It’s funny how much media has a sway on poplar belief. One could think, “Eww! Rats are gross,” and never even dream of owning one as a pet. That very same person could then see an adorable rat in a movie, and fall head over heels. The funny thing is, until the new movie “Ratatouille,” rats were a common pest that caused grown men to sound loud shrieks and women to jump up on chairs, in sheer terror. Come on, would you get a pet rat? One would guess that you should watch “Ratatouille” before answering that question because many did, and now rats are a house pet must have.

Since Disney/Pixar released “Ratatouille,” the popularity of pet rats has gone way up for pet businesses, especially during this holiday season. Some shops are swamped with requests for these furry little critters, which is quite remarkable due to the fact that rats are a common household enemy, and on the exterminator’s top priority list. Although, kids see rats differently, and sorry to say it, but they’re right. Rats are actually not stinky, and they happen to be quite clean, despite their dirty, sewer-dwelling image.

Hollywood has portrayed rats in a negative light for many, many years. This may be why, when a rat runs through the room, people press the panic button and pandemonium breaks loose. The amazing thing is that, all at once, the image of the disgusting rat has been inverted to a loveable friend and, perhaps, even a member of the family. Think about what other truths Hollywood could get people to swallow.