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Heartland Rat Refuge

St. Louis-based microsanctuary & rescue primarily
focused on helping rats formerly used in laboratories.
120+ rats rescued | 70+ rats rehomed | est. 2019

Poppy, 2 yrs 8 mos, loves eating her daily meds from the comfort of a nice beanbag chair 🩷 her and her sister Nutmeg are doin pretty darn well!
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Poppy, 2 yrs 8 mos, loves eating her daily meds from the comfort of a nice beanbag chair 🩷 her and her sister Nutmeg are doin pretty darn well!
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Miso 🩷 ~8/1/2024 - 8/6/2026

Miso was my perfect little gentleman. I got him & his brother Tempeh on 9/7/25 from a woman who had bought them for her son who no longer spent time with them. They were briefly Dill’s buddies before he passed. 3 months after arrival, Miso’s eye essentially popped out of his head & we ended up having to remove it. He was such a fantastic patient & even visited my law school a couple weeks afterwards with his brother 🤍

At the beginning of August, I noticed that Miso was exhibiting some neurological signs & started him on meds for a suspected pituitary tumor. But he declined very quickly, so I had to have him humanely euthanized before his meds could really even have a chance to make a big difference.

I didn’t really notice his earliest signs, though, which were consistent with PTs: he wasn’t holding his soy chunk firmly on 7/20 (as shown in video: hand weakness, 14 days before starting meds). He was also sleeping & isolating slightly more in the few weeks before, which I chalked up to the shifting social dynamic chance from integrating the new younger boys. The last few videos, starting after the soy chunk video, show his symptoms & behavior in his last couple days (excluding when he was very painful before we helped him pass). Upon necropsy, his pituitary tumor was very large—maybe half the size of my pinky nail. Yet another reminder that rats are experts in concealing *significant* health issues, and by the time symptoms are apparent, they may be very hard to treat.

Miso was the sweetest little angel, and I really wish he could’ve stuck around a while longer. Rest easy, little pirate. 🕊️

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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Miso 🩷 ~8/1/2024 - 8/6/2026

Miso was my perfect little gentleman. I got him & his brother Tempeh on 9/7/25 from a woman who had bought them for her son who no longer spent time with them. They were briefly Dill’s buddies before he passed. 3 months after arrival, Miso’s eye essentially popped out of his head & we ended up having to remove it. He was such a fantastic patient & even visited my law school a couple weeks afterwards with his brother 🤍

At the beginning of August, I noticed that Miso was exhibiting some neurological signs & started him on meds for a suspected pituitary tumor. But he declined very quickly, so I had to have him humanely euthanized before his meds could really even have a chance to make a big difference.

I didn’t really notice his earliest signs, though, which were consistent with PTs: he wasn’t holding his soy chunk firmly on 7/20 (as shown in video: hand weakness, 14 days before starting meds). He was also sleeping & isolating slightly more in the few weeks before, which I chalked up to the shifting social dynamic chance from integrating the new younger boys. The last few videos, starting after the soy chunk video, show his symptoms & behavior in his last couple days (excluding when he was very painful before we helped him pass). Upon necropsy, his pituitary tumor was very large—maybe half the size of my pinky nail. Yet another reminder that rats are experts in concealing *significant* health issues, and by the time symptoms are apparent, they may be very hard to treat.

Miso was the sweetest little angel, and I really wish he could’ve stuck around a while longer. Rest easy, little pirate. 🕊️

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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Banana night ‼️‼️‼️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Banana night ‼️‼️‼️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Some of the boys are looking fresh thanks to @khulangerbils 🧢 (some said no thanks, and that’s totally fine too!)
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Some of the boys are looking fresh thanks to @khulangerbils 🧢 (some said no thanks, and that’s totally fine too!)
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

My beautiful girls Poppy & Nutmeg, who turned 2.5 years old a few weeks ago 💛🪴
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

My beautiful girls Poppy & Nutmeg, who turned 2.5 years old a few weeks ago 💛🪴
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

No one ever told old (allegedly) lady Poppy to not play with plastic bags.
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

No one ever told old (allegedly) lady Poppy to not play with plastic bags.
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

My brave little ringleader Falafel passed on 6/24, just two weeks after bringing him, Tahini, & Hummus home.

Falafel was the natural leader among his shyer brothers, and he encouraged them to stay adventurous and curious despite being in a scary new place with scary new roommates. I wish we all could’ve known him longer.

