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ABOUT ME
My name is Mary, and I founded DFW Rat Rescue in 2018 with a simple goal: helping rats and the people who love them.
I have been involved in veterinary and rescue work since I was 16 years old, working at 2 clinics, the SPCA, and volunteering with 6 different rescues/shelters, including the North Texas Rat Rescue. After I adopted my first pair of rats in 2011, I was hooked. I learned very quickly how amazing these little guys are and I've had them in my life ever since.
Shiddy
Moo
Over the years, I became the person people would reach out to when they had a friend or relative needing to rehome any kind of animal. Turns out, there are lots and lots of people needing to rehome pets in the Dallas/Fort Worth area! Fostering a litter of puppies was about all I could handle in terms of dogs, but I had a spare room and was able to set up a few extra cages to foster rats! I decided to become official and start the DFW Rat Rescue in 2018. Within 24 hours of launching the website, I had 7 surrenders.
Today, the rescue serves people across the country, taking in owner surrenders, accidental litters, abandoned domestic rats, medical cases, and even large-scale hoarding situations. At pretty much full capacity and full effort, I am able to help up to 1,000 rats per year, providing them with safe placement, rehabilitation, or lifelong care when needed. I'm hoping to be able to expand this with a foster network, volunteer opportunities, and more fundraising. There is always a waitlist for surrenders.
While many animals are successfully adopted into loving homes, some come to me too ill or too aggressive to be placed. For those rats, I provide a safe and compassionate final home where they can live out their lives happily.
Despite the scale of the rescue, this is largely a one-person operation. I personally manage intake, coordination, medical care, adoptions, communication, and logistics—all while working full-time as a data analyst, running a side business, and having a hobby farm. With the help of a dedicated foster (shout out to Sarah!) and amazing donors, I continue to grow the rescue as resources allow.
One of the most meaningful parts of this work has been the community that forms around it. In large or urgent cases—especially hoarding situations—people from across the country step in to help with everything from catching and transporting rats to coordinating communication. Watching these animals recover and thrive after difficult situations is what makes all of this worth it.
Rats are often misunderstood, but they are incredibly intelligent, affectionate, and deeply social animals. They form strong bonds with both humans and each other, and they deserve the same compassion and care as any other pet.
DFW Rat Rescue continues to grow as awareness increases, but the mission remains the same: to provide safe, compassionate solutions for rats and the people who care about them. There is always more need than resources, but every life helped makes a difference. This work wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community—whether it’s adopters, fosters, donors, or the many people who step in during urgent situations. Together, we’re able to give these animals the second chances they deserve.
How do you care for the rats?
Food
I give the rats Mazuri rat food along with a homemade mix, fresh fruits and vegetables, mealworms, and (of course) lots of treats. Rats are given natural, organic baby food when needed - usually with medication or when they are severely underweight. If you're adopting a new rat, keep their diet simple for a while and introduce new foods slowly so you don't upset their stomach.
Housing
Depending on how many rats we have in our care, they may have more or less space. I always aim to give them as much room as I can, but a large surrender might result in smaller cages temporarily. A rat may be confined to a smaller space after surgery or in other emergency cases. Each cage has a soft place to lay (hammock, bed), a place to hide (igloo, space pod), and plenty of enrichment (toys, chews). I use Critter Nation cages with Bass stainless steel pans exclusively. I use aspen wood shavings as bedding.
Companionship
We do our very best to make sure all rats have a companion unless they are in quarantine, aggressive, or for medical reasons. *Once we introduce a rat to another rat or group, they MUST be adopted together. It's too stressful to keep moving them around and introducing them to other rats. For this reason, we hold off on introductions if we end up with an odd number of single rats. Rats who are surrendered together will always be kept together.
Cleaning
Cages are cleaned when they get dirty and spot cleaned daily. A thorough cleaning is done once a week. This includes washing food dishes, water bottles, cage pans, and hammocks. Bedding is changed and the cage is given a full scrub-down. Cages are completely disinfected between tenants.
Medicine
We have a well-stocked pharmacy and rats are taken to one of our vet clinics if a problem should arise that we are not equipped to handle on our own. I cannot give medical advice, but I can show you where to find it. 😉
Where do your rats come from?
Our rats come from a variety of places. They are brought to us by people who believe the best thing for the animal is to find it a new home. This can mean that they are originally from pet stores, breeders, feeder bins, accidental litters, or given to them by someone else. We have also assisted with several hoarding/animal cruelty cases. We are proud rescue partners with several city shelters and humane societies in the area and sometimes pull from them. We try not to focus on the origins of the rat, but rather where they are going next.
Where does your funding come from and where does it go?
Rescue funding comes solely from donations (adoption fees, supplies, fundraising). Although we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are not a shelter. We receive no money from the government or other entities. Donations are used for various operational costs, such as food, enrichment, treats, bedding, housing, cleaning supplies, transportation costs, and (most importantly) medical expenses. We also must think about electricity, paying for our website, any repair or replacement costs on the building (AC + Texas summer...), and other administrative expenses. The rescue is 100% volunteer-based, including our wonderful fosters!
Are you anti-breeder?
Definitely not. Unlike dog and cat breeding, rat breeding would be exclusively for snake food if it weren't for active pet breeders and "fanciers." By breeding out poor genetics, disease, and undesirable temperament, breeders can have a very positive influence on the evolution of the species. I would rather see someone buy a rat from a responsible, reputable breeder than a chain pet store.
Rat breeding can be expensive, time-consuming, heartbreaking, and requires tons of medical and genetic knowledge. If you are thinking about breeding rats, please contact a local breeder and ask as many questions as you can. Also consider fostering a pregnant or nursing doe!
*Please do research on a breeder you buy from! I get aggressive, sick, deformed rats from breeders all the time. Just because they breed rats doesn't mean they are taken care of, friendly, or healthy. Most of the time they won't take them back and the rats end up here with me.