In Memory of a Brown Rat Named Reebok

This poem is about a rat that was found as a baby with many others. All were pets abandoned. The Humane Society, with all good intent,  took them in. However, after nearly a year of lights and noise and, I'm sure, individuals who teased them all, they were beyond being pets for anyone anymore. The sum of this story is, I worked with them and they progressed slowly with trust but then the rat I named Reebok was accused of biting someone. I guess there were other bites given for probing fingers, but this was the last straw. The "Humane" Society decided to euthanize ALL 11 males in the room. If I had not taken the remaining females, they would probably be destroyed as well since they were not of fancy coloring. As I write this, I still have those girls and have adopted out 4. They are sweeties. But  this arbitrary killing sat heavy with me and I quit volunteering for this organization as I had offered to remove all the males, in different cages, so I could work with them at home where no one would ever poke at them again. I was denied because of some policy to make the public happy. This killing of 11 little souls is what makes the public HAPPY? Shame on such a public and an institution collecting donations in the millions for being a no-kill shelter. Another lie. Arbitrary killing is still going on for thousands of dogs, cats, and caged unwanteds. I will speak this again and again, because I too was duped after learning from many experienced "knowers of the secrets" behind those walls. It's a "pretty" little palace with more room for fundraisers, than animals. For what little good they might do, this is an abomination. Go ahead and sue me, cause I would love to have summoned more people who know this awful truth.