Annie's Rodents

The Historical Mouse
The word "mouse" orginally came from the Sanskrit word "mush", which means
"to steal". Egyptians worshipped their cats because of their mouse hunting
prowess. Even the Christian Bible condemns the mouse, calling them unclean
and an abomination. The Medieval clergy called them lustful creatures and
instruments of the devil.
But the mouse did have its admirers as well.
The Greeks and Romans worshipped them. Ancient physicians used mice for
medicine. In Japan, the mouse was considered the messenger of Daikoku, the
God of Wealth. The humble little mouse has been immortalized in poems, songs,
stories, and movies. Everyone knows and loves Walt Disney's famous mouse,
Mickey.
Mice have been kept domestically for thousands of years. The Chinese and
Japanese were the first to raise "fancy" mice like the "Waltzing" mice and spotted
mouse. From there, the pet mouse made its way into European homes and then
to North America. Laboratories soon discovered the scientific value of these little
rodents and in less than 100 years, the little mouse has become a mainstay in
labs all over the world.
Today, pet mice can be found in almost any pet store. Mouse shows are almost
as popular as dog shows in England and the standards are just as strict. This
little rodent has captured the hearts of their owners all over the world.