Some people are scared of rats, thinking they're mean and dirty animals, however, those who keep them as pets would definitely say that they are, in fact, very intelligent and lovely creatures that make great companions. Turns out, rats have been observed to show empathy as well as enjoy playing games with each other, like hide and seek. They might not have the best reputation since the Black Plague PR disaster, but with movies like Ratatouille becoming a success, rats' image has become more and more sympathetic in recent years.

Rachie's Ratirement Home takes care of rats of various sizes and ages. Located in Sunnybank Hills, Brisbane, the rat rescue specializes in caring for rats who need a new place to live, or permanent care. They have a Facebook page where they share photos of the rats in their care, as well as other events. However, they also have a pretty unique album where they post weekly entries to "Best and Worst Rat of the Week", an album that celebrates certain rats for their good behavior as well as shames others for being naughty.

Bored Panda reached out to the RRH representatives and they offered some insight on why and what they do. "We started two years ago, when I (Rachie), started helping out rats as a hobby while I was studying," Rachie explained. "Demand grew exponentially and we're now a team of 20+ volunteers, foster carers and admins, and a management team of three," the representative elaborated. Despite the rescue having Rachie's name on it, Rachel says that taking care of the rats is absolutely a team effort: "We're a real team, even though my name is on the box it absolutely takes a community to keep the lights on and the animals safe".

More info: rachiesratirementhome.com | Facebook