Cove
Rattery is owned and operated by Sarah Paterson-Farrand (that's me) with
a little help from her husband, Vince, and is located in Saginaw, Michigan.
Our primary goal is to provide healthy rats with outstanding
temperaments,
so that more people might be able to enjoy rats as the incredible pets
they are. Having said that, our goals also include breeding to improve
health, behavior, type, and longevity to improve the rat fancy as a whole.
We are also very dedicated to education. We hold nutrition, environment,
and primary care as the foundation for any healthy and happy animal, and
share the information we have with others whenever we get the opportunity
to do so. This is also why we have become members of organizations that
hold high ethical standards in not only breeding, but the keeping of pet
rats.
Cove Rattery is a member of the North American Rat Registry (NARR) and every rat that is with us, even if the stay is short, is registered. We keep very strict records of each of our rats, and all medical information is published publicly through NARR and this website. We have done this not only for our own records, but for the purpose of education. And, because this is an important part of what we believe in, we are also members of the Rat Society of America affiliate, Society of Michigan Rat Fanciers, as well the Florida RMCA and Northern Illinois Rat Organization. Our history with rats begins in 1996, and we have been involved in many aspects of the rat fancy. We have bred, rescued, studied, and educated. For many years, we focused on rescue and adoption on a small scale under Muridae Haven Rescue (MHRR), as well. We still are involved in the rescue aspect today and post all rescues through Petfinder.
I (Sarah) have a Bachelor's in Biology
and Chemistry, and spent much of my time in school focusing on Zoology
and tailoring many a project to reflect my interest in rats. I have worked
in the veterinary field, animal husbandry, and zookeeping. My current
work is in animal nutrition and research. Every part of what I have learned can and
has been applied to the way I believe the rat fancy should be. I have
a strong interest in animal behavior and am hoping to return to school
for my Master's in Animal Science soon. For those interested, please visit
my articles page, which highlights
some of the studies I turned into rat related research, as well as some
non-academic areas of interest. I will add more
here as time permits. I am also the Vice President and Editor for the
Society of Michigan Rat Fanciers, and I hold a board position with the
Rat Society of America. I feel it is important to take part
in organizations that give individuals the opportunity to share experiences
and knowledge. It is one of the things that will further strengthen an
ethical and educated rat community.
Outside of rat fancy, we are involved in groups like World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation, and the Sierra Club. We love the outdoors and enjoy biking, camping, boating, and I (Sarah) am absolutely crazy for fishing! We are also interested in web design and computers (well, that's Vince's specialty) and find the world of the paranormal fascinating as well! Tattoos are also one of my odd weaknesses! Feel free to contact me anytime if there is anything else you would like to know! You can also visit my blog page to connect in yet another way. If you need general information, try visiting my links page! We're proud of our awards, so be sure and check those out too!
We hope you enjoy the website!
