I completely understand Red, it's the devil and the deep blue sea really
If I could have bought from breeders I really would have, I have looked into it for quite sometime
Just to give you an idea of the situation, the people we have sold our babies to, most have travelled over an hour, one couple an hour and a half because the only other rats they could buy were from pet shops, mainly unhandled and a good possibility from rat farms.
I know that Nippy didn't come from a pet shop, the woman said she went down the valleys to get him (which obviously she wouldn't have gone so far knowing she could have gone to the next town for one from the pet shop)
Shelby was from Jollyes, who said they don't buy them in from rat farms (I only have their word for that)
When someone came to buy the babies, I was completely honest about the background of Shelby and Nippy, well they got the background on all the rats TBH
I know at least that the 11 babies I have sold is 11 babies less from the pet shops and because of the ratties friendliness and eager to play, they are less likely to be ignored, so less unwanted ratties (not saying thats the only reason people rehome rats BTW)
I know it isn't ideal, but I do think I can make a difference.