Found a Rat in the Closet

Timing is everything. I'm posting this on the heels of an email discussion among several NAPO colleagues about how to deal with a client situation that makes you uncomfortable or could be a health hazard. For example, there are times when organizers will encounter homes with mold, extreme dirt and dust, insects, animal feces and the like. Understand, this is not a typical client situation, but there are times when it happens.

These situations can be a difficult because although our professional ethics call for us to be  non-judgmental, at the same time, it's important that we don't expose ourselves or our team members to health or safety hazards. In keeping with this discussion, I thought I'd share a story about my own rodent experience today...

I was working with a client who asked me to help clean out and organize her clothes closet. As you can see, we had a bit of help from a rat, who apparently loves purses and shoes...But how cute is he?!? He's a four month old Fancy (Black & White Hooded) Rat named Maury. (I learned today, that as a baby rat, Maury was originally named Mariah, but when he began growing suspicious "bumps" under his tail, the vet confirmed that she was indeed a HE, hence the name change to Maury).

He does have a cage (it's actually a large aquarium) where he eats and poops, but most of the time, he has free run of the bedroom. He's very sweet-natured and friendly, and I'm told rats are very intelligent. Since I'm a big-time animal lover, I was happy to hold him and have him there to help with our closet project. But I have to say, Maury's not a great client. He might be cute and sweet, but he's not much for sorting or letting go of items. Hmmm... perhaps he's a PACKrat?

Comments

[Jacki Hollywood Brown]

Hey Monica, I LOVE the picture...tooo cute!
If Maury loves purses I suppose he could be called a "packrat"!
I am a big animal lover (horses especially) but I have a business policy that my clients keep their pets out of the area in which we are organizing.
I almost trapped a cat in a plastic bin once (she was sleeping) and a dog knocked over a pile of books on himself another time.
I found that clients are most willing to remove their pets from the situation if they think their pet might get hurt.
Cheers

[Monica Ricci]

Jacki, I know many (most?) organizers have a policy of no pets in the room when we're working, but I don't do that. Usually, the pets will stay out of the way, but sometimes dogs want to get "into" what you're doing, so in certain cases, we'll send the dog outside or in another room. So for me, I have no "policy" but I take it on a case-by-case basis. Thanks for your comment Jacki!
~Monica

[Ariane Benefit, Neat & Simple Living]

Wow, great story! and great advice! I would be so sad if a pet ever got hurt while we were organizing! Most of my clients keep their pets in another room while we are organizing...or we just close off the space we are working in if possible. I find cats to be the most curious and pesty critters...they get all in whatever you are trying to do if you let them. My own cat Alex is the worst! We have to put him in the sunroom when we are trying to do anything in the house! : )

[Monica Ricci]

Ariane, I've never had anything bad happen to a pet when I'm in the house, thankfully.
~Monica