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It's terrible and I understand their pain and suffering, but the grandmother did sign the agreement that released Petco from any and all liability.
Quote:
In May 2013, Aidan Pankey left a Petco store in San Diego with his grandma and a new pet rat, which he named Alex. Two weeks later, the 10-year-old boy began feeling sick, complaining of an upset stomach, fever, and chills, but a doctor diagnosed him with the flu and sent the boy home with instructions to rest and drink plenty of fluids. The next night, Aidan's pain and fever grew worse. He grew pale and lethargic and couldn't stand on his feet, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
By the time his family called paramedics, who transported the boy to the emergency room, it was too late; Aidan sadly died early the next morning.
The liability waiver the grandmother signed specifically mentioned the risk of rat bite fever. His family is upset the Petco did not test every rat for the disease. It was a flipping rat!
I am sorry but why would a parent allow a child to have a rat as a pet with all the diseases that they can carry and the trouble that they are in cities, homes, apts, etc where people pay professionals to kill them.
Petco should discontinue on selling pet rats to civilians. Only sell them to medical labs, etc.
RIP lil boy. Petco should settle out of court but IMO the family has no ground since they signed the waiver. This is just bad PR for Petco which they should pay to go away.
Why didn't the family take the rat to a vet to be tested before giving it to the child?
When the boy got sick, did the parents tell the doctor about the rat and the warning from Petco? Rat bite fever is not going to be at the top of the differential diagnosis of fever in a child for any doctor in the US, most of whom will never see a case.
When we get a new dog, the first step is always a trip to the vet.
Why didn't the family take the rat to a vet to be tested before giving it to the child?
When the boy got sick, did the parents tell the doctor about the rat and the warning from Petco? Rat bite fever is not going to be at the top of the differential diagnosis of fever in a child for any doctor in the US, most of whom will never see a case.
When we get a new dog, the first step is always a trip to the vet.
Come on buddy! You know grandma or his parents didn't read the fine print. The majority of people don't read the manual.
"Because all small animals are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, Rat Bite Fever and Salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your small animal or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of disease".
Of course, there is no way to know if that was revised after the suit was filed. It's not dated.
To those who recoil at the idea of a pet rat, how are they fundamentally different from a gerbil or a hamster?
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