Welcome to the RFL
The RFL is a small club of made up of enthusiastic fanciers of the domestic fancy rat. We are breeders, showers, and pet owners dedicated to furthering the knowledge of these wonderful animals, learning more, and showing safely and ethically in the Great Lakes area.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Our mission is to promote ethical and responsible ownership, care, breeding and showing of fancy rats, encouraging our members to excel to the highest possible standards. We encourage fanciers to take an active role in encouraging ethical ownership, educating the public about the merits of rats as pets, and having an open and honest dialogue with other rat fanciers in order to improve the rat fancy as a whole.
SHOWS
The Rat Fanciers of the Lakes and the North American Rat Organization (NIRO) have joined together to form URSA: United Rat Standards Affiliation. In this multi-club affiliation, members of both clubs can attend shows hosted by either club, exhibit their rats, gain points and titles, and share in fellowship in the greater region. Working closely with NIRO, we have originated a set of standards which all members can use to exhibit their rats. The North American Rat Registry (NARR) recognizes and records our titles.
PET RAT SUPPORT
Because all of our members love and cherish the rat first and foremost because it is a wonderful pet, intelligent, affectionate, and deserving of respect, we attract and support members whose only role in the rat fancy is that of pet ownership. We offer pet-only classes in shows as well as allowing non-breeding animals to be shown in conformation, and photo shows. Additionally, our forums and articles are a great source of information for any rat owner!
BREEDER SUPPORT
Because we are, first and foremost, a fancier's club with a strong emphasis on ethical, knowledgeable and responsible breeding, we offer a strong knowledge base and support system for breeders. We offer hosted articles, the Fancy Rat Wiki, and breeders with years of experience on our Board of Directors. We:
-- Encourage the adoption of a specific and recognized type and standard of rat to breed toward,
-- Encourage responsible placement of young rats with conscientious adopters and the use of adoption contracts,
-- Urge our judges to judge to a high standard of merit and raise the bar every year,
-- Support all affiliated shows with our time, energy, and help, and encourage all of our members to do the same,
-- Hold strongly the priority of safety first in all matters of showing, with stringent pre-show isolation rules, observing good hygene, and closely following all rules for showing and handling rats at any get-together where they are present.
