User:CINNAMONLEAVES

Subject: Pet Rats

ref: Rat Clubs in the U.K

The whole world of the Fancy Rat has greatly increased its network of Clubs since around 2001 when previously in the U.K only two bodies served the Fancy i.e National Fancy Rat Society and the L.S.C.M.R.C

Since 2001 this has been swelled greatly by the creation of many established Area Clubs. Now Scotland has its very own Fancy Rat Club in Glasgow and my List now completes the information on the other area clubs, The hope is that this List will help pet rat owners to be able locate new Rat Clubs nearest to where they live.

Rat Clubs are for the whole family participation, adults and children both benefit from lots of advice and information within the clubs membership. How to properly house, care, socialise with the rats and good balanced feeding of their pets. The children learn to be responsible keen owners of their pet rats, appreciating that show rats of today are carefully bred for kind character, sociablity, intelligence, size and type. It is a rapidly growing pet fancy and so new Clubs will constantly be formed and will need to be added to the RAT CLUB's List

Most Fancy Rat Clubs work with local churches who are kindly willing to hire their Halls so the club regular shows can be held. Entry to all shows are FREE !. Everyone is warmly welcomed whether visting on foot, by car or even motor bikers ! The shows are the place where the Club members and their chosen Fancy pet are demonstrated to be free of bias or discrimination. Access by wheelchair users is usually no problem.

The National Fancy Rat Society is as the name suggests is the overall Society that other Rat Clubs in the U.K are affiliated to.

There are several Show / Pet Rat Clubs set up to serve different areas in the U.K All the following Clubs encourage members to enjoy showing both their rats in the Show Variety classes to high type & colour standards, or in the Pet Show section, where each rat however mismarked does not count against it but gains points for good character, sociablity, gentleness and good behaviour when being handled etc.

1. In Scotland we have SRC the Scottish Rat Club based in Glasgow www.scottishratclub.co.uk for information. Shows always held in Glasgow

2. In the North East of England there is the North of England Rat Society NERS www.neratsociety.co.uk Shows are held in various towns

3. Yorkshire has based in Leeds city the YRC, Yorkshire Rat Club. This club has two web sites that serve its membership: www.yorkshireratclub.com and www.yorkshireratclub.co.uk Club Shows are normally held every second month. Six shows each year plus excellent club magazine StaratS. Show is always held at: St Agnes Church Hall, Shakespeare Close off Stoney Rock Lane, Leeds LS9 7UQ

4. The Midland Rat Club www.midlandsratclub.org holds shows in various towns. L.S.C.M.R.C the London & Southern Counties Mouse & Rat Club Founded 1916 see www.miceandrats.com for further information

5. From time to time new speciality rat clubs are formed such as The Marked Fancy Rat Club www.mfrc.org.uk for information

CINNAMONLEAVES (talk) 12:19, 17 August 2009 (UTC)