rats being used to detect landmines

The Rat Lord

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Dec 7, 2008, 5:42:51 AM12/7/08

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- now before you fly off the handle... the rats are too light to set off the
mines :)

apparently these same rats are also used to detect TB in human saliva using
smell. good little guys...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eAGtAYW6mA

p.s. i want to set something like that up in my back yard so mine can
freerange!

SteveR

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Dec 11, 2008, 10:13:33 AM12/11/08

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Yes, I read about those on one of the news sites. I was surprised to
learn that they were being trained in Antwerp, only about 20km from
where we live. Maybe my son and I could volunteer to help train them.
Haven't seen the video yet (will shortly), but there was a picture with
the news story. Boy, those guys are BIG. Bet any cat would think twice
about attacking one of those rats and decide better of it.

Andrea

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Dec 13, 2008, 9:06:23 AM12/13/08

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"SteveR" <Ste...@provider.be> wrote in message
news:x6a0l.24789$wp1....@newsfe19.ams2...

I read a story on it too. In the story I read, they were also training cats
to act as bodyguards for the rats, to protect them from other cats and
iguanas.

Steve_R

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Dec 13, 2008, 8:12:41 AM12/13/08

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I just watched the video. Awwww! They act just like our ratties, only
bigger. I want one, too!

The Rat Lord

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Dec 15, 2008, 1:43:57 AM12/15/08

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"Andrea" <andwher...@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:AjP0l.49$QG...@newsfe14.ams2...

lol, hilarious!

Ratticus Rattus esq.

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Dec 15, 2008, 5:51:09 PM12/15/08

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> iguanas.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Bit of a shame. I could think of a few dog breeds that would do a
better job. Say Basset Hounds for one...never saw a cat mess with a
basset more than once. ;^)
--
Keith

Ratticus Rattus esq.

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Dec 15, 2008, 5:53:20 PM12/15/08

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On Dec 14, 11:43 pm, "The Rat Lord" <ratl...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "Andrea" <andwhereabo...@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message

> lol, hilarious!- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

Don't laugh cats can be trained! Why I once trained a Siamese tomcat
to let me know he wanted out by saying so. Also taught him to open
doors in the house. He never could get the hang of the front screen
door though...it had a handle not a knob. He'd get so frustrated "out
'amnit!". Poor guy never get "d" right.
--
Keith

The Rat Lord

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Dec 23, 2008, 12:53:39 AM12/23/08

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"Ratticus Rattus esq." <steven...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:a43b99db-f4ab-49c9...@f40g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

-----------------

funny you should mention that because we once had a siamese that figured out
how to open doors, and also a small window in the bedroom.

Ratticus Rattus esq.

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Dec 23, 2008, 1:45:11 PM12/23/08

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On Dec 22, 10:53 pm, "The Rat Lord" <ratl...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "Ratticus Rattus esq." <stevenkei...@hotmail.com> wrote in messagenews:a43b99db-f4ab-49c9...@f40g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

> how to open doors, and also a small window in the bedroom.- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

I used the show and tell method. ;^)
--
Keith