A short presentation on rats and their past.

1. PET RATS
By Alex Richardson

2. Bad name
 They’ve understandably got a bit of bad press
during the plague. But they really are quite
loveable.

3. Pet rats
 The normal type of rat that is domesticated is
the Fancy Rat. The name fancy rat derives
from the idea of animal fancy or the phrase, "to
fancy" (to like, or appreciate).

4. Pet or Tasty Treat?
 Rat meat is a food that, while taboo or even
forbidden in some cultures, is a dietary staple
in others. Taboos include fears of disease or
religious prohibition, but in many places the
high number of rats has led to their
incorporation into the local diet.

5. History
 The Pied Piper
 One of the oldest and most historic stories about rats is
The Pied Piper of Hamelin, in which a rat-catcher leads
away an infestation with enchanted music—the piper is
later refused payment, so he in turn leads away the
town's children. This tale, placed in Germany around the
late 13th century, has inspired the realms of film, theatre,
literature, and even opera. The subject of much research,
some theories have intertwined the tale with events
related to the Black Plague, in which black rats may have
played an important role. Fictional works based on the
tale that focus heavily on the rat aspect include
Pratchett's The Amazing Maurice and his Educated
Rodents, and Belgian graphic novel Le Bal du Rat Mort
(The Ball of the Dead Rat).

6. Hairless and Dumbo
 Theres a lot of variety when it comes to rats.