When a provincial pest specialist suggested that Saskatchewan should crack down on rat breeders, he probably wasn't prepared for just how fervently some people love their rodents.
Rat enthusiasts and breeders of so-called "fancy rats," which are raised as pets, have started criticizing Saskatchewan, complaining about the provincial government's "Big Brother mentality" or even "Hitler mentality" in a flurry of Internet chatter about possible changes to the province's pest-control regulations.
"I had never heard of 'fancy rats' before," said Scott Hartley, the provincial insect and pest-management specialist for Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization. "But it seems some people take them quite seriously."
The firestorm started this week after reports that Mr. Hartley said he supports the idea of an outright ban on rat breeding to keep escaped critters from eating crops.
That prompted outrage from rat lovers in Saskatchewan and across North America, who say they're horrified at the possibility of the province following the example of Alberta, the only jurisdiction in Canada that forbids rat ownership.
Carol Janchenko, owner of 32 rats in Crystal Falls, Minn., said the news from Saskatchewan made her "physically ill."
"If this sort of Big Brother mentality was in my location, believe me, I would take my pets and leave," she said.
"I would lose a wonderful home and high-paying job. But my pets are worth it."
Rat fanciers in Saskatchewan were equally distraught over the idea.
"Regulating pet rats, or banning them, is absolutely outrageous," said Sandra Beasley, who keeps 50 rats in a room of her house in Moose Jaw. "It's going way, way, way, way overboard."
Jennifer Mahlberg, 36, a teacher and "devoted rat lover" from Prince Albert, said she would move away from the province if she isn't allowed to keep her four rats.
"I understand that if left abandoned and uncared for they will procreate and cause damage to Saskatchewan crops," Ms. Mahlberg said in an e-mail.
"But seriously? How many rats out there are from abandoned pets? These creatures would surely die in common -35 Celsius weather if they are let go into the wild."
She added, "Please do not let us become like the rednecks in Alberta."
Mr. Hartley was anxious to clarify his comments yesterday. The province hasn't made any specific proposals, he said, although regulations will probably be updated some time in the future to handle the growing number of people raising rats to feed their reptiles or as pets.
That would mean amending the Pest Control Act or encouraging municipalities to pass bylaws, he said, with the goal of either checking on breeders to make sure they're not releasing rats into the wild, or banning them altogether.
"Enforcement will be difficult, so the easier route may be to go for zero-tolerance," Mr. Hartley said.
"It would be great to make everyone happy, and if somebody is making good money at rat breeding -- and I have a hard time saying that without laughing -- you have to take it seriously."
"On the other hand," Mr. Hartley added, "you don't want people hiding behind the legislation, not really keeping control of their population."
But the idea of domestic rats running wild was mocked on the Internet yesterday by rat owners from Quebec, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Idaho, Minnesota, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York State and elsewhere.
Many pointed out that their fancy rats are bred for their colourful coats and affectionate personalities, and such rats wouldn't know how to survive outdoors because they have never foraged for food or dodged predators.
"I think it's horrible," said Lisa Hays, 44, of Erie, Pa. "They are sweet, gentle creatures."
Norway rats were introduced to the Prairies during the Second World War, and Saskatchewan spends about $530,000 every year to control the population and reduce damage to farmers' fields.
Alberta says it has largely eradicated rats and applauded the notion of Saskatchewan getting tougher on the rodents. But John Bourne, vertebrate pest specialist with Alberta Agriculture, acknowledged that his province doesn't ban pet rats out of concern that the animals will escape; rather, he said the prohibition helps people keep their guard up against wild rats.
"Otherwise it would undermine the whole concern," Mr. Bourne said.