We found these Pets at Home rats in poor housing.

We popped into a Pets at Home store in York and were shocked to see two rats in a tiny glass vivarium cage not even big enough for one rat let alone two. It was the 2 foot by 1 foot Viv they normally use for a hamster.
We spoke to a member of staff who was not particularly concerned and told us that they have been housed exactly as pets at home head office guidelines tell them.
We pointed out that the cage calculator says this is not big enough for one rat and that's with a cage with lots of ventilation.
These two were also kept on paper bedding in an enclosed box in an enclosed with which means there would be no hope at all of the ammonia from their wee escaping. One of the rats was even heard sneezing which could indicate that the damage has already been done.
The staff member said they would be looked at buy a vet and treated if poorly. He said they would go into the adoption side and Pets at Home would absolutely tell people that those two rats would probably have lifelong problems with their lungs.
As people who have adopted poorly rats from Pets at Home we know for a fact that they tell you very little about the adoption rats.
I pointed out that they would not sell a fish tank to keep the rats in for a customer and yet it is perfectly ok for them to be housed in those conditions in store.
The staff member said he would try and pass our concerns on but asked that we email Pets at Home.
He also said that he did not like rats personally, so we have to wonder how much these two were handled and how socialized they would be.
We really wanted to take them home but it would only perpetuate the problem and potentially introduce health problems to our ratties.
This lack of understanding and following of company policy, even when it is to the detriment of animal welfare, is why you should never get pets from Pets at Home.