San Diegan Accused Of Cruelty To 35,000 Rats: Rodents Sold To Pet Stores, Zoos For Food

NBCSandiego.com ^ | August 13, 2003

[new cruelty]

SAN DIEGO -- A North County man faces possible prison time for allegedly raising 35,000 rats in cruel and filthy conditions.

Peter Springer of Encinitas, Calif., will be arraigned next month on a felony charge of inflicting needless suffering and cruelty to the rodents, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Springer, 62, was co-owner of a company called Rats R Us. The company operated for nearly a decade on 1.5 acres on Union Street near Saxony Road. It sold rats to pet stores and zoos, mostly as food.

Prosecutors decided to file charges after animal control officers inspected the rat-breeding operation in June. Inspectors found tens of thousands of rodents packed into filthy cages. Some were so overcrowded that the animals struggled to breathe, according to the newspaper.

The inspectors reported finding hundreds of decomposing rat carcasses in the cages. Many other rats were determined to be sick or injured.

If convicted, Springer could be sentenced to three years in prison.

[new cruelty]

Rats

[squidly]

Scientists using lab rats next?

[new cruelty]

Matricula cards can't be too far behind.

[Lunatic Fringe]

for allegedly raising 35,000 rats in cruel and filthy conditions.

Are we sure it wasnt a Dem Convention in a Detroit Hotel?

[Sabertooth]

Mmmm... rats.

[Michael Barnes]

These suckers make quick work of rats..

[red-dawg]

"..cruelty to the rodents."

What's wrong with this phrase?

[Ichneumon]

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

The manufacturer of Raid is next to be indicted, for the murder of tens of millions of ants and roaches.

[new cruelty]

[lilylangtree]

Aren't filthy conditions a natural habitat for rats?

[sep·ten·tri·on XX]

Yeah. But I guess like all living things, they still like to breathe.

[Shmokey]

The rat's lawyers are pro bono as a professional courtesy.

[new cruelty]

BWHAHAHA!

[anymouse]

Wouldn't clean, sterile conditions be considered crule conditions to raise rats in?

The perp was quoted as saying, "I started with two rats and before I knew it they were everywhere." :)

[bethelgrad]

This makes me want to use the F word. Who cares what happens to rats. Why would anybody give a rat's ass? Rats are universally hated. What a stupid state.

[Guillermo]

WTF cares what a rat likes?

[new cruelty]

Rats are held in high regard in some places around the world.

[strela]

"Mr. Rat, I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chin Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of same."

"See, doesn't pay any attention to me. You can't serve papers on a rat, baby sister. You gotta shoot him or let him be."

[katze]

I believe you are correct. India, perhaps? IIRC, they feed them in the holy places (whatever they're called).