Alex Gallardo
One of the 2,000 rats rescued.

TV alert: This Monday evening, A&E will feature The HSUS in action on the season three finale episode of their show “Hoarders.” And I guarantee you’ve never seen a hoarding case like this! A&E called us in to help rescue 2,000 pet rats who had overrun a Southern California home.

In the show (see listings here), you’ll go behind the scenes as we work with the California group NorthStar Rescue to remove the animals. When we arrived at the home in November, hundreds of rats were roaming freely, with some suffering from skin conditions, parasites, and other medical ailments. The owner had become overwhelmed and allowed the rats to breed, until they eventually swamped the house. I am telling you—it’s not to be missed.

Now available for adoption through North Star with an army of volunteers caring for them in foster homes, these rats will get a second chance.

We’re grateful to A&E for requesting our assistance in this operation, and also for bringing increased attention to this unlikeliest of hoarding cases. It’s yet another example that The HSUS does indeed work to protect ALL animals.