press

The main text to the story reads:

RATS around the world could soon be living like kings thanks to a new invention providing extra creature comfort.

Julie Parker and pet shop owner Claire Pitt put have come up with a tiny hammock on which the furry rodents can rest their heads.

Available in a variety of fabrics - including fake leopardskin - they have applied for a patent on their invention which is currently available at £4.50.

Julie, a mum-of-two and market researcher from Longlevens, said: "We came up with the idea because we couldn't seem to find beds for them and the nearest thing we found was a platform."

At the moment Julie has around 19 rats some of which are used for breeding for Claire, who runs Claire's Pets in Oxstalls Way.

The hammocks will be hand-made to order and the design has been tried and tested using a variety of fabrics from fleece to fake fur.

Julie said: "They seem to love the hammocks and Teddy, who is a stud rat, lies there all the time eating.

"They hammocks can clip onto the cage. We've designed them so they are machine-washable and have been making them ourselves.

"Hopefully the patent application will be successful."

For more information on the hammocks visit their website at www.acrorats.homestead.com.

Julie and Claire were interviewed by Central South TV news . They were lucky enough to be interviewed by the extremely handsome Ken Goodwin, who for his sins was "blessed" by Little Bill to which Julie's 7 year old daughter shouted very loudly "eugh, Bill's weed on you!"'

After we had applied for the Patent on our Rat Hammocks we decided to mention the idea to the Gloucester Citizen who loved it - this is the result.

There was a piece in the Gloucestershire Echo the same week, but we have been unable to track down the item - when we do - you will see it here!

March 4th 2003

After our first year of spoiling rats all over the world we had our first Acrorats Birthday Bash in Shurdington. There was a lot of media interest once again and the Gloucestershire Citizen gave us the full centre-page spread.

We also made the Central News again - I will upload the news item soon.

March 9th 2004

Another year on and another newspaper report of the 2nd Annual Acrorats Birthday Bash - this time the Gloucestershire Echo

A lovely report portraying the rat as a friendly pet loved by many.... but then again WE already knew that didn't we?

May 2004

Did you watch "Test your Pet" on TV - well, the rats were used to show how good they wre at getting out of a maze in the middle of Hever Castle Maze. I was there with my rats and my 2 children. Kate Humble (pictured below with my beautiful rat KT trying to kiss Kate on the nose) was in the middle of the maze when my son (then aged 6) got himself lost - we spent ages trying to find him - Kate Humble thought it was so funny.

Kate had her own rats at that time and was such a genuine character and loved the rats.

April 13 2006

Pasta - a little doe from a pet shop came to me very pregnant. The next day she had her babies and was a good ratty Mum.

A week later I had a call from my local friendly petshop to say they had found 3 orphaned baby field mice, probably only 3 days old and could I hand rear them (I often take in wildlife). Knowing that this was going to be an almost impossible task I put the babies in with Pasta and she reared them until they were fully weaned.

Again, I have TV footage from the news and will upload it once I can.

This was a fantastic bit of ratty PR!

June 12th 2006

Every year I dress up as the pied piper of hamelin and parade the streets of Gloucester during the annual medieval fayre.

Again, not wishing to miss the opportunity of talking about and showing how wonderful rats are, I enjoy every minute of it.

See you on June 7th 2007!