Science Daily 1/30/08:

"Year Of The Rat: Furry Creatures Are Misunderstood, Vet Says"

"It's the Chinese Year of the Rat, and if there's ever been an animal that needed a total image makeover, it's the rat.

Many people loathe rats and associate them with disease and filth hardly a four-star recommendation for the furry creatures. But the truth is, they are highly intelligent animals, have been amazingly beneficial in medicine and can be very affectionate pets, says a Texas A&M University veterinarian and rat expert.

Dr. Kristina Kalivoda, a small animal instructor in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, believes rats are among the most misunderstood of all animals and are not the horror from the sewer people tend to think they are."

More:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124202633.htm