Ratgurrrlz
11-20-04, 01:41 PM 11-20-04
On Sunday, November 7, 2004, we (Ratgurrrlz) along with two recent members of our rescue crew went to the residence of Elizabeth Ruppert to rescue 33 rats. We were under the impression that she and her mother, Ann Marie Ruppert, were having landlord/tenant issues and they needed to cut down on their rat population in a matter of days. What we witnessed upon entering their apartment that first night led us to gather more people in an effort to rescue the remaining animals.
There was a potent stench exuberating into the hallway of the apartment building which intensified the closer we got to the door. Once entering, there was a cat's litter box across from the entrance which looked and smelt as though it had not been cleaned in months, maybe never. As we proceded through the apartment to a small back room, cockroaches and other indescribable insects covered the floor and the walls. Flies and other bugs swarmed above our heads. Larva and feces imbedded every crevice. She led us to the far back of the apartment which housed the rats, among other animals, such as rabbits, spiny mice and a bearded dragon. We didn't think it could get much worse until we saw the animals and the formidable conditions in which they were kept. Rats were piled on top of eachother, hoarded in insufficiently sized cages and animal carriers. They were without food and some without water bottles. The cages which did in fact have water bottles were either filled with brown, dingy water or empty and cockroaches infested all of the cages. The bugs were crawling all over the animals as they uncomfortably tried to move around but to no avail were forced to stay where they were because of the lack of space. There was one rather large cage but all four levels were packed as well and the rats were crammed together. There was a bookshelf to the right of that cage, each shelf being approximately four feet long and one foot high, housing 20+ rats per shelf. There was a rather large aquarium situated next to the bookshelf, resting under the windows, which was sectioned off and occupied by a bearded dragon, old newspaper, feces, bugs and mold. The glass was so clouded from dirt that it was difficult to determine if anything actually lived in it at all. There were two other places the rats were kept. One was a small cage resting on piles of garbage on the floor also hoarded with rats and a small cat carrier containing 20+ rats on top of the four level cage. The carrier was so infested with cockroaches that when we removed the rats their little, furry coats were pullulating. There were two small tanks on the floor, underneath which each housed one rat. She showed us that one of those rats was a wild male rat she had aquired and bred with one of her domestic female rats to create hybrids. The rabbits were kept in cages piled one on top of the other to the left of the four level cage. They just sat there, listless and watching as we placed the rats in cages to take with us. They also had no food and seedy water bottles and were kept slovenly.
We initially went there with the intent to take 33 rats but left that night with 84 instead insisting she let us take them all. Once we had removed the animals safely we informed her that we would be returning for the rest of the animals with authorities if she did not surrender them. We kept in contact with her for 4 days before returning on Friday, November 12, 2004 with 8 other volunteers and fosters for the animals.
On Friday, November 12, 2004, we (Ratgurrrlz) along with Jasin, Julia, Meghan, Marie, Rochelle, Kimberly, Jennifer, Nicole and the super intendent of the building waited patiently inside the vestibule. Jersey City police were on their way to investigate the situation. We had called informing them of the situation before arriving and then again upon arrival. When JCPD showed up they spoke with Ann Marie Ruppert and asked to enter the apartment, which she allowed them to. We immediately heard Elizabeth screaming and her mother, Ann Marie trying to calm her down, insisting that if she did not stop they would "take her away". However, the screaching did not stop and the police exited the apartment. One of the officers informed us they were calling the Sargeant to come down. They felt the animals were in fact being abused in this situation. Once the Sargeant was called he then made a call to Animal Control and The Board of Health. We were not allowed to enter the apartment until the health inspector gave the go ahead. All of the animals were living in filth and infestation. The occupants themselves were told they needed to evacuate as well because the apartment was being condemned and unlivable for anyone. We made it very clear we would take all of the animals including two cats, 4 spiny mice, 8 rabbits, the bearded dragon and five fish, because we are a rescue and have the proper facilities as well as foster homes available for them. While we placed the animals in clean cages and carriers the authorities spoke to Ann Marie about putting them up in a hotel until the apartment was safe to live in. By this time Elizabeth had become so livid and out of control that she was restrained by her neighbor in his adjacent apartment and he agreed to house the two cats and the bearded dragon for Elizabeth and her mother permanently. Elizabeth had gotten back into the apartment before we had a chance to leave and lungded at us (Renee and Luna), trying to cause physical harm and threatening our lives saying, "I'm going to kill you! You're dead! You're dead!" Jasin, a member of our rescue crew blocked us from the attack and Elizabeth was then removed by her neighbor and brought back to his apartment until we left. We even stayed to rescue wild rats left loose in the apartment because we knew if we did not catch them they would die during fumigation. The entire apartment was RED TAPED because of it's condition. No one and no living thing was suitable to live in that apartment, not an animal, not a person, not even a fish.
Since Friday, November 12th, we have placed all of the rabbits, fish and a number of ratties into permanent homes but we still have many in need of some, as well as the spiny mice. We have spent a prodigious amount of money on medical bills, medicine, food and bedding for these little ones so far. We are still in need of donations, both monetary and/or supplies would be helpful as well as greatly appreciated. Please take a look at our donations page on this site. http://groups.msn.com/LovingRats
We go out of our way trying to provide them with the best of care and it puts quite a dent in our budget. In no way do we mind it though because we know they are safe, secure and loved in our care and with our fosters and we will continue to do it over and over again. No donation is too small. Every little bit matters to these softhearted creatures. So please donate and help us help the ratties!
