Have Some Respect

Stop telling me how gross you think rats are. You wouldn’t walk into a dog breeder’s home and say, “I hate dogs, they’re disgusting,” so don’t do it here either.

You also wouldn’t go into a bakery and announce you think bread is “gross,” or tell a tattoo artist you hate tattoos while they’re working. You don’t go into someone’s space, especially someone’s business, and insult the very thing they care about.

It’s basic respect: if you don’t like something, you don’t need to make it the focus of the conversation, and you definitely don’t need to say it to the person who’s built their life around it.

It happens more often than you’d think. Someone finds out what I do, and instead of curiosity or even polite neutrality, the response is: “Ew, rats? I could never. They’re so gross.”

Let me be clear: that’s not harmless commentary. It’s insulting.

I’m a breeder. I dedicate an enormous amount of time, care, and resources to raising healthy, well-socialized animals. These aren’t sewer pests pulled off the street. These are domesticated companions that are handled daily, kept in clean, enriched environments, and bred thoughtfully for temperament and health.

When you tell me you think rats are disgusting, you’re not just sharing an opinion about an animal. You’re dismissing the work I do and the animals I care about.

And honestly, what’s the goal? I’m not going to agree with you. You’re not going to change my mind. All it does is create an awkward moment where I now have to decide whether to educate you or end the conversation.

If rats aren’t your thing, that’s completely fine. No one is asking you to own them. But basic respect goes a long way. A better response costs nothing.

Rats are intelligent, affectionate, and incredibly misunderstood animals. The stigma around them is outdated, and comments like these are exactly why.

If you’re genuinely curious, I’m always happy to talk about them. If not, that’s okay too. Just don’t insult my animals or my work on your way out.