The lease I have says, clearly, no pets. I reiterated this verbally.
If this were a domestically bred rat purchased from a pet store, I would be upset, but perhaps not so wildly furious. This is a rat off the street—put into a cage. The room they have it in is sealed off with a towel so I didn’t go in. I presume because it smells. I am more than a bit upset with this situation. (who knows what kind of pests this pest brought along with it?)
That being said, I don’t know which of my renters brought it in (I have several students in the house). And I think they don’t want me to know. Which is okay. I am willing to give him or her a second chance, but I am incredulous.
There are lines for the rooms, and kids who don’t have a place to stay—so finding another renter would not be a problem. I also would happily have an empty room rather than have someone with this poor judgment.