Entertainment

She Was Living on a Highway Strip, Near Death, Before She Was Rescued. Now She’s on the Great White Way

By Linda Rodgers Updated: January 22, 2016

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This is the tale of a plucky little rat with an incredibly heartwarming story. via NewYorkTimes.com

White rats

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White rats are extremely smart and trainable, and make great pets. Last summer in New York City, 500 of them were found living on a median strip. No one knew how they got there.
West Side Highway

Getty images

Life on the median strip was tough, and many rats didn't make it. Citing health concerns, the city government set out poison. So animal rescuers scooped up as many as they could.
Rose and foster mom

via New York Times Facebook

Lydia DesRoche, an animal trainer, agreed to foster three of these rats, naming them after the Golden Girls. The rats were so shy, DesRoche decided to keep them.
Curious Incident show

via Instagram

DesRoche happened to the be the trainer for a Broadway show called "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." The Tony-winning play features a large cast, including a rat named Toby.
Original Toby

via Instagram

Toby was beloved by the cast and crew, but he got sick and could no longer perform. His understudy took over, but HATED performing--especially eight shows a week.
Rose

New York Times

Enter Rose, shy no more. She had so much personality that DesRoche figured she'd be a natural in front of an audience.
Rehearsal

New York Times

She passed the rehearsal with flying colors!
Rat Dressing Room

via Facebook

And made her stage debut this past week. Here's her dressing room.
Rose the star

New York Times

Now she's a Broadway star! Watch her charm her co-stars below!

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