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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rat with broken leg in my garden

260 replies

HgnncaNameMy · 16/06/2020 11:46

There's a grassy area behind my house full of rats and mice. I moved here in February and the neighbours said theres a massive rat problem

I have 4 cats so don't have many issues

Theres currently a rat hiding under the kids garden toy and its leg is definetly broken, 3 of its legs seem fine but it's dragging one behind it

Who can i ring about this? Will someone come out and take it?

I know people class them as vermin but it's still a living creature that must be in absolute agony right now

OP posts:
SchadenfreudePersonified · 16/06/2020 15:50

Isn’t there a saying that you’re always a certain distance from a rat? Might not be strictly true but it wouldn’t surprise me, rodents are good at hiding ;)

Six feet.

I remember hearing that you are never more than 6 feet from rat*.

Social distancing at it's finest.

*Or possibly from a cabinet minister. I forget.

waterlego · 16/06/2020 16:03

I think swiftly dispatching it is the right and kind thing to do. Having said that, I think I would struggle to actually do it out of squeamishness. I would ask my DH to do it. I know that’s pathetic. I did once manage to deal with a maggot-infested wheelie bin while he was away one weekend though.

Sorry for an awful question, but those who have managed to put an animal out of its misery with a blow to the head: does the head remain...um...intact? This worry is what makes me think I couldn’t do it.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 16/06/2020 16:07

With something as small as a rat, no, not if you're making sure of the job first time like you ought to. It doesn't really make a mess though if you're swift about it and don't go using something daft to do it with.

waterlego · 16/06/2020 16:15

Thanks XDown Useful to know what to expect if I ever need to attempt this. 😕

KingJarvisofPulp · 16/06/2020 16:18

I don't understand why you are showing so much compassion to a rat when you have 4 cats. It doesn't make sense. You do know what cats do, right?

Chesneyhawkes1 · 16/06/2020 16:19

@lynsey91 and @Thisismytimetoshine no i'm not concerned at all.

He knows the dogs are fed raw and if they hunt something and are clever enough to catch it, they eat it.

He also knows that animals are killed so we can eat them. Frankly I'm pleased he's not a snowflake.

But you are right - I'll sleep with one eye open. It's a toss up between him and the dogs who will get me first 😱

HariboLectar · 16/06/2020 16:20

My friend has come round and collected the rat. Her DP is going to release it in the fields. Her DP said vets wouldnt take it and he's never known a rescue to take a rat but he has known rats to adapt to a broken leg.

Maybe the fields are next to the farm my pet bunny went to live on when I was 3 Wink

Silvercatowner · 16/06/2020 16:23

I would not be able to kill it. Some bloodthirsty posters on here.

But you'd faff around trying to 'help' a poor creature that will be in pain and terrified.

Samster45 · 16/06/2020 16:25

I wouldn’t have killed it either I don’t think. You’re never very far from a rat whether you can see them or not to be honest.
I have a cockapoo that likes to catch voles in the garden, but she always brings them in alive. I’ve rescued a few out of her mouth and just re-released them in the garden. The cat occasionally will bring mice in and leave them in the dogs bowl, probably so the dog will get the blame for the mouse running around the house but again these are alive and re-released.

ScarfLadysBag · 16/06/2020 16:25

Amazed by some of the cognitive dissonance on this thread! Happy to eat meat from animals often kept in shitty conditions and drink milk and god knows what else, but have an attack of the 'morals' when talking about humanely dispatching a wild rat. As long as you don't have to see it, right? Hmm

We hit a pheasant recently and when we got our the car it was clear it was very badly injured. DH used some sort of tyre-changing tool to quickly dispatch it. He didn't enjoy it, but it was kinder than putting a creature in agony into the car and driving it for miles to find a vet who would just euthanise it anyway.

ScarfLadysBag · 16/06/2020 16:28

I would strap it to a table and have a very slow moving laser beam bisect it. Don't forget to gloat, then leave the room without checking it doesn't escape.

This is amazing Grin Can't wait for the climax, where the rat returns with super powers and gets his revenge.

lynsey91 · 16/06/2020 16:30

@ScarfLadysBag I have been vegetarian for 40 years and don't drink cow's milk. Rarely eat cheese either. It is ok for me to have an opinion in that case?

user1471500037 · 16/06/2020 16:31

At least its not in your kitchen, I know a 1980's Birmingham band who could give you some advise though....

