Ohh god i get it ALL the time!! My BF mates ALL call Bailey the little rat and point an laugh at him ... my BF will say he is not a rat, but they just joke about and keep callin him a little rat!! It gets me so upset sometimes and MAD that some people can be so rude and not bothered about the owners feelings. Also people at my BF work call it a rat too makes me so mad, i told carl if they call Bailey a rat any more they are not welcome into my or Baileys home if they are going to insult him! Bailey is my furbaby and i am sure if someone was calling my skin baby names they wud not be welcome in to my home so its the same rule for my furbaby!!! I know just how u feel about it and how mad and upset you get over it, at how some people can be so dam rude!!! I wish i had the strengh to say something bk to them. Good luck let us know if u end up telling this man.