Sugar 'n Spice's Paradise

 Vacation

Away From School!

Welcome to the World of the Rat

Sugar and Spice are the class pets in room 2C. They live in a flowerpot inside a cage and move weekly from desk team to desk team. And the students love them!!!

Each weekend they visit a different host family. If you are the host family, the following information will help you take care of them if they are visiting your home this weekend.

Don't be afraid! Rats are delightful creatures that are often misunderstood. Actually rats are docile animals that put eating and socializing high on their priority list. They are affectionate, loyal, social, and very clean. They are quite personable and enjoy being handled. They make wonderful pets for adults and children alike.

Rat Responsibilities:

1. Spend time each day with them.
2. Food will be sent with them. Sugar and Spice also love fresh vegetables and you can supplement with them.
3. They will visit you with a clean cage. Just check to see that they have plenty of water. No house cleaning is required.
4. Keep them in a place where they can see and hear your family. Remember, they are very social.
5. Consider how other pets may react to them and consider any safety concerns. 

The book, The Rat: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet, by Ginger Cardinal will also come home with Sugar and Spice. This gives you quick access to every thing you need to know about the health and well-being of them.

Space Rats

Did you know...?

Rats have been used in space programs. Long before anyone actually traveled in space, our little rat friends were testing machines that simulated the conditions of a journey in space. Their reactions to gravity changes, speed and dietary needs were carefully observed and monitored. Rats also took test flights in rockets to see how they were able to adapt to the "real" thing. Lucky for the rats, they did very well on the tests, and some were even heralded as heroes. If it weren't for our little rat friends, we might never have walked on the moon.