Falafel’s necropsy—which I strongly encourage all rat folks to have done when able—showed that he died from a testicular torsion that caused an internal abscess, leading to a totally septic abdomen. Symptoms-wise: a few days prior, he seemed to be getting slightly less energetic, and then he was very painful the day before passing. I gave him some meloxicam at home, but he passed between 5 & 8 am, before I could have a vet look at him (though it almost certainly would have been too late to treat). I found very little literature on spontaneous torsions, & the vet who did his necropsy hadn’t seen anything like it. This is another reason why it’s SO important to take any changes in behavior seriously, especially if you do know the rat well. (I also still need to share the causes for the previous string of losses, too, but these things have just been staying much fresher for much longer lately)

Falafel was only the third of my many lifelong residents to not make it to senior status, and I’m heartbroken that he almost certainly died in significant pain. He was only 5-7 months old, and he had a lot of adventures with his brothers awaiting him. Rest easy, little man. ❤️‍🩹
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

My brave little ringleader Falafel passed on 6/24, just two weeks after bringing him, Tahini, & Hummus home.

Falafel was the natural leader among his shyer brothers, and he encouraged them to stay adventurous and curious despite being in a scary new place with scary new roommates. I wish we all could’ve known him longer.

Falafel’s necropsy—which I strongly encourage all rat folks to have done when able—showed that he died from a testicular torsion that caused an internal abscess, leading to a totally septic abdomen. Symptoms-wise: a few days prior, he seemed to be getting slightly less energetic, and then he was very painful the day before passing. I gave him some meloxicam at home, but he passed between 5 & 8 am, before I could have a vet look at him (though it almost certainly would have been too late to treat). I found very little literature on spontaneous torsions, & the vet who did his necropsy hadn’t seen anything like it. This is another reason why it’s SO important to take any changes in behavior seriously, especially if you do know the rat well. (I also still need to share the causes for the previous string of losses, too, but these things have just been staying much fresher for much longer lately)

Falafel was only the third of my many lifelong residents to not make it to senior status, and I’m heartbroken that he almost certainly died in significant pain. He was only 5-7 months old, and he had a lot of adventures with his brothers awaiting him. Rest easy, little man. ❤️‍🩹
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Disclaimer: Mung only *looks* old!
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Disclaimer: Mung only *looks* old!
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Welcome, Falafel, Hummus, & Tahini! (Better pics to come)

With no big intakes on the immediate horizon, I decided to go pick up a few of the most scared boys from my local humane society. They originally came there exactly a month ago from a hoarding situation.

These 3 are nowhere near as scared as one of my senior lab rats (Nutmeg) & one of her sisters no longer with us (Rosemary), but they definitely need some work! Especially compared to their soon-to-be roommates. After a quarantine/observation period, they’ll live with Miso, Tempeh, Mung, & Pigeon (all non-lab rats).
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Welcome, Falafel, Hummus, & Tahini! (Better pics to come)

With no big intakes on the immediate horizon, I decided to go pick up a few of the most scared boys from my local humane society. They originally came there exactly a month ago from a hoarding situation.

These 3 are nowhere near as scared as one of my senior lab rats (Nutmeg) & one of her sisters no longer with us (Rosemary), but they definitely need some work! Especially compared to their soon-to-be roommates. After a quarantine/observation period, they’ll live with Miso, Tempeh, Mung, & Pigeon (all non-lab rats).
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Lost 3 of the 5 senior lab rats in a span of 4 days, all for totally unrelated reasons, so it might be quiet over here for a bit. Rest easy, Sesame, Ollie, & Basil. ❤️‍🩹

[I can’t definitively tell if Sesame is the girl in this series of photos, but it likely is her because Poppy’s eyes are just slightly more wide-set & Nutmeg’s are slightly buggier. Also, the boys were totally fine here, they had porphyrin build-up from nap & typical old man failure-to-groom]
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Lost 3 of the 5 senior lab rats in a span of 4 days, all for totally unrelated reasons, so it might be quiet over here for a bit. Rest easy, Sesame, Ollie, & Basil. ❤️‍🩹

