Spilling The Tea

If you follow Forest City Rats, you may have noticed that I’ve started being more open about my experiences, both the positive and the challenging ones. That transparency is intentional.

Over time, I’ve also reached a point where I feel confident enough to speak openly when something genuinely questionable or shady happens. Maybe it’s turning 30, maybe it’s the growth of the rattery, or maybe it’s simply the experience that comes from being in this space for a while. But a big part of that confidence also comes from standing behind the work I do. I believe in the care, ethics, and standards behind my program and the animals I produce. When you know you’re doing things responsibly and thoughtfully, it becomes a lot easier to speak up about situations that don’t align with those values.

I strongly believe that transparency builds trust. When people are buying animals, supporting a breeder, or simply learning about the realities of small-scale breeding, they deserve an honest look at what that world actually involves.

Another reason I tend to communicate very directly is that I’m neurodivergent. For me, being literal, straightforward, and clear about my experiences isn’t a strategy; it’s simply how my brain works. I tend to process situations very analytically, and when something feels unfair or problematic, my instinct is to address it directly and advocate for accountability. That doesn’t mean the goal is conflict. In fact, the goal is usually the opposite: clarity, honesty, and hopefully better understanding moving forward.

Because of that, if someone reads one of my posts and happens to recognize themselves in a situation I’ve described, that genuinely doesn’t bother me. My intention isn’t to hide the fact that real experiences inspired what gets talked about here.

If someone does feel that a story or situation relates to them, they are always welcome to reach out if they’d like to discuss it further. The best ways to contact me are through Facebook/Instagram Messenger or by email at hello@forestcityrats.ca. The only exception, of course, would be individuals who have already been blocked due to repeated boundary issues or particularly negative interactions. In those cases, maintaining that boundary is part of keeping both my space and my rattery environment healthy.

At the end of the day, sharing these experiences isn’t about creating drama; it’s about being honest about what running a breeding program looks like from my side of the conversation.