Roto-Rooter Plumber Rescues Baby Mouse
Roto-Rooter apprentice plumber, Matt Brown didn't expect to adopt a baby mouse when he went on his last service call of the day, but before the job was finished, he had no choice but to take home an orphaned mouse after its mother fell into a septic tank.
Matt rescued the baby after it too fell into the septic tank. He cleaned it and took it home so he could care for it. Now Matt and his wife are raising the mouse as a family pet, feeding it kitten milk replacement formula from the tip of a small artist's paintbrush.
This video tells the story of how Matt and his adopted mouse's paths crossed in April 2019.
Roto-Rooter has rescued hundreds of pets and animals from pipes, septic tanks, wells and even from behind walls. We feel an obligation to help animals that cannot help themselves. We have the tools and know-how to help, so why wouldn't we?
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How did this Roto-Rooter man become a "mother" to this baby mouse? Roto-Rooter's Matt Brown was checking a customer's septic tank in Rhode Island. When he opened the tank lid, some dirt and debris tumbled into the septic tank. Matt was unaware it was a mouse's nest. Then, he noticed two tiny creatures struggling in the sewage. He quickly grabbed a paper coffee cup and scooped up a baby mouse. Before Matt could scoop up the mother mouse, she went underwater. He kept scooping, but he could not find her. Feeling responsible, Matt was obliged to care for the baby mouse in it's mother's absence. He searched the internet to learn how to nurse the baby mouse. He dipped an artist's paintbrush into kitten milk replacement formula and offered it to the baby, which quickly "latched on" and began nursing. Matt and his wife are sharing nursing duty until the mouse can eat solid food. They named the mouse "Tank," after the septic tank from which it was rescued. Because Tank is being reared in captivity, he will never develop the skills needed to survive in the wild. So, Matt will keep Tank as a family pet, providing food and shelter and, of course, a mother's love.