Dovetail is a, dare we say it (?), artisanal micro-rattery located in Tyler, TX and producing an extremely limited number of pet fancy rats, each of which has been painstakingly bred for sweet temperament, significant intelligence, and notably good health. Though pedigreed, Dovetail rats are presently raised solely for companionship, not for breeding or showing.
All Dovetail rats are hand-raised from the day of their birth. They are fed a diet of fresh foods, low-protein block, and whole grains and receive the expert veterinary care that all domesticated animals deserve but few get. They also take daily exercise, either in the "free range rat zone" (read: rodent-proofed master bedroom) or in the garden, weather permitting. At other hours, they reside in spacious and mentally engaging multilevel cages that are chock-full of ramps, wheels, ropes, tubes, hammocks, slides, boxes, perches, and toys of all description in order to keep their busy little minds too occupied to plot world domination - all of this at minimal cost. God bless garage sales and the good people at Goodwill Industries.
Dovetail rat cages are virtually clean enough to lick. A dovetail rat should, at all times, smell of fresh air, clean linen, and if male, vaguely of newly-applied floor wax.
The rats at Dovetail come in a wide assortment of colors, coats, and ear varieties. Dovetail rats are not bred for a strict adherence to show standards or variety confirmation, but rather for jolly personalities and robust health. Our feeling is that a good rat is a great pal, regardless of length of its tail or set of its eyes - though we greatly respect the rat show community for all it has done to extend the lifespan and improve the temperament and health of Rattus norvegicus.
Dovetail rats only leave the rattery in single sex pairs or trios and only go to sound and committed pet homes willing to produce evidence of a loving commitment to their health and welfare throughout their lives and a solemn promise that they will never be bred. With so few babes coming available, we can afford to be particular - and we are.