Liability Waiver

It is important to understand that your pet rat can be a vector for diseases. Your rat may or may not show symptoms of these diseases but can still transfer them to you. Many of these diseases do not affect a healthy human adult but for those with immuno-compromised systems, including but not limited to: children under 5, pregnant woman, the elderly, those on immune-suppressant drugs, or with viral infections, rats may need to be reconsidered as pets. 

This is true of all pets. Taking on any pet, even cats or dogs can pose health risks. Always be smart and if there is an animal bite or scratch from any pet seek medical advice, even more so if someone is a child, pregnant, elderly or have a lower immune system. 
 
I, the breeder, Aimee Sek (Once Upon a Mischief Rattery) , am fully informing, you, the adopter, on this date of the risks of owning pet rats, and you, the adopter hereby, accept the risks of owning pet rats and release, I, the breeder, Aimee Sek (Once Upon a Mischief Rattery), of any liability associated with owning pet rats. 
 
On the date of Feb 2017 my rattery tested negative for Sendai and Seoul Hantavirus, through Forestville Animal Hospital and Idexx Labs. I have brought new rats into my home since then from respected and well-known established breeders, who have not had any health issues. I have no concern over health issues. At this current time to the best of my ability I ensure all of my rats are free from health issues.
I do my very best to ensure the health and safety of all my animals. I do have a proper quarantine system in place for all new animals coming into my home, though quarantine may not catch some viruses as the animal will not show symptoms. I do not visit pet stores that sell rats. I do not handle wild animals and my home is pest free.

The nature of these viruses and the ease in which they can be spread just from the environment, clothing, being in an area that has wild rodents, etc… means that I can not guarantee that at any moment my rats have not been infected though. And you must understand the risk that they can easily become infected through these methods by you and your family as well.
 
Below is a list of the zoonosis diseases and the symptoms that may be carried by pet rats. 

• Seoul Strain of Hantavirus 
  Seoul Virus is a type of hantavirus commonly associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Symptoms appear with one to two weeks and in rare cases up to 8 weeks. 
  
  Symptoms include:
  Intense Headaches
  Back and Abdominal Pain
  Fever
  Chills
  Nausea
  Blurred Vision
  
  Later symptoms include low blood pressure, acute shock, vascular leakage, and acute renal failure. In rare cases, it can be fatal. 
  Seoul Virus is transmitted through the feces, urine and saliva. The most common transmission happens when feces, urine, or saliva is dried into dust, the dust particles fly up and we breathe them in. Seoul Virus cannot be spread from person to person or person to rat. 
  To prevent infection, wear a mask and gloves when cleaning cages, do not use a vacuum or sweep dust particles into the air, spray down any bedding before moving it, wash your hands before and after handling your rat. 
   

• Rat Bite Fever (Streptobacillus moniliformis)
  Rat Bite Fever or Streptobacillus moniliformis is an infectious bacteria. Contrary to its name, Rat Bite Fever is found in more than just rats: mice, hamsters and gerbils can also carry it. Symptoms appear within 3-10 days of infection but can take up to three weeks. 
  
  Symptoms include:
  Fever
  Vomiting
  Headache
  Muscle pain
  Joint pain
  Rash
  
  In rare cases without treatment, rat bite fever can be fatal. 
  RBF is transmitted through a scratch or bite from a rodent, handling rodents with the disease, even if they do not bite or scratch you, and through ingesting food and water contaminated with rodent feces. It is not transmitted from person to person. 
  To prevent RBF, regularly wash your hands, wear protective gloves when washing cages and avoid putting your hands in your mouth when handling your rats and cleaning their cages. 
   

• Salmonellosis
  Salmnellosis or salmonella is a common disease which most people associate with undercooked chicken. All common pets can carry salmonella in their digestive tract including: dogs, cats, rats, mice, rabbits, lizards and snakes. Salmonella infection can occur in humans and the animals. 
  
  Symptoms for humans include:
  Diarrhea
  Vomiting
  Fever
  Abdominal Pain
  
  For the immune-compromised, the symptoms can be life threatening
  . Symptoms are rare in small animals but include diarrhea that contains mucus
  or blood, lethargy, and they may vomit or have a fever. Prevention of transmission to humans includes making sure you buy animals that appear healthy, animals with severe diarrhea should be avoided. They should be bright eyed and an active. Always wash hands after handling an animal and avoid eating or drinking around your pets. If you do become infected, rarely is hospitalization required, the treatment is just lots of fluids while the bacteria moves out of your systems. Symptoms should fade within 5-7 days. 
   

• Leptospirosis 
  Leptospirosis is a bacteria called leptospiria. 
  
  Symptoms include:
  High fever
  Headache
  Chills
  Muscle aches
  Vomiting
  Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
  Red eyes
  Abdominal pain
  Diarrhea
  Rash
  
  Some infected people never show symptoms. They will become sick between 2 days to 4 weeks after exposure. If the first symptoms progress a person may experience kidney or liver failure or meningitis. The second part of the infection is called Weil’s disease. 
  People can become infected with leptospirosis through contact with urine or other bodily fluids
  (not saliva through) and through contact with water, soil or food contaminated with urine of infected animals. 
  Prevention of transmission includes avoiding urine of infected animals, wash your hands after handling, do not eat or drink around your pets. Be sure to vaccinate your pets against leptospirosis as well. 

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You agree to the risk associated with pet rats both listed above and those not listed and hereby will release Aimee Sek (Once Upon a Mischief rattery) from any and all liability of owning a pet rat.