve or meet up during our Blackout dates for Christmas, there will be a large convenience fee. I charge $100 if you schedule 48 hours in advance during blackout dates and $150 if scheduling less than 48 hours in advance. Meeting during my blackout time is subject to availability. I am on vacation and already have quite a bit planned for myself, so I may not be able to squeeze anyone in, even if they are willing to pay the convenience fee. I have very few blackout times during the year and try to always be here for my adopters, so cutting into that limited time has a very large cost associated. The convenience fees are completely separate from adoption fees and are solely for the purpose of making pick up more convenient for my adopters.
Anyone who is considering adopting for a gift for someone during the Christmas season should consider giving the cage and all appropriate accessories and needs for the rats on Christmas day, then allow the person receiving the gift to select their own new rats. Having a hand in the selection of the new family members will give a much greater sense of ownership and love to the person you are giving the gift to. I find that Squeakin' Pups who are picked by their humans are cared for much better than those that are selected by someone else without the person's input.
October 27, 2018
Our Busy Season is Here!
We have posted our Busy Season Info page. Please be sure to read up on all the additions and changes that are currently in place for adoptions beginning Nov. 1st. All items on the page may change without notice based on how busy we are. The items are all meant to streamline procedures and make it possible to best help everyone during this busy time of year for us.
October 11th, 2018
Do you Deliver?
In the past the answer was no, but we are opening up this option on a limited basis for our approved adopters. View the "Out of Area / Delivery" page under "Adoption" in the main menu bar for more info.
In the past the answer was no, but we are opening up this option on a limited basis for our approved adopters. View the "Out of Area / Delivery" page under "Adoption" in the main menu bar for more info.