Silver Star Rattery Adoption Agreement
PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING
This Adoption Agreement contains the terms and conditions for adopting rats from Silver Star Rattery (SLVR).
By submitting an adoption application and selecting the acknowledgment confirming that you have read and agree to this Adoption Agreement, you are accepting the terms below.
Please do not submit an application if you have any objections to these terms.
1. COMPANION HOME
Rats adopted from Silver Star Rattery are placed as companion animals and family pets.
The adopter agrees to provide appropriate housing, nutrition, enrichment, social interaction, sanitation, supervision, and veterinary care throughout the rat's life.
No rat adopted from Silver Star Rattery may be used as feeder stock, sold for commercial purposes, used for research, intentionally released outdoors, or knowingly placed in a situation that endangers the animal.
2. SOCIAL HOUSING
Rats are social animals and should not normally live alone.
The adopter agrees to keep each adopted rat with at least one compatible same-sex companion or appropriately altered compatible companion, except when temporary or permanent separation is necessary for medical, behavioral, or welfare reasons.
A single rat will generally only be placed in a home that already has an appropriate companion rat unless another arrangement has been approved by Silver Star Rattery.
3. PET ONLY — NO BREEDING
Unless Silver Star Rattery expressly grants breeding rights in a separate written agreement, all rats are adopted as PET ONLY.
The adopter may not intentionally breed the rat, loan or provide the rat to another person for breeding, or knowingly allow the rat access to an intact rat of the opposite sex.
The adopter is responsible for maintaining appropriate separation of intact opposite-sex rats.
Possession of a pedigree, lineage information, photographs, registration information, or other records does not constitute permission to breed.
Breeding rights must be specifically granted in writing by Silver Star Rattery.
4. BASIC CARE REQUIREMENTS
The adopter agrees to provide:
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A secure, appropriately sized and ventilated enclosure.
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Clean and sanitary living conditions.
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Continuous access to fresh water.
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A nutritionally appropriate staple diet.
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Appropriate enrichment and opportunities for normal rat behavior.
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Protection from dangerous temperatures, predators, toxic substances, unsafe animals, and other foreseeable hazards.
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Appropriate veterinary treatment when illness or injury reasonably requires it.
Minor children may participate in caring for the rat, but an adult in the household must ultimately be responsible for the animal's care and welfare.
5. VETERINARY CARE
The adopter understands that rats, like all animals, may require veterinary care during their lifetime. After adoption, all veterinary decisions and expenses are the responsibility of the adopter.
Silver Star Rattery does not reimburse or assume responsibility for veterinary bills, including veterinary expenses incurred during the 14-day health guarantee period.
If a health concern arises during the guarantee period, the adopter should contact Silver Star Rattery as soon as possible so the options provided under the Health Guarantee can be discussed.
6. HEALTH AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION
To the best of Silver Star Rattery's knowledge, each rat is healthy and free of known contagious illness at the time of adoption unless a known condition has been disclosed to the adopter.
The adopter understands that the transition to a new home can be stressful and that changes in environment, exposure to other animals, and other factors after adoption are outside the control of Silver Star Rattery.
Appropriate quarantine and introduction practices are strongly recommended when bringing a new rat into a home with other rodents.
7. 14-DAY HEALTH GUARANTEE
Silver Star Rattery provides a 14-day health guarantee beginning on the date the adopter takes possession of the rat.
If a significant health problem becomes apparent during this period, the adopter must contact Silver Star Rattery promptly.
When a rat qualifies under this guarantee, the rat must be returned to Silver Star Rattery in order to receive one of the following remedies:
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A refund of the rat's original adoption fee;
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A replacement rat, if an appropriate rat is currently available; or
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Credit equal to the original adoption fee toward a future Silver Star Rattery adoption.
The appropriate option will be determined based on the circumstances and availability of rats at that time.
The health guarantee does not provide reimbursement for veterinary examinations, medications, diagnostic testing, emergency care, treatment, transportation, or any other expenses incurred by the adopter. Silver Star Rattery is not responsible for veterinary bills, even when they are incurred within the 14-day guarantee period.
Silver Star Rattery does not ordinarily require veterinary documentation for a health-guarantee claim. However, documentation or other reasonable information may be requested when necessary to verify an unusual, unclear, or disputed claim.
The guarantee does not apply to illness or injury resulting from an accident, improper care or housing, unsafe introductions, exposure to other animals after adoption, neglect, environmental conditions, or other circumstances occurring after the rat leaves Silver Star Rattery.
No lifetime guarantee of health or lifespan is expressed or implied.
8. LONG-TERM HEALTH & LINE INFORMATION
Silver Star Rattery carefully tracks the health, longevity, and temperament of its breeding lines. Adopters are encouraged to keep the rattery updated throughout their rat's life, particularly if a significant or unusual health condition develops or the rat dies at an unusually young age.
