TERMS AND CONDITIONS
​Deposits, Payment of Purchase Price, and Refunds:

The sum price listed and agreed upon must be paid in full before the release of said rat(s) to the buyer.
Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Buyer will forfeit the deposit and any rights to the said rat(s) if:

The buyer fails to complete the purchase of the rat(s) for any reason, or
The buyer doesn't show up to an agreed-upon hand-off without any warning.
In either event, the Seller shall be free to sell the rat(s) to another party.
In the event that the rat(s) are not available due to sickness, death, or any other circumstance owing to the fault of Seller, Buyer’s deposit will, at Buyer’s option, be either refunded or transferred to a future litter of rats.
Beyond that all deposits are non-refundable and no refunds will be given if the Buyer decides they no longer wish to have the rat(s) at any time.
Exceptions to the non-refundable deposit:

If the breeder closes down the rattery buyers who have paid deposits without purchasing rats will be refunded in a timely manner.
If a MAJOR life event has occurred that would prevent the buyer from taking rats, the buyer will either be placed on hold until they can purchase rats or be refunded at the breeder's discretion
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Seller’s Representations and Warranties:

Seller represents and warrants to Buyer that:

Seller is the legal and true owner/breeder of said rat(s) and Seller has full right and authority to sell the said rat(s).
The seller guarantees that the said rat(s) are as described, the correct sex, females are not pregnant and said rat(s) was bred by the seller.
Seller guarantees that the said rat(s) are in good health to the best of the Seller’s knowledge.
If a health issue is suspected, the Buyer has 48 hours from the time they took possession of said rat(s) to have the rat(s) examined by a licensed veterinarian, at the Buyer’s sole cost. If said rat(s) fails the examination, the Buyer may return the rat(s), with a written statement from the veterinarian, for a full refund of the rat(s) or exchange it for a future rat. All vet fees are covered solely by the Buyer. Failure by the Buyer to have the rat(s) examined within the 48-hour period will nullify this warranty. If the Buyer chooses to keep said rat(s), no replacement or refund will be given and all medical costs and treatment are the sole responsibility of the Buyer and the health guarantee will be null and void.
It does not cover abuse/neglect or any improper care. The Buyer agrees they have thoroughly researched the health and care of rats and understand how that care will relate to their overall health.
Buyer is always responsible for all medical costs of their rat(s). This guarantee covers only the original buyer and is not transferable.
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Buyer’s Representations:

The rat(s) will reside indoors in a safe and proper temperature-controlled environment.
The buyer acknowledges that they are allowed to keep pets and rats at their current home. Buyer either owns the home or has written consent from their landlord/Owner of residence, and it is legal to own rats and/or these varieties of rats at their location. The buyer has consented to own rats from everyone in the household so that they will not be forced/asked to re-home them.
The buyer will keep the rat(s) in a proper well-ventilated cage of adequate size. Cage bars need to be no larger than ½ inch wide.
The buyer will provide a clean and healthy environment for the rat(s). The buyer will keep the rat(s) cage clean, safe, and secure.
The buyer will provide the rat(s) with nutritious proper food. Provide clean fresh pure water (no added extras such as but not limited to vanilla, vinegar, or vitamins without Vet instruction) in a proper water bottle.
The buyer will always provide necessary veterinary care for the lifetime of the rat(s). Necessary care means they will seek treatment for any major injury or illness and that the rat’s quality of life will always be high. No rat will be allowed to suffer without treatment.
The buyer agrees that rats are highly social animals and need companionship from other rats of the same sex (or a spayed/neutered rat of the opposite sex). Buyer acknowledges that they, other people, or other species do not replace the companionship of another rat and that keeping a rat alone is neglect. Buyer agrees that they will always provide their rat(s) with a same-sex or a spayed/neutered rat of the opposite sex cage mate except in these few circumstances:

The rat’s cage mate has recently passed and the Buyer is actively looking to purchase a new cage mate.
The rat or the rat’s cage mate has had an injury or is recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery and needs to be kept alone in a temporary hospital cage to recover.
The buyer has given correct and truthful contact information.
The buyer has filled out their adoption form truthfully.
If the Buyer is purchasing the rat(s) for their children they acknowledge that a pet is a huge responsibility outside of a child’s sole care. The child will mean anyone under 18 years of age. The buyer agrees that it is to be a family pet and that they, as the adult/parent are responsible for the rat(s) care for the entirety of their life.
The buyer acknowledges that the rat(s) they have received are the rat(s) they agreed to purchase. By accepting the rat the Buyer agrees that there are no obvious health issues or concerns such as no scabs, wounds, injuries, infestation, or respiratory ailments.
The buyer has read, understands, and acknowledges the liability waiver.
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Entire Agreement:

This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties. Seller and Buyer have made no other agreements, promises, representations or warranties, express or implied, unless specifically stated in this Agreement.

By signing here you, the Buyer agrees that you have been informed of everything in this contract that pertains to your specific purchase on the date listed below by the Seller/Breeder (ECMR). You agree that you had any and all questions and concerns answered and were of sound mind at the time of signing this waiver and contract. By signing this you did not purchase under false pretenses and fully acknowledge the consequences outlined in said contract about doing so.

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LIABILITY WAIVER
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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 has a compromised immune system.

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I, the breeder, Alana Antonuccio (ECMR), 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, Alana Antonuccio (ECMR), of any liability associated with owning pet rats.

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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 isn't reliable when it comes to preventing asymptomatic viruses.​

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The nature of these viruses with the chance of undetected exposure (the environment, through clothing, being somewhere that there's been wild rats, 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 become infected through these methods by you and your family as well.

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Below is a list of zoonosis diseases and the symptoms that could possibly be carried by pet rats. (These instances are rare, but you should always be well informed of the risks of owning animals.)

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Seoul Strain of Hantavirus

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Seoul Virus is a type of hantavirus commonly associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Symptoms appear within one to two weeks and in rare cases up to 8 weeks.

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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 feces, urine, and saliva. Seoul Virus cannot be spread from person to person or person to rat.
To prevent infection, wear protective gear such as gloves when cleaning cages, avoid breathing in dust particles, spray down bedding before moving it, and wash your hands before and after handling your rat.
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Rat Bite Fever (Streptobacillus moniliformis)

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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.

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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.
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Salmonellosis

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Salmonellosis or salmonella is a common disease that 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 animals.

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Symptoms for humans include:

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Fever
Abdominal Pain
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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 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 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 system. Symptoms should fade within 5-7 days.

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Leptospirosis

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Leptospirosis is a bacteria called leptospiria.

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Symptoms include:

High fever
Headache
Chills
Muscle aches
Vomiting
Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
Red eyes
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Rash
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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 the urine of infected animals.

Prevention of transmission includes avoiding the urine of infected animals, washing 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 Alana Antonuccio (ECMR) from any and all liability of owning a pet rat.

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IN CASE OF BREACH OF CONTRACT

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If the Buyer fails to uphold up to the terms stated in this contract or fails to uphold their answers given on their Adoption Form, such as breeding rats that they had stated they would not, the Buyer acknowledges that the breach of contract will result in the Seller requesting the return of said rats, alerting other breeders in the community of the breach of contract, and possibly further action at the Seller's discretion

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GIVING CREDIT: Thank you Once Upon A Mischief Rattery and Little Friend's Rattery for sharing this content!