Three male pet rats were found in a taped-up cardboard box beneath Garratt Road Bridge in Bayswater in September 2024 and taken to RSPCA WA. The box had air holes and a bowl of food, but no water. The rats had been left there for an unknown length of time, according to PerthNow’s report of 13 September 2024.
What happened beneath Garratt Road Bridge?
Two people fishing near the bridge found the rats earlier in September 2024 and brought them to RSPCA WA. The taped-up box had holes cut into it and a bowl of food, but no water. A note beside the rats read: “Please rehome them – 3 good boys – thank you.” It named them Tiger, Buddy and Snowy, describing Snowy as “the baby boy with the line through his head.”
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PerthNow reported that the animals could have been exposed to predators while they were left under the bridge. The report did not establish how long they had been there or why they were left.
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What condition were the rats in?
An RSPCA WA spokesperson described the rats as friendly and sociable, and said they had been raised among humans. One was overweight and was to receive veterinary care. According to the report, the rats needed to be desexed before they could be adopted.
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RSPCA staff had given them new names: The Great White Shark, Garfish and Goldfish.
What did RSPCA WA say about abandoning pets?
Kylie Green, RSPCA WA inspector manager, told PerthNow that the rats had been left without water for an unknown amount of time and were at risk from predators. Green said that, if they had not been found when they were, they “could easily have died.”
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Green said dumping an animal is illegal and can lead to an animal-cruelty charge under Western Australia’s Animal Welfare Act 2002. The report did not specify a section of the Act or a possible penalty.
Green acknowledged that people’s circumstances can change and urged anyone unable to care for a pet to ask family or friends for help, or contact a reputable rescue group. Abandoning an animal can expose it to suffering and danger; arranging a safe handover is the alternative RSPCA WA recommended.
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Is there a later update on the rats?
The PerthNow article, published on 13 September 2024, reported that the rats needed veterinary care and desexing before adoption. It does not establish whether the investigation concluded, whether the rats were adopted, or what became of them afterward.
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RSPCA WA’s advice in the report was to contact family or friends or a reputable rescue group rather than leave an animal. The 2024 article listed 1300 278 358 for information about these rats and reports of suspected cruelty or neglect, as well as rspcawa.org.au. Because these details were published in 2024, check RSPCA WA’s website for current contact information before relying on them.
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Best Value
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- BUILT FOR DAILY LIFE: Full-width double doors provide maximum accessibility, with a swing-up locking ramp that lets you separate pets or section off areas during cleaning and feeding. Bottom level shelf provides storage area for pet accessories.
- BECAUSE LIFE GOES BETTER WITH PETS: A family-owned business based in Indiana, MidWest Homes for Pets brings over 100 years of pet product expertise and a commitment to quality, rigorous safety testing, and excellent US-based customer service.
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