Our Residents

Current Residents

OOTP is currently home to 76 residents, including 5 guinea pigs, 4 rabbits, 13 mice, 37 rats, and 17 Mitchell’s Hopping Mice. Every one has a name (even if some of them are nearly impossible to distinguish from each other!).

Their stories vary. Some have always been loved and cared for, and have come to us without fear. Others have come to us suffering neglect, so close to realising tragic fates. Here, they get to live out their lives in peace.

  • A fluffy rabbit with floppy ears eats hay in front of a strawberry themed hay bag.

    Mochi, Rabbit

    6 year old female

    Mochi came to us with a broken incisor which led to a mass of micro-abscesses at the corner of her mouth. The incisor was removed, but the abscesses will require regular treatment for life.

  • A small rabbit with floppy ears looks into the camera.

    Moe, Rabbit

    2 year old male

    Moe came to us with spurring molar teeth that were cutting into his tongue, as well as kidney disease. He was extremely thin. Dental surgeries and daily kidney medication have saved his life.

  • Two very similar looking rabbits eat vegetables from a glass bowl. Both have one ear up and one ear down.

    Pepsi & Coke, Rabbits

    1 year old female and male

    Pepsi and Coke arrived very scared after a hard start to life. Although originally aiming to be adopted out, we discovered that Pepsi has kidney disease. The pair are now remaining indefinitely.

  • Two rats lean lazily out of a pink plastic house hanging from the top of a cage.

    Black Hoodies, Rats

    2 year old females

    Along with Geddy and GG, 6 near-identical rat sisters were transferred to us from Little Miracles in 2022. Currently, 2 are still with us, and 4 have passed away. They are highly playful, energetic, and friendly.

  • Three rats sit inside a carrier. One is white, one is grey, and one is white and grey.

    The Vices, Rats

    1 year old males

    Caffiene, Sugar and Carb are super sweet, friendly, and playful little boys. They live with Plumbob, an elderly male rat whose brother Simoleon also lived with the group until his passing in January 2024.

  • A light coloured rat leans out of a plastic hanging house from behind cage bars. He is looking up so that all that is visible of his face is his mouth with his incisors showing.

    Karl, Rat

    2 year old male

    Brothers Karl and his brother Bob came to us due to some behavioural concerns. Sadly Bob passed away in February 2024, but Karl is still with us, spending most of his time in his hammock.

  • A rat walks towards the camera while looking slightly sideways over a fleece covered surface.

    Adam, Rat

    1 year old male

    Along with his brother Jamie, Adam had a rough start to life. The two had been living in a barren bird cage until arriving at OOTP. While Jamie is highly timid, Adam is a little more gregarious and trusting.

  • A rat leans out of a rainbow coloured hammock.

    Jamie, Rat

    1 year old male

    Along with his brother Adam, Jamie had been living in a barren bird cage until his arrival at OOTP. Jamie was much more fearful than Adam, and still has special behavioural needs.

  • A chestnut coloured mouse with a white belly sits on wood shavings in a cage. Her tail is long with a furry tip, and her ears and eyes are very large.

    Mitchell's Hopping Mice, Wild Mice

    <1 year old males and females

    These 17 native Australian mice had been missexed and accidentally bred from 3 original “boys.” They are all near-identical, but have different personalities.

  • A fluffy black mouse eats some pellet food on a fleece covered surface.

    Spider Orchid, Mouse

    2 year old male

    Spider Orchid was part of a group of 35 mice who’d been accidentally bred from a few missexed individuals. He is not fond of being handled, but is always eager to come out for for a treat or two.

  • Three light coloured mice are in a carrier. One of the mice has orange stripes.Another mouse of the same colour is slightly visible in a plastic house.

    The Flowers, Mice

    2 year old females

    Currently 2 elderly females remain from the group of 35 mice who were missexed and accidentally bred. They are mostly very placid, but are each unique. Some gave birth or were born at OOTP.

  • A long haired black and grey guinea pig looks sideways on a fleece surface.

    Eddie, Guinea Pig

    Male, 1 year old male

    Eddie was a guardian surrender. Though we were supposed to be taking both guinea pigs, Eddie’s brother sadly died of heatstroke two days prior to intake. Eddie is talkative and loves his food.

  • An orange and white guinea pig with short fur sits in a carrier on hay. Next to him is some lettuce and banana.

    Elroy, Guinea Pig

    Male, <1 year old male

    Elroy was listed for free on Gumtree, where he was noticed by multiple rescues. Elroy is much shyer than Eddie, but is very sweet and love his food almost as much! Elroy is looking for a forever home.

  • A rat with crusty lesions on his ears looks into the camera within a cozy pink carrier.

    Richard, rat

    3 year old male

    Richard, like many of our residents, was advertised for free on Gumtree after his cagemate passed away. He is still in treatment for mange mites but will soon be bonded with our other elderly males.

  • Several white rats with red eyes are cuddling and leaning out of a hammock towards the camera.

    The Lab Girls, Rats

    <1 year old females

    In July 2024, we took in 20 rats through the Liberty Foundation. These girls came from a research facility in NSW and are enjoying discovering what life as companions is like. They’re seeking adopters!

In Memoriam: Past Residents

Unfortunately, listing every one of our past residents would be impossible, as including the 6 years of private rescue prior to OOTP becoming offical, we have had over 200 rescued small animals pass through our doors.

