‘My rat has saved my life’: Pet owners in Nottinghamshire on the life-changing effects of having unusual animals
Jeanne Blair keeps the memory of her late daughter alive by spending time with her 22 pet rats
To many of us, pets mean cats and dogs, rather than rats, pigeons and snakes. These creatures are often described as vermin, pests and rodents – but for some owners across Nottinghamshire, these unusual animals have changed their lives, providing emotional support in ways traditional pets might not.
The Cambridge Dictionary says a pet is an ‘animal that you keep in your home’ – one that contributes to our wellbeing. By that definition, these unconventional pets are as much companions as any dog or cat.
Tommy Bonnet and George Palmer-Soady spoke to people across the county to discover why their unusual animals mean so much to them – regardless of societal expectations or norms – as part of the Unlikely Companions project for Notts TV.
The story contains some references to serious mental health problems and suicide, which some people may find upsetting.
Jeanne Blair keeps the memory of her late daughter alive by spending time with her 22 pet rats.
“It gives me that connection to her that we had together,” she says, referring to daughter Emma, who took her own life in 2019 aged 14 after a long battle with her mental health.
Two years before she passed away, Emma was gifted her first pet rat by her family, hoping it would improve her anxiety.
“She was desperate to have a pet – we had three dogs at that point, but that wasn’t enough,” Jeanne said.
“I knew the perfect animal because I had rats when I was younger. Emma was having real issues so we got the rats – they were brilliant.
“If she was having a really bad day, she would just get up and go and snuggle the rats and it just really helped calm her down massively.”
Emma and Jeanne later joined the Midlands Rat Club – a group of owners across the region that meets to celebrate their misunderstood pets. Emma quickly became a “massive part” of the group and the pair, originally from Derby, regularly attended the club’s bi-monthly events, Jeanne says.
Following Emma’s death, Jeanne now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She continues to attend the club’s events, something she says hugely improves her mental wellbeing and brings her closer to her late daughter.
“The club were amazing and she was a massive part of it,” Jeanne, who now works in mental health services, adds.
“After she died, they gave us a cup in her name. Following what happened and my PTSD, being around the rats has been absolutely amazing.
“It’s nice that something we already did together, I can continue with her. It does really help – it gives me that connection to her that we had together”.
Members of the Midlands Rat Club come together in village halls, recreation grounds and leisure centres to celebrate the animals, which are often stigmatised by society as being vermin or undesirable.
Owners attend in their hundreds to show off their rats in various competitions – judging everything from fur quality to weight. Members of the club say it is a great way to socialise with like-minded people.
It’s not just about the pets, however. For many people, being a part of the club is about recognising the positive impact rats can have on mental health.
Rhiannon Wilkins has been a part of the group since 2022 and says the responsibility that comes with looking after rats plays a huge role in improving her mood and keeping her grounded.
“Being able to walk into my house at the end of the day and have my rats greet me – they’re just not judgmental,” she says.
“When I was first diagnosed with anxiety and depression, it was during COVID. It was a really dark time and I was on medication.
“My partner introduced me to the rats and it was like all of a sudden, I had seven new people in my life that were happy to see me every day.
“It was a real confidence boost and it also meant I had responsibility. I knew I had to get out of bed in the morning because I had to feed and clean the rats.
“It put a structure and routine in place which really helped my mental health.”
Despite the stigma surrounding rats, Rhiannon says the community celebrates being different.
“Some people hear the word rat and go ‘they’re pests, they’re horrible’,” she added, speaking to Notts TV at the rat club’s meet-up in the Normanton-on-Soar village hall, in Rushcliffe.
“There’s a lot of stigma behind keeping rats and it’s just brilliant to have this community there so you can bond with them. It’s really just some light and happiness into my life and my mental health has gone from zero to 100 overnight”.
According to Nottinghamshire County Council’s last report on adult mental health, the rate of depression across the county rose from 8.9 per cent to 12.7 per cent between 2016 to 2023, while Nottingham City’s depression rate rose from 8.9 per cent to 12.7 per cent between 2016 to 2023.
Between 2016 to 2023, Nottingham had a higher percentage of individuals with high anxiety compared to the national average, with a rate of 24.8% between 2022 and 2023.
Animal therapy is becoming a widely-recognised alternative approach to improving mental health across the UK. Many NHS services now refer patients to therapists up and down the country, while many schools have specific ‘therapy animals,’ designed to put pupils at ease.
And 98 per cent of pet owners worldwide also report experiencing at least one specific health benefit from their pets, according to research from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute.
Charlotte Dymyd, from Retford, founded the DB Animal Therapy mobile petting zoo in 2021, which travels around schools, care homes and parties across the Midlands promoting the positive impact handling many of these unassuming pets can have.
She says the idea came to her in 2018 after she experienced the tragic accidental death of her six-year-old daughter, Daisy. “When I lost my daughter, I felt like I couldn’t connect with people anymore, but my animals were really helping me,” she told Notts TV.
“A lot of people felt so awkward around me, and I felt like I couldn’t connect with people, but with the animals, it was just a genuinely nice feeling to have them around me.
“When I was with them, I felt so much calmer – my anxiety and depression lowered. I thought if this could help me, it could help a lot of other people as well.
“A lot of people enjoy being around animals, but I’ve found it specifically can help people that are low in spirit, low in mood – maybe people that feel isolated but lonely.”
Snakes, exotic birds and snails are among the creatures in Charlotte’s care. ‘Rango the Chameleon’ and ‘Smokey the Broody Silkie Chicken’ are among the favourites with people who get to see them.
While the snakes that Charlotte brings to her therapy sessions tend to be the small corn species, Kerry-May Ashton, from Bestwood, collects huge snakes including 40-foot pythons.
The hairdresser, who is now referred to as ‘Medusa’ by colleagues due to her love of snakes, says everything changed after her first interaction with a 20-foot Burmese python at a children’s birthday party.
“I didn’t used to like them – but then that was it,” she said.
“I was in love. They are amazing to watch – they don’t ask for much and all they want is to be handled every now and again, and kept fed and warm. It brings people so much joy.
“It gives you something to look forward to. I’ll sit and literally have a conversation with the snakes – even if it makes me feel like I’m a bit mad.”
Kerry adds her teenage son has also gained his own love for the creatures and hopes to get some of his own.
Chanel Hemley, a professional psychotherapist based in Beeston, explained the importance of animals for mental health. “Pets contribute to mental well-being in many different ways on an emotional, social and biological level,” she added.
“If somebody has got anxiety, they’re going to be in quite a hyper-aroused state. When people have a pet, it grounds them and makes them come into the present moment rather than caught up with overthinking and worries”.
Despite the stigma attached to their respective pets, these owners across Nottinghamshire believe any animal can become a lifelong companion, offering light during their darkest moments.
Whether it’s pigeons, rats, or snakes, these owners believe people should think twice before passing judgment.
The full Unlikely Companions documentary, featuring more in-depth interviews with unusual pet owners across Nottinghamshire, will air on Notts TV later this year. Watch the trailer below.
For those needing urgent help with their mental health, the Nottinghamshire Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0808 196 3779.
You can also contact the Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123.
The Tomorrow Project offers support to anyone bereaved by suicide, you can email [email protected] or text on 07594 008 356.
More information on support is available through Nottinghamshire Healthcare.
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