NEW YORK CITY INFESTED BY RATS : “ WATCH WHAT YOU EAT!”

1. NEW YORK CITY INFESTED BYRATS: “WATCH WHAT YOU EAT!” By Susan Ng, Sara Canas, Gordon Harry, Izabella Shamayeva, Matthew Wong

2. MOUSE (awww) VS. RAT (ewww) THE GREAT MISCONCEPTION • Similarities • Family Class • Differences • Species – can not interbreed • Size • Behavior • Susceptibility to and retention of disease(s) • Appetite • Birth Rate

3. TheFactsthatAttractRats! New York City: The Love Nest • Large number of restaurants • Excessive amounts of garbage • Sewers in the city • Negligence of property owners to properly dispose of food, beverages, and other attractive delicacies

4. Dangers of Rats • Disease • 70 known diseases • The Bubonic Plague • Rat Bite Fever (RBF) • Expected to increase

5. Eliminating: easier said than done! • Rapid Reproduction • Capable of burrowing 4 feet • Good swimmers • They eat what you eat; plus much, muchworse…

6. JUDGE Why are there so many rats? • The reasons for most rat infestation are … • In more than one case, if you see a RAT (not a mouse) during the day, there is likely to be 10 or more rats in close proximity. >> Example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su0U37w2tws

7. Who gets left out? • Even though there is mandatory eviction for people, the same does not apply to RATS! • Rats are forced out through poison, traps, or other fumes.

8. According to Catholic Social Teaching Catholic Social Teaching clearly states: • The Sacred Nature of Life • The Dignity of the Human Person • The Principle that is grounded on the idea of Man being Made in the Image of God

9. How should we respond? • Is poisoning a rat and having it internally bleed to death the right way to go? • Is setting traps inhumane because it kills the rat right away?

10. Stewardship • Stewardship indicates that we must care for both our creations, and those that are not of our own making • Stewardship places us responsible for the well-being of all God’s creatures

11. Respect for a Life • Every creature should share a piece of God’s “divine beauty and goodness” • The whole universe participates in the goodness and there is wonderful variety of the natural world; for, it is part of the divine plan

12. Common Solutions vs. Alternative Methods In Existence: • ‘Victor’- Traps • Lethal Rat Poison (Rodentcide) a) may be harmful to others • Sticky “Glue” Mouse Traps • Electric Mousetraps Alternative Methods: • Live Catching Mousetraps • Mouse Away Concrete • Understanding “Glue” Traps

13. Individual Roles Our Ideas: • Eliminating outside living and hiding places -Debris and discarded furniture -Cut grass -Store firewood away • Eliminating food sources -Store garbage in rodent proof containers -Dry foods containers (metal or glass) -Food off trees -Don’t leave food lying around • Eliminating access points -Look for entry points -Cracked foundations and holes -Gap under doors -Cover dryer and vents

14. Disclosure Actions • Grading System that we should Incorporate in New York • Numeric inspections translated into letter grades • 74 additional county environmental health inspectors and supervisors • Restaurants required to post their grades, • Public Disclosure • Restaurants Desire for Cleanliness Point Reduction: Wrong Temperature 5 Cockroach 3 Rat 10 • 90–100 = A • 80–89 = B • 70–79 = C

15. Positives of Hygiene Quality Grade Cards - Grade Cards Magnify Economic Incentives for Good-Quality Hygiene - Grade Cards Lead to a Reduction in Food- Related Illnesses - Grade cards appear to be particularly effective at improving restaurant hygiene in low-income areas.

16. Government’s Role • Legislation prohibiting a property owner from allowing his property to be in a state which encourages the breeding of rats • Educational programs (e.g. “self help” handouts on how to prevent rat infestation) • Preventive programs (e.g. garbage cans, and lids) • Enforce the Hygiene Quality Grade Cards

18. Personal Experience