Information about tumors, chronic or congenital conditions, reproductive problems, neurological conditions, longevity, temperament, and cause of death when known can be extremely valuable in making responsible future breeding decisions.
Updates are appreciated even many years after adoption.
Providing this information does not make Silver Star Rattery financially responsible for veterinary care or other expenses associated with the rat.
9. TEMPERAMENT
Silver Star Rattery breeds with companion temperament as an important consideration and makes every reasonable effort to place well-socialized rats.
Individual personalities naturally vary, and behavior may change throughout a rat's life due to maturity, hormones, health, environment, social dynamics, or other factors.
Adopters are encouraged to share significant temperament changes with Silver Star Rattery as part of the rattery's ongoing evaluation of its lines.
10. REHOMING & RETURN
If at any point during the rat's life the adopter can no longer keep the rat, Silver Star Rattery must be contacted before the rat is sold, surrendered, given away, or otherwise transferred to another person or organization whenever reasonably possible.
Silver Star Rattery will make reasonable efforts to assist with placement and may offer or request that the rat be returned to the rattery.
A rat adopted from Silver Star Rattery may never knowingly be transferred to a feeder breeder, laboratory or research facility, pet store, or individual intending to use the rat as food.
The rat may never intentionally be released outdoors.
Return of a rat does not automatically entitle the adopter to a refund of the original adoption fee or reimbursement of veterinary or other expenses.
Silver Star Rattery understands that emergencies and unexpected circumstances occur. Adopters are encouraged to contact the rattery rather than conceal a difficult situation.
11. SHELTER OR RESCUE SURRENDER
Whenever reasonably possible, Silver Star Rattery must be contacted before one of its rats is surrendered to an animal shelter or rescue organization.
If an emergency makes prior contact impossible, the adopter agrees to provide the organization with Silver Star Rattery's contact information and notify the rattery as soon as reasonably possible.
12. ACCURACY OF APPLICATION INFORMATION
The adopter certifies that the information provided in the adoption application and throughout the adoption process is truthful and substantially complete.
Material misrepresentation regarding housing, existing animals, breeding intentions, intended use of the rat, or other information relevant to placement may result in cancellation of an adoption or refusal of future adoptions.
13. PHOTOS & UPDATES
Silver Star Rattery welcomes photographs and updates throughout the lives of adopted rats.
Unless the adopter specifically requests otherwise, photographs voluntarily submitted to Silver Star Rattery may be shared on the rattery's website or social media for purposes such as updates, educational information, or showcasing Silver Star Rattery rats.
The person who created the photograph retains ownership of the photograph.
14. SHOWING
Rats adopted from Silver Star Rattery may be entered in appropriate pet or fancy rat shows.
When breeder identification is requested or customarily provided, the adopter agrees to identify the rat using the SLVR breeder prefix.
Showing a rat does not grant or imply breeding rights.
15. NO GUARANTEE OF PARTICULAR TRAITS
Unless specifically provided in a separate written agreement, Silver Star Rattery does not guarantee:
Normal developmental changes in color, markings, coat, body type, or temperament are not considered defects.
16. VIOLATION OF THIS AGREEMENT
If Silver Star Rattery reasonably believes that a material term of this Agreement has been violated, the rattery may contact the adopter regarding the welfare of the rat and may request that the rat be returned.
Nothing in this Agreement authorizes Silver Star Rattery to enter private property or remove an animal without the owner's consent or other lawful authority.
Violation of this Agreement may result in the adopter being permanently refused future adoptions from Silver Star Rattery.
17. ELECTRONIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT & ACCEPTANCE
This Agreement does not require a handwritten signature to be acknowledged through the Silver Star Rattery online adoption process.
Before submitting an adoption application, the applicant is required to indicate that they have read and agree to the current Silver Star Rattery Adoption Agreement.
By:
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Accessing or being provided the opportunity to review this Agreement;
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Selecting the required acknowledgment indicating agreement; and
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Submitting an adoption application,
the applicant electronically acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Adoption Agreement.
Applicants who do not agree to these terms should not select the acknowledgment or submit an adoption application.
The version of the Adoption Agreement presented or linked through the adoption process at the time the application is submitted will govern that application and resulting adoption unless Silver Star Rattery and the adopter subsequently agree otherwise in writing.
18. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Adoption Agreement establishes the general terms governing pet rats adopted from Silver Star Rattery.
Any exception to the pet-only/no-breeding restriction must be expressly granted by Silver Star Rattery in a separate written breeding agreement.
If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.
ADOPTER ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By submitting a Silver Star Rattery adoption application and selecting the required agreement acknowledgment, the adopter confirms:
I have read the Silver Star Rattery Adoption Agreement in full. I understand its terms, including the care requirements, pet-only/no-breeding restriction, health guarantee, veterinary expense policy, and return/rehoming requirements, and I agree to abide by them.