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 16/06/2020 16:32

Don’t you have foxes around

Will be a nice meal for a fox tonight

Them seem to deal with some of the rat population around here

I would leave the rat to it. It’s nature they are the cruelest if animals and very resilient

And disinfect your children toys if rats are climbing all over them

lynsey91 · 16/06/2020 16:32

@Chesneyhawkes1 my dogs are fed raw too but I would be horrified if they caught a squirrel.

How would your dss feel if the dog was attacked by another animal or bigger dog? I guess he would not find that fun or amusing. Obviously squirrels don't matter in his world

ScarfLadysBag · 16/06/2020 16:33

You can have whatever opinion you like regardless of your ethical credentials. Doesn't mean that others have to agree with it 🤷‍♀️ But it's concerning how many people conveniently ignore where their food, leather, milk, blah blah blah comes from yet find the idea of a badly injured wild rat being humanely dispatched so terrible. Perhaps that energy would be better channelled into increasing welfare standards for the various animal products they consume and wear without stopping to think about it Smile

ScarfLadysBag · 16/06/2020 16:38

But I'm sure everyone posting on here how terrible
it is has been a vegan since they were old enough to talk and eschew all animal products Grin After all, if it's disgusting to humanely dispatch an injured wild rat, then it's horrendously disgusting to breed and kill healthy animals for meat or clothing.

What OP has done is crueller IMO than just killing the creature. Now it's in pain, somewhere it has no idea where it is, and will probably die slowly from an infection or get eaten by a predator. But life at any cost, right? Hmm

waterlego · 16/06/2020 16:39

I don’t think I’d be particularly concerned if I was Chesney either. Kids can be fascinated with gross or shocking things. I think it’s different if the child in question wants to directly harm an animal themselves.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 16/06/2020 16:39

@lynsey91 where did I say he would find it fun or amusing. Don't put words in my mouth.

And dogs shouldn't view other dogs are prey as a rule. Also dogs are not vermin. Squirrels are. If my dogs occasionally catch something I'm happy for them. It's what they are bred to do. I'd be stupid to buy a working terrier and be horrified if it ever caught and killed something.

I said he's desperate to see the dog catch one. Guess one time he wants to see the dog "win" in his eyes and get his prize. It won't happen as DSS is far too noisy and runs ahead.

lynsey91 · 16/06/2020 16:40

@ScarfLadysBag yes it's a shame more people are not concerned about animal welfare.

I won't drink cow's milk because I think it's awful the way the cows are treated. I use oat milk. Just as good in hot drinks and cooking. In fact I think it is nicer.

I don't wear leather or have leather handbags, gloves etc.

I don't believe in harming any living creature unless you really have to like headlice or fleas.

lynsey91 · 16/06/2020 16:43

@Chesneyhawkes1 you said your dss is "desperate" for the dogs to catch a squirrel so, to me, that sounds like he is looking forward to it and would regard it as fun.

I don't think squirrels are vermin. Why do you get to decide what should live or die? You are not God. Squirrels have as much right to live as any other living creature.

Your dss sounds horrible

Chesneyhawkes1 · 16/06/2020 16:46

@waterlego Thank you. He loves the dogs and calls them his brothers. He certainly wouldn't harm an animal.

He collects plastic rubbish from the pond as he's worried it will hurt the ducks.

I'd far rather him see a terrier kill a squirrel with a swift shake than a cat play with a bird for hours whilst it's still alive. But that's also just part of what they do.

DanniArthur · 16/06/2020 16:47

No way I could have killed the poor thing either OP. I would have also tried protecting it, especially from my very murderous cat who even with two bells and a metal tag still manages to catch and kill lots of mice, birds and even a pigeon Sad You seem like a lovely person and I'm sure the rat was released and will be fine

BananaChocolateLump · 16/06/2020 16:48

Smash its head in with a brick, you'll be doing it a favour. It would be euthanized any way.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 16/06/2020 16:48

@lynsey91 like it or not grey squirrels are classed as vermin. And I don't get to decide. If they catch one, they catch one. Nothing I can do to help them.

Frankly I don't give a shit what you think of him 🤷🏼‍♀️