[I can’t definitively tell if Sesame is the girl in this series of photos, but it likely is her because Poppy’s eyes are just slightly more wide-set & Nutmeg’s are slightly buggier. Also, the boys were totally fine here, they had porphyrin build-up from nap & typical old man failure-to-groom]
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Heard some ruckus at almost 4am a couple nights & caught the culprit (Poppy) in the act 🕵🏼🔎
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Heard some ruckus at almost 4am a couple nights & caught the culprit (Poppy) in the act 🕵🏼🔎
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Forgot to share my little lady’s pathology results for those curious—largely because we’ve had a hell of a post-op journey. Essentially a bunch of her skin got necrotic & everything opened back up. Then, once we started making healing progress, it seems like there’s new tumor growth; so essentially, she’s doing okay-ish now, but there’s a tumor growing like outside her body. It’s pretty gnarly & I don’t plan on posting photos, but I don’t think we’re looking at much comfortable time left. She’s a very strong old lady, though ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Forgot to share my little lady’s pathology results for those curious—largely because we’ve had a hell of a post-op journey. Essentially a bunch of her skin got necrotic & everything opened back up. Then, once we started making healing progress, it seems like there’s new tumor growth; so essentially, she’s doing okay-ish now, but there’s a tumor growing like outside her body. It’s pretty gnarly & I don’t plan on posting photos, but I don’t think we’re looking at much comfortable time left. She’s a very strong old lady, though ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Pre-op Sesame! $1550 bill after radiographs & sending the mass off for biopsy, but hoping that (1) insurance will reimburse a little over half of it & (2) biopsy results aren’t as bad as this looked 😕 (the main tumor was absolutely not some standard mammary tumor). She is recovering very well, though ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Pre-op Sesame! $1550 bill after radiographs & sending the mass off for biopsy, but hoping that (1) insurance will reimburse a little over half of it & (2) biopsy results aren’t as bad as this looked 😕 (the main tumor was absolutely not some standard mammary tumor). She is recovering very well, though ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Thanks to the best vet ever for documenting the gross things that grow on my sweet perfect babies who have never done anything wrong 😇 (I hope she sees this)
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Poppy had another tumor today that I didn’t know about! Usually my spayed girls (even when spayed a little older than ideal) get fewer tumors throughout their lives, but Poppy’s had 4 now I believe & she’s not even 2.5 yet 😭
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Thanks to the best vet ever for documenting the gross things that grow on my sweet perfect babies who have never done anything wrong 😇 (I hope she sees this)
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Poppy had another tumor today that I didn’t know about! Usually my spayed girls (even when spayed a little older than ideal) get fewer tumors throughout their lives, but Poppy’s had 4 now I believe & she’s not even 2.5 yet 😭
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Not a morning person 😴😴😴 lil sesame
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Not a morning person 😴😴😴 lil sesame
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

What should I name these 2 feeder fails? Hummus & Falafel? Mung & Pigeon? Something else? 🤔🤔🤔 [temp cage]
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

What should I name these 2 feeder fails? Hummus & Falafel? Mung & Pigeon? Something else? 🤔🤔🤔 [temp cage]
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Rest easy little ones.

Rosemary 💛 1/1/2024 - 12/22/2025
DJ Squeak 🧡 1/1/2024 - 1/5/2026
Sage ❤️ 1/1/2024 - 2/6/2026

We’ve had a few tough losses in the last couple months. A few days before Christmas—just shy of her 2nd birthday & the day I left to visit family—my ratsitter found Rosemary passed away, completely out of the blue. She was always very, very scared, so I didn’t get a chance to know her very well. And because I was away for a few more days after her passing, I couldn’t take her in for a necropsy, so I still have no idea what caused her death. Rosemary was Nutmeg’s partner in crime.

Then, a couple weeks later, we had to put DJ Squeak down. He lived most of his life with an adopter who adored him, and when his brothers passed away, he came back to join my posse. I wish I would’ve had much more time to get to know him before losing him, but I know that he was very loved by me, his adopter, and both sets of his cagemates. Post-euthanasia, his kidneys looked super abnormal, but that was kinda the only thing that seemed related to his decline.

Finally, last Friday, I had to put my angel baby Sage down. Even with x-rays & whatnot, we didn’t really know what was causing his general decline until post-euthanasia, where the vet said he had hemothorax & what looked like stage 4 lymphoma on his lungs, kidneys, & another organ. He was my little big boy, & we got pretty darn tight over the last few months. His brothers Ollie & Basil miss him.

