"Smelly, dirty and diseased." Just some of the words associated with rats.
But an Auckland assistant vet is hoping to turn all that around.
Belinda Clarke breeds pet rats and loves them so much, she owns one hundred of them.
This weekend she'll host a stall at the Auckland Pet Expo where she hopes she can convince some visitors to feel as good about them as she does.
We sent Leonard Powell to Belinda's West Auckland Rattery (yes it's a thing) to meet them.