There was a potent stench exuberating into the hallway of the apartment building which intensified the closer we got to the door. Once entering, there was a cat's litter box across from the entrance which looked and smelt as though it had not been cleaned in months, maybe never. As we proceded through the apartment to a small back room, cockroaches and other indescribable insects covered the floor and the walls. Flies and other bugs swarmed above our heads. Larva and feces imbedded every crevice. She led us to the far back of the apartment which housed the rats, among other animals, such as rabbits, spiny mice and a bearded dragon. We didn't think it could get much worse until we saw the animals and the formidable conditions in which they were kept. Rats were piled on top of eachother, hoarded in insufficiently sized cages and animal carriers. They were without food and some without water bottles. The cages which did in fact have water bottles were either filled with brown, dingy water or empty and cockroaches infested all of the cages. The bugs were crawling all over the animals as they uncomfortably tried to move around but to no avail were forced to stay where they were because of the lack of space. There was one rather large cage but all four levels were packed as well and the rats were crammed together. There was a bookshelf to the right of that cage, each shelf being approximately four feet long and one foot high, housing 20+ rats per shelf. There was a rather large aquarium situated next to the bookshelf, resting under the windows, which was sectioned off and occupied by a bearded dragon, old newspaper, feces, bugs and mold. The glass was so clouded from dirt that it was difficult to determine if anything actually lived in it at all. There were two other places the rats were kept. One was a small cage resting on piles of garbage on the floor also hoarded with rats and a small cat carrier containing 20+ rats on top of the four level cage. The carrier was so infested with cockroaches that when we removed the rats their little, furry coats were pullulating. There were two small tanks on the floor, underneath which each housed one rat. She showed us that one of those rats was a wild male rat she had aquired and bred with one of her domestic female rats to create hybrids. The rabbits were kept in cages piled one on top of the other to the left of the four level cage. They just sat there, listless and watching as we placed the rats in cages to take with us. They also had no food and seedy water bottles and were kept slovenly.
We initially went there with the intent to take 33 rats but left that night with 84 instead insisting she let us take them all. Once we had removed the animals safely we informed her that we would be returning for the rest of the animals with authorities if she did not surrender them. We kept in contact with her for 4 days before returning on Friday, November 12, 2004 with 8 other volunteers and fosters for the animals.
On Friday, November 12, 2004, we (Ratgurrrlz) along with Jasin, Julia, Meghan, Marie, Rochelle, Kimberly, Jennifer, Nicole and the super intendent of the building waited patiently inside the vestibule. Jersey City police were on their way to investigate the situation. We had called informing them of the situation before arriving and then again upon arrival. When JCPD showed up they spoke with Ann Marie Ruppert and asked to enter the apartment, which she allowed them to. We immediately heard Elizabeth screaming and her mother, Ann Marie trying to calm her down, insisting that if she did not stop they would "take her away". However, the screaching did not stop and the police exited the apartment. One of the officers informed us they were calling the Sargeant to come down. They felt the animals were in fact being abused in this situation. Once the Sargeant was called he then made a call to Animal Control and The Board of Health. We were not allowed to enter the apartment until the health inspector gave the go ahead. All of the animals were living in filth and infestation. The occupants themselves were told they needed to evacuate as well because the apartment was being condemned and unlivable for anyone. We made it very clear we would take all of the animals including two cats, 4 spiny mice, 8 rabbits, the bearded dragon and five fish, because we are a rescue and have the proper facilities as well as foster homes available for them. While we placed the animals in clean cages and carriers the authorities spoke to Ann Marie about putting them up in a hotel until the apartment was safe to live in. By this time Elizabeth had become so livid and out of control that she was restrained by her neighbor in his adjacent apartment and he agreed to house the two cats and the bearded dragon for Elizabeth and her mother permanently. Elizabeth had gotten back into the apartment before we had a chance to leave and lungded at us (Renee and Luna), trying to cause physical harm and threatening our lives saying, "I'm going to kill you! You're dead! You're dead!" Jasin, a member of our rescue crew blocked us from the attack and Elizabeth was then removed by her neighbor and brought back to his apartment until we left. We even stayed to rescue wild rats left loose in the apartment because we knew if we did not catch them they would die during fumigation. The entire apartment was RED TAPED because of it's condition. No one and no living thing was suitable to live in that apartment, not an animal, not a person, not even a fish.
Since Friday, November 12th, we have placed all of the rabbits, fish and a number of ratties into permanent homes but we still have many in need of some, as well as the spiny mice. We have spent a prodigious amount of money on medical bills, medicine, food and bedding for these little ones so far. We are still in need of donations, both monetary and/or supplies would be helpful as well as greatly appreciated. Please take a look at our donations page on this site. http://groups.msn.com/LovingRats
We go out of our way trying to provide them with the best of care and it puts quite a dent in our budget. In no way do we mind it though because we know they are safe, secure and loved in our care and with our fosters and we will continue to do it over and over again. No donation is too small. Every little bit matters to these softhearted creatures. So please donate and help us help the ratties!