Have you tried Petfinders.com? You can type in your local zipcode and specifics for what you are looking for and it will bring up photos and descriptions of the closest shelters and rescue places that may have baby rats or young rats. That was how my husband and I found our two rescue baby ratties that we adopted, and you would be giving a home to some ratties that need a good home. I would try that for starters. Do you have a local humane society or shelters that you can also search for on the internet? I agree that you should not buy rats from pet stores. Good move! 