Though I had very different relationships with all 3 of these rats, I loved them all so much. And it’s definitely hard to scrounge up photos instead of videos where I actually know who’s who, so I’ll have to put a reel together of them soon. Sweet dreams littles ❤️🧡💛
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Rest easy little ones.

Rosemary 💛 1/1/2024 - 12/22/2025
DJ Squeak 🧡 1/1/2024 - 1/5/2026
Sage ❤️ 1/1/2024 - 2/6/2026

We’ve had a few tough losses in the last couple months. A few days before Christmas—just shy of her 2nd birthday & the day I left to visit family—my ratsitter found Rosemary passed away, completely out of the blue. She was always very, very scared, so I didn’t get a chance to know her very well. And because I was away for a few more days after her passing, I couldn’t take her in for a necropsy, so I still have no idea what caused her death. Rosemary was Nutmeg’s partner in crime.

Then, a couple weeks later, we had to put DJ Squeak down. He lived most of his life with an adopter who adored him, and when his brothers passed away, he came back to join my posse. I wish I would’ve had much more time to get to know him before losing him, but I know that he was very loved by me, his adopter, and both sets of his cagemates. Post-euthanasia, his kidneys looked super abnormal, but that was kinda the only thing that seemed related to his decline.

Finally, last Friday, I had to put my angel baby Sage down. Even with x-rays & whatnot, we didn’t really know what was causing his general decline until post-euthanasia, where the vet said he had hemothorax & what looked like stage 4 lymphoma on his lungs, kidneys, & another organ. He was my little big boy, & we got pretty darn tight over the last few months. His brothers Ollie & Basil miss him.

Though I had very different relationships with all 3 of these rats, I loved them all so much. And it’s definitely hard to scrounge up photos instead of videos where I actually know who’s who, so I’ll have to put a reel together of them soon. Sweet dreams littles ❤️🧡💛
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Basil had another tumor pop up (he got one removed in November), so he’s getting surgery Thursday! Good luck big guy ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Basil had another tumor pop up (he got one removed in November), so he’s getting surgery Thursday! Good luck big guy ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Monkeys + bananas 🙈🙉🙊 happy 2nd birthday to all of the current group of lab rats (est bday 1/1/24)! I love you littles so much! 🍌 Miss Poppy (first clip) gets her tumor removed in 2 days. I try to get all of the younger girls spayed a few weeks after getting them (even though they’re already about 5 months old upon release), which provides significant health benefits & allows them to live with the boys. The most notable health effect, of course, is reducing the likelihood of mammary & pituitary tumors—but nothing is 100%!
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Monkeys + bananas 🙈🙉🙊 happy 2nd birthday to all of the current group of lab rats (est bday 1/1/24)! I love you littles so much! 🍌 Miss Poppy (first clip) gets her tumor removed in 2 days. I try to get all of the younger girls spayed a few weeks after getting them (even though they’re already about 5 months old upon release), which provides significant health benefits & allows them to live with the boys. The most notable health effect, of course, is reducing the likelihood of mammary & pituitary tumors—but nothing is 100%!
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Miso is doing soooo well after losing his eye, & he’s starting to look pretty normal now that the hair is growing back in! Miso & Tempeh are the sweetest little boys ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Miso is doing soooo well after losing his eye, & he’s starting to look pretty normal now that the hair is growing back in! Miso & Tempeh are the sweetest little boys ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Chili & Dal 💛 ?/2023 - 11/19/2025. These clips are mostly Chil because he was ALWAYS getting up to some mischief, whether it was constant attempts to break into the other room, picking fights with his brother, or going downstairs to the kitchen to chase the Roomba! I got these boys when they were already seniors—back in May—after a Chicago rescue reached out to me upon finding out that someone was looking for a new home for lab rats they had taken in a while back (a friend of the original adopter had used them in a psych class). I was honored to give Chili, Dal, & Kwati (their third brother) their last hurrah. Kwati passed a few months back from severely metastasized cancer, but Chili & Dal were on the same day. It felt like Dal knew he didn’t want to live in a world without either of his brothers, so he passed less than two hours before Chili’s euthanasia appointment. Love you boys immensely.
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Chili & Dal 💛 ?/2023 - 11/19/2025. These clips are mostly Chil because he was ALWAYS getting up to some mischief, whether it was constant attempts to break into the other room, picking fights with his brother, or going downstairs to the kitchen to chase the Roomba! I got these boys when they were already seniors—back in May—after a Chicago rescue reached out to me upon finding out that someone was looking for a new home for lab rats they had taken in a while back (a friend of the original adopter had used them in a psych class). I was honored to give Chili, Dal, & Kwati (their third brother) their last hurrah. Kwati passed a few months back from severely metastasized cancer, but Chili & Dal were on the same day. It felt like Dal knew he didn’t want to live in a world without either of his brothers, so he passed less than two hours before Chili’s euthanasia appointment. Love you boys immensely.
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

