Rats Over Roses: This Valentine’s Day, You Can Name a Rat After Your Lover

For Immediate Release:
January 26, 2026

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

Norfolk, Va. –

Roses wilt and chocolates disappear in one sitting. This Valentine’s Day, PETA invites romantics to make the boldest declaration of devotion yet: Name a lovable rat after your sweetheart with PETA’s “Fur-Ever Yours” rat plushie, available in the PETA Shop.

Unlike some human partners, rats are affectionate, altruistic, and will risk their own safety, even their lives, to save baby rats and others from harm. They are social individuals with a wide range of emotions who enjoy playing and wrestling, and giggle when tickled. They also like to groom themselves constantly, and their fur gives off a rose-like scent. These often-misunderstood charmers are the perfect symbol of love for those who appreciate affection and a dash of delightful mischief.

Each “Fur‑Ever Yours” gift includes:

An adorable rat plushie
A mini teddy bear (because even rats deserve someone to cuddle)
A Valentine card bursting with lovable rat facts
A customizable adoption certificate—with the name you bestow upon your beloved rat

“PETA’s adoptable ‘Fur-Ever Yours’ rat plushies allow you to show a favor-rat person your love, while helping animals,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk.

All proceeds of PETA’s “Fur Ever Yours” rat plushies support PETA’s lifesaving work for wildlife, including the “Rats Have Rights” campaign, which promotes compassion for rats by fighting against their use as disposable research tools and and in support of trash removal over cruel extermination methods.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.