Ratapalooza promotes adoption of laboratory rodents in Buenos Aires

An annual event in Buenos Aires promoting the adoption of former laboratory rodents drew participants on Sunday, highlighting a growing network in Argentina dedicated to rehoming animals that would otherwise be euthanized. The event, called Ratapalooza, featured rats leaping into cages and interacting with attendees at an indoor hall in the Argentine capital.

The gathering is organized by Team Ratas, a group that facilitates the adoption of rats and mice raised in animal facilities or used for scientific research once they are no longer needed. In Argentina, keeping domesticated rats or mice as pets is legal. The event functioned as a fair, with stalls selling rat-themed merchandise like keychains and stickers to raise funds for veterinary and food expenses. The animals are fostered in private homes before being placed with adoptive families.

Team Ratas, described as a leader in this effort in Argentina and Latin America, began its work in 2016. A representative of the group said it now operates a network of 90 foster homes in Buenos Aires and nearby towns, having rescued more than 8,000 animals and found homes for approximately 3,000 over the last decade. The organization...