This is overdue, & I can only hope it helps other liberated lab rats live long, healthy lives. The least rats deserve post-experimentation is to not be given a chronic disease that will reduce their quality of life at best or kill them at worst. When you know better, do better. ❤️

SUMMARY (full version with links on Facebook):

Why don’t you let lab rats live with “normal” rats?

TL;DR
1. Pet rats carry Mycoplasma pulmonis, even if asymptomatic.
2. Lab rats do NOT carry mycoplasma.
3. Mycoplasma is highly contagious and easily contracted by rats who don’t already have it (like lab rats).
4. Mycoplasma causes chronic, persistent, incurable infection—even if asymptomatic. This is common in pet rats but rare in lab rats exposed as adults.
5. Don’t put lab rats with non-lab rats.

“Mycoplasma pulmonis is the primary pathogen associated with rat respiratory disease… a chronic infection… transmitted via aerosol, direct contact, and in utero transmission… and persists for the life of the animal.”
— Graham & Schoeb, J. Exotic Pet Med. (2011)

Diagnosis is impractical in individual cases and treatment does not eliminate infection; murine respiratory mycoplasmosis should be the top differential in rats with respiratory signs.
— Graham & Schoeb (2011)

Lesions may not appear for months, and obstructive lung disease can take 12–18 months to develop.
— Cassell (1998)

Why lab rats are different: they are specific pathogen-free (SPF). Most rats are exposed early in life unless they come from SPF colonies. SPF breeding removes selected pathogens, including M. pulmonis.
— Graham & Schoeb (2011); Dobson et al. (2019)

Will lab rats catch myco? Yes.
“At least 75% of animals in infected colonies are upper-respiratory carriers.”
— Hill (1972)

Most infected rats are asymptomatic, yet all are carriers.
— Chawla et al. (2017)

Transmission can occur quickly: within 3 days in same-cage exposure; 8–11 days or 2–3 weeks in other conditions.
— Hill (1972)

Bottom line: Pet rats commonly harbor M. pulmonis. Lab rats don’t. Mixing them exposes lab rats to a lifelong infection.
Don’t put lab rats with non-lab rats.

#LabRat#LabRats#lifeafterlabs#crueltyfree#animaltesting

This is overdue, & I can only hope it helps other liberated lab rats live long, healthy lives. The least rats deserve post-experimentation is to not be given a chronic disease that will reduce their quality of life at best or kill them at worst. When you know better, do better. ❤️

SUMMARY (full version with links on Facebook):

Why don’t you let lab rats live with “normal” rats?

TL;DR
1. Pet rats carry Mycoplasma pulmonis, even if asymptomatic.
2. Lab rats do NOT carry mycoplasma.
3. Mycoplasma is highly contagious and easily contracted by rats who don’t already have it (like lab rats).
4. Mycoplasma causes chronic, persistent, incurable infection—even if asymptomatic. This is common in pet rats but rare in lab rats exposed as adults.
5. Don’t put lab rats with non-lab rats.

“Mycoplasma pulmonis is the primary pathogen associated with rat respiratory disease… a chronic infection… transmitted via aerosol, direct contact, and in utero transmission… and persists for the life of the animal.”
— Graham & Schoeb, J. Exotic Pet Med. (2011)

Diagnosis is impractical in individual cases and treatment does not eliminate infection; murine respiratory mycoplasmosis should be the top differential in rats with respiratory signs.
— Graham & Schoeb (2011)

Lesions may not appear for months, and obstructive lung disease can take 12–18 months to develop.
— Cassell (1998)

Why lab rats are different: they are specific pathogen-free (SPF). Most rats are exposed early in life unless they come from SPF colonies. SPF breeding removes selected pathogens, including M. pulmonis.
— Graham & Schoeb (2011); Dobson et al. (2019)

Will lab rats catch myco? Yes.
“At least 75% of animals in infected colonies are upper-respiratory carriers.”
— Hill (1972)

Most infected rats are asymptomatic, yet all are carriers.
— Chawla et al. (2017)

Transmission can occur quickly: within 3 days in same-cage exposure; 8–11 days or 2–3 weeks in other conditions.
— Hill (1972)

Bottom line: Pet rats commonly harbor M. pulmonis. Lab rats don’t. Mixing them exposes lab rats to a lifelong infection.
Don’t put lab rats with non-lab rats.

