Fancy rat the first film. Here, the protagonist befriends the rats found in his home and builds up a close relationship, only to have it end tragically. While these movies generally emphasize the popular perception of malevolence—they kill people and cats and ransack grocery stores—other wild rats who become pets are portrayed in more neutral to positive ways; the television show, "House", briefly featured "Steve McQueen", the pet rat of the titular character. In certain versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, the master and adoptive father of the turtles is Splinter, who was once the pet rat of ninja Hamato
Rat-baiting ratting with working terriers is far less efficient than using rodenticide or rat traps, the potential for the killing of non-target species is zero. In Michael Crichton's "The Great Train Robbery" (1978), a "ratting gentleman" is depicted gambling in a rat-baiting competition. Notes Further reading Rat-baiting Rat-baiting is a blood sport, which involves placing captured rats in a pit or other enclosed area and then betting on how long it takes a dog, usually a terrier, to kill them. It is now illegal in most countries. In 1835, the Parliament of the United Kingdom implemented an Act called the Cruelty