In an unlikely collaboration, Aucklanders seeking to own a pet rat could now help save a life as the NZ Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) launches a new programme to rehome rats bred or used for science.
The collaboration with scientists at the University of Auckland comes on World Day for Animals in Labs.
In a statement on Wednesday, NZAVS admitted working with the university might seem strange to some - a research institute working with a charity whose mission is to ultimately replace the use of animals in experimentation.
But University of Auckland animal welfare officer Jodi Salinsky said the scientific community were aligned in New Zealand when it comes to using animals for research, testing and teaching.
"No one wants to use animals for these purposes. Scientists would not choose to use animals in research if they believed that there were alternative ways that were widely accepted, accessible, and validated by the scientific community," Dr Salinsky said.
"NZAVS works hard to collaborate with institutions across Aotearoa engaged in any aspect of animal use for scientific purposes. Members of the scientific community in NZ are starting to recognise that with more openness and working together with progressive organisations like NZAVS, there can be faster and more positive outcomes, including the chance to replace the use of animals in science wherever possible."
The programme hopes to help fill a massive need in New Zealand for the animal science and research community and the animals they use.
In New Zealand, about 300,000 animals are used for research, testing and teaching every year.
Thousands of these animals are killed, and thousands of additional animals bred for science but never used are also killed.
Between 2019 and 2021, more than 487,200 animals were bred for science, never used and killed.
There are currently no regulations in New Zealand that require institutes using animals for science to rehome them.
However, the NZAVS, which helped galvanise members of the animal science and research community to lobby the last Government, said it had plans to now lobby the National-led Coalition Government to catch up with other countries.
The charity is calling for allocated funding for the use and development of animal-free
research, testing and teaching methods and allocated funding to rehome animals used and bred for science.
Until then, this new life-saving rat rehoming programme will be fuelled by donations from NZAVS supporters and Aucklanders who will home these rats.
"To give an animal, used or bred for science in NZ, a real chance to live a good life in a 'forever home' is an incredible act of kindness," NZAVS executive director Tara Jackson said.
"Until a New Zealand Government commits to what NZAVS and the scientific community wants, we have animals a-plenty to rehome and be given a chance to be loved and live in permanent homes."
NZAVS said it was currently looking for 50 rats' forever homes and over 50 more to go on a rat-saving "waitlist".
"If more Aucklanders can find it in their hearts to open their home to rats (as rats should never be alone) who have started off in science, then they will not only instantly bolster the IQ rating of their household, thanks to how smart rats are but will be amazed at how loving, easily trained, and playful these animals really are," Jackson said.
"We are delighted that the University of Auckland is showing real leadership in the science community by working with us to ensure that as many animals as possible are rehomed in Auckland."
NZAVS said it had also helped to rehome rabbits, sheep, zebra finches and pigeons bred or used for science with the University of Auckland.
Sign up to rescue a rat here.
