What Is Any Rat Rescue?

Updated

Any Rat Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill rescue dedicated to finding loving, forever homes for pet rats in need. It has served the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area since 2004 and places roughly 200 pet rats each year. It accepts any domestic rat regardless of health, age, or temperament. The organization is not a shelter but a network of volunteer foster homes, and its intake capacity is limited, so surrendering a rat may involve a waitlist or a referral to another agency.

What the organization does

  • Rescue and rehoming: Any Rat Rescue takes in domestic rats and matches them with adopters. Because it is no-kill, it does not euthanize animals for space or convenience, and it does not turn away rats based on health, age, or temperament.
  • Foster-based model: Rats live in volunteer foster homes rather than a central facility. This means the number of animals the group can hold at any time depends on available foster space.
  • Adoption events: The rescue hosts and attends public meet-and-greet and adoption events, mostly in the Phoenix area, where people can meet rats and talk with volunteers.
  • Community partnership: It is a rescue partner of PACC911, a Phoenix-area animal welfare coalition.

Who it serves and where

Any Rat Rescue focuses on the Phoenix metropolitan area. Its published event schedule lists locations in Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, Paradise Valley, and Scottsdale. If the group is at capacity in the Phoenix area, it refers families with urgent needs to the Arizona Humane Society; in Tucson, it refers to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.

What to expect if you want to surrender a rat

Because the rescue is small and all-volunteer, intake is not guaranteed. The organization keeps a waitlist for foster space and does its best to help, but when it is full it directs people to the referral agencies above. If you need to surrender a rat, contact the rescue directly for current availability rather than assuming immediate placement.

What to expect if you want to adopt

Adoption happens through the rescue's meet-and-greet events and direct contact. Upcoming events listed on the site include:

Event Date and time Location Cost
Petco Tempe in-store Meet & Greet Sat., Oct. 17, 2026, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 1835 E Guadalupe #112, Tempe, AZ 85283 Free
PACC911 Adoptathon at All Saints Episcopal Church Sat., Nov. 7, 2026, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 6300 N Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012 Free
LovePup Family Fest at Vertuccio Farms Sat., Nov. 7, 2026, 4–8 p.m. 4011 S Power Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212 Free pet food/supply donation, or cash/CashApp donation
PACC911 Adoptathon at Franciscan Renewal Center Sat., Nov. 21, 2026, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 Free
PACC911 Adoptathon at Pet Supplies Plus Sun., Dec. 6, 2026, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. 31319 N Scottsdale Rd. #125, Scottsdale, AZ 85266 Free

Event details and dates can change, so confirm with the rescue before traveling.

Key things to know before contacting the rescue

  • It is volunteer-run. Response times and intake availability depend on volunteers and foster capacity.
  • It is regional. The rescue serves the Phoenix metro area; people outside that area should ask about options or expect a referral.
  • It accepts all domestic rats. Health, age, and temperament are not barriers to intake, though space still limits how many rats can be taken at once.
  • Adoption is not the same as shopping. The rescue's purpose is rehoming rats in need, and events are the main public entry point for meeting animals.

For current policies, surrender requests, or adoption questions, contact Any Rat Rescue directly through its website, anyratrescue.org.