Man punished for abandoning rats

280 rats were crammed into aquariums and cages, and left on the side of the road.

He did not want the rats living with his new baby

Updated: Thursday, 22 Jan 2009, 4:20 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 22 Jan 2009, 8:09 AM EST

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - A Providence, Rhode Island man is in trouble after he abandoned nearly 300 rats on the side of the road.

The man, Toby Duffany, pleaded no contest to animal abandonment and was ordered to pay $1000 restitution and perform 50 hours of community service.

Police say Duffany crammed 280 rats into aquariums and cages, and left them on the side of the road in Foster last month. The rats were discovered several days after they were abandoned. 72 rats had died and the rest had resorted to cannibalism.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals euthanized the living rats.

In court, Duffany said he got rid of the rats because they could not live in his apartment with his new baby.
The Rhode Island SPCA was disappointed with the punishment.