[jyl]

Update on Monday.

It’s been decided that Algernon and Simone will survive and be pet rats. We’ll take them back to Portland and my son will probably take them to his college house.

We’ve had pet rats before, they are intelligent and affectionate creatures when well socialized. These guys (? some neutering may be required) are still rather terrified, but will eventually realize that they might not be fed to snakes after all.

I like Ardy fine, he’s a handsome snake and quite friendly as snakes go, but personally I’d rather have pet rats than a pet snake.

I’d also happily shoot a wild rat - funny but I view them very differently depending on the circumstances.