#LabRat#LabRats#lifeafterlabs#crueltyfree#animaltesting

The flash was an accident, but these two are adorable 🤭
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

The flash was an accident, but these two are adorable 🤭
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #LabRat #LifeAfterLabs #AdoptDontShop

Poor baby Miso had to get enucleated today :( while the original cause is essentially unknown—his eye was totally intact & no tumor or abscess was found behind it—this is a reminder to always seek rat-savvy vet attention immediately for eye issues or, really, anything out of the usual for your babies! ~$1k later, Miso is recovering well & will hopefully quickly adapt to being one-eyed. But I sure feel so bad for him 😢
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Poor baby Miso had to get enucleated today :( while the original cause is essentially unknown—his eye was totally intact & no tumor or abscess was found behind it—this is a reminder to always seek rat-savvy vet attention immediately for eye issues or, really, anything out of the usual for your babies! ~$1k later, Miso is recovering well & will hopefully quickly adapt to being one-eyed. But I sure feel so bad for him 😢
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #AdoptDontShop

Lovely ladies 🥰
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram RatsOfIG RatsOfInsta LabRat AdoptDontShop

Lovely ladies 🥰
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram RatsOfIG RatsOfInsta LabRat AdoptDontShop

Cutie pie 💙🐀

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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

Cutie pie 💙🐀

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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

Lately!
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

Lately!
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
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#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

Dill’s new cagemates, Miso (dumbo) & Tempeh (top-eared)! No one can replace Squid & Alfie, but these two have been great companions for Dill—who was originally supposed to live alone! Miso & Tempeh were being rehomed on Facebook after someone’s son didn’t get them out enough (unfortunately common for not just rats, but lots of animals). These boys are SO sweet, and they’re loving all the space they get ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

Dill’s new cagemates, Miso (dumbo) & Tempeh (top-eared)! No one can replace Squid & Alfie, but these two have been great companions for Dill—who was originally supposed to live alone! Miso & Tempeh were being rehomed on Facebook after someone’s son didn’t get them out enough (unfortunately common for not just rats, but lots of animals). These boys are SO sweet, and they’re loving all the space they get ❤️
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

Throwback to December 2019: Bean’s first day out of the lab. The crazy little girl that started this whole thing. I still miss her all the time.

Bean was VERY brave, curious, and trusting compared to nearly all lab rats I’ve had since her, as Bean was used for a course where a pair of students used just 1 rat. This resulted in a lot of individual attention, and, of course, it was her only chance for any interaction as she was housed by herself.
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

Throwback to December 2019: Bean’s first day out of the lab. The crazy little girl that started this whole thing. I still miss her all the time.

Bean was VERY brave, curious, and trusting compared to nearly all lab rats I’ve had since her, as Bean was used for a course where a pair of students used just 1 rat. This resulted in a lot of individual attention, and, of course, it was her only chance for any interaction as she was housed by herself.
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

1/2 of the recurring characters (but definitely the ones I see the most!)
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

1/2 of the recurring characters (but definitely the ones I see the most!)
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Heartland Rat Refuge | Linktr.ee/LabRatCare
#Rat #Rats #RescueRat #RatsOfInstagram #Ratstagram #RatsOfIG #RatsOfInsta #LabRat #AdoptDontShop

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Follow HRR on Instagram:

@heartlandratrefuge

About

Heartland Rat Refuge is a St. Louis-based microsanctuary & rescue primarily focused on helping rats formerly used in laboratories.

120+ rats rescued
70+ rats rehomed
Started in 2019

Whether the rats are adoptable or permanent residents, their welfare, autonomy, medical care, and safety are prioritized.

Learn

For resources, adoption application, & more, go to linktr.ee/LabRatCare.

Lab Rats

As a general rule, rats from laboratories should not be housed with other pet rats. Read more here.

Like & follow Heartland Rat Refuge on Facebook!

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