Quarantine was tough, especially without someone to keep you company. Although my mom and sister had quarantined alongside me, I felt more lonely than I ever had in my life.
During this time, my mom and I made a very rare trip outside our house and had a very nondescript conversation about how she’d had a pet rat as a teeneger. I was always under the impression that rats were “gross”, by seeing images of feral ones on the news and National Geographic. I came to realize through speaking with my mom that the rats I had seen were not the species treated as pets, and can actually be very caring and calm creatures. By that point I was already convinced that I wanted one as a pet, and soon after purchased one from a local pet store.
At this point I’ve had my pet rat, Itchy, for around a year now. By having such an unorthodox pet I’ve come to realize that things that may seem stereotypically “gross” can actually be very kind, and care for you in the same way a more aesthetically pleasing alternative can. Looks deceive when it comes to the nature of a person or animal. “Gross” doesn’t necessarily mean “bad”, or vice versa.
In my case, my pet rat has loved me more than any other pet I’ve ever known. He lives to love me and I appreciate that part of him, no matter how others view him as my pet.
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Hey madison, i actually saw you writing this during apush and i was curious to read this. Quarantine was in fact the most draining experience but getting pets was one of the best decisions ever. I too got a pet during quarantine and honestly it made it somewhat a little better. Because it was lonely and i could barely go out having pets really filled up the space
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