The online entry form is up here. The deadline to enter a rat will be midnight on Saturday, October 18.

In order to ensure that all rats at the show stay healthy, all animals entering the building MUST be quarantined for a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the show!! This means that your rats do not leave the house and that no new animals are brought into your home for 3 weeks prior to the show date. If you have already entered your rat by that date and any rats in your rattery become ill during the 3 week quarantine period from a possible virus please do NOT bring any rats to the show, even if the rats you would be bringing are not showing symptoms but others in your home are. Viruses can be very serious problems in the rat fancy and can sometimes even be deadly, please help us protect the Northwest rat community from them! RatsPacNW is extremely committed to having safe shows and we would hate to see showing as we know it disappear in the Northwest due to disease outbreaks at shows. If we all work together and take quarantine seriously, we can show safely and happily.
A safe show is the only way to go!

To further insure safety, we also have a stringent health check at the door when rats are checked in. Every animal MUST pass health check to be permitted into the show arena. We have no place to keep rats who do not pass health check, so you will have to take rats that do not pass home with you immediately. Health check includes observing the rats to make sure there are no obvious signs of viral respiratory distress, such as watching breathing, listening for sneezing or rattling chests, observing the nose and eyes for excessive porphyrin staining and looking for signs of obvious illness like thinness, listlessness or matted coats. We will also check for external parasites, particularly rodent lice, which are tiny wormlike insects with a red dot in the center who are found against the skin. They also produce nits, which are tiny whitish specks that stick to the hair shafts and cannot be brushed or shaken off. Rats with any of the above issues will not be permitted to enter - this is for the safety of all the rats attending and no exceptions will be made. We also reserve the right to turn away anyone with unsanitary, unsafe or overcrowded cages. Each rattery or rescue group can bring a maximum of 10 adults and 10 kittens for sale, though additional animals who are coming for prearranged pick up can be registered to attend. Animals for sale can ONLY be brought by RatsPacNW members. Instructions will be on the online entry form.

Pet classes this year include Biggest, Squishiest (not fat), Longest Tail, Senior, Kissyest, Most Unusual, Funkiest Markings, Most Laid Back, Best Trick, Silliest Ears, Best Costume, Cutest Kitten, Prettiest Female and Handsomest Male. We also encourage folks exhibiting rats to dress up their travel cages and will award a ribbon for the most creatively decorated cage. For sports enthusiasts, we will be putting on a "Rat Race" in which rats will compete to see who can make it to the finish line of the racetrack the fastest. Only one rat will be on the track at a time and the track will be sanitized between runners for safety. Come cheer on the runners and root for your favorite rat racer! For entrants who have a different talent, eating, there is also a contest to see who can eat the most peas in the shortest time. People can also particpate in the pea fishing contest - using chopsticks, of course!

We will again feature the Junior Showman category for young rat fanciers. Children 12 and under are eligible to step up and show off their favorite pet rats. Experienced rat exhbitors and judges will be on hand to show the kids how to handle a rat when showing and each Junior Showman has about a minute to tell the audience why their pet is special. Colorful ribbons will be the prize for everyone participating in this event.

Jemimah practices for the pea eating contest.

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All materials on this page copyright Lynn Rosskamp 2008. They may not be reproduced without permission from the author.