I used a mouse for my science fair prodject. I made it run a maze to see how fast it finshed for different foods. I think he rather liked it .. I kept the mouse and named him Sam-I-am. I loved him so much, he died a half a year later

I think you should have taken the rat and told the owner that is WAS crule and inhumain to treat an animal that way, it he argued, run with the rat.. I would have done it. .... I am just like that.