In small animal rescue, loss is constant. Many of these lives are short and fragile. They become sick suddenly, and hide their symptoms. Each leaves such an impression. In each loss, we learn something new. We remember them all.

  • A large rabbit eats grass from a metal cage ball. She has a dandelion on her head and other toys are visible.

    Owl, Rabbit

    5 year old female, 2023

    Owl was our first rabbit resident. This big girl was cheeky, affectionate, and loved her food. After being rushed to the vet with GI stasis, Owl passed away suddenly from a suspected brain tumour.

  • A large white rabbit stands on his hind legs and looks into the camera directly above him.

    Casper, Rabbit

    <1 year old male, 2023

    Casper was found in a nature reserve, suffering from ear mites and heat exhaustion. He was mischievous and very cuddly. Casper tragically passed away during his desexing operation.

  • A rat with striking face markings holds a treat in a front paw while looking out of a blanket nest.

    Ratthew, Rat

    2.5 year old female, 2023

    Ratthew came to us as an elderly rat following the bereavement of her sister and cagemate. Months later, she developed a pituitary tumour. After treatment attempts failed, she was put to sleep.

  • A large rat looks out of a hole in a chewed-up hammock.

    Komfor, Rat

    2 year old male, 2023

    Along with his brother Genüß, Komfor came to us due to behavioural concerns. Komfor was the friendlier of the two huge boys, and passed in his sleep from a suspected heart attack on Christmas Eve 2023.

  • A small rat leans over a ledge towards the camera.

    Blueberry, Rat

    1.5 year old female, 2023

    Zäh, AKA Blueberry was one of the 6 black hoodies transferred to us from Little Miracles. She had bouts of respiratory infection throughout her life, and was put to sleep following a sudden, terrible relapse.

  • An orange mouse with a wrinkly face and large ears looks directly into the camera on a pastel fabric backdrop.

    Red Sage, Mouse

    2.5 year old male, 2023

    Red Sage was part of the 35 group, and we caught him by hand running loose in his previous guardian’s home. He lived to an incredible age, despite many health issues and a dislike of humans.

  • A fluffy black mouse is held on a human palm.

    Hummingbird, Mouse

    2 year old female, 2023

    Hummingbird Sage was one of the mothers in a group of 35 mice resulting from an accidental missexing. She had a successful malignant tumour removal, but was put to sleep when it returned 6 weeks later.

  • A young mouse stands on a pastel fabric backdrop. She is fully white.

    Chocolate, Mouse

    1.5 year old female, 2023

    Chocolate Daisy and her 5 siblings were surrendered to a Melbourne vet clinic as orphaned babies. We successfully hand-raised all 6, though all passed away between 1-2 years old.

  • Bob, Rat

    1.5 year old male, 2024

    Bob came to us with his brother Karl due to behavioural concerns. Though they were a little territorial, Bob and Karl softened over time. Bob passed from a suspected heart attack in February 2024.

  • A large rat with a white spot on his forehead leans over a ledge towards the camera.

    Genüß, Rat

    2.5 year old male, 2024

    Genüß came to us due to behavioural concerns. Though he was desexed, he never tolerated humans. In mid-2023, Genüß beat skin cancer. He passed in his sleep just before his 3rd birthday in April 2024.

  • A small rat tilts her head sideways as she looks into the camera through cage bars.

    Geddy, Rat

    3 year old female, 2024

    Geddy was transferred into our care from Little Miracles Animal Rescue Inc. in 2022, along with GG and the black hoodies. After developing a pituitary tumour, she was put to sleep in July 2024 along with her sister.

  • A rat looks into the camera from a fluffy hammock. She has a grandmotherly expression.

    Grey Girl (GG), Rat

    2.5 year old female, 2024

    GG came to us with her sister Geddy, as well as the black hoodies. GG had behavioural issues, but did undergo one successful tumour removal. She was put to sleep due to age-related deterioration.

A young rat with bumpy, painful looking ears stands on his hind legs inside a carrier. His front paws are holding onto the top of a tilted water bottle as he drinks.
A rat sits in a fluffy hammock with his front paws resting on cage bars as he looks into the camera.

The One Who Inspired Us

If you ever wondered who the rat in our logo was, this is him. In 2021, Süße was being given away for free as an “aggressive rat” in an ad with no photo. Fearing where he may end up, we went to get him.

When we arrived at a house hours from our own to pick up the little rat that we’d never seen, he was placed into our hands and the front door was promptly shut. Süße was malnourished and skittish with painful ear mites, but on that warm day, he drank from the open lid of an extended water bottle.

Once he got home, it became clear that Süße was even more afraid that it first seemed. He would scream in terror when touched, or when another rat approached him. It took months for him to truly seem calm. Thankfully, after he was desexed, he was successfully bonded with a group of female rats. Our fears that he would always be anxious and alone were eased.

Eventually, Süße became affectionate and friendly. He gave kisses to human hands, and was always the first to welcome a new rat into the group. He reminded us every day that sometimes, all an animal needs is a real chance. Of course he would be the face of OOTP.

By late 2023, Süße hind legs were weak, and his heart struggled, and he was put to sleep at almost 3 years of age. For a rat, he was old, and he had lived a peaceful life with us. Though he is gone, his memory lives on in the work that we do, particularly for rats with behavioural concerns.

An adult rat lays in a fluffy hammock with two smaller rats.