Relative just emailed me this note... anyone able to explain the signficance?  

===
I just received an envelope similar to the ones we receive when we order 
samples from factory.

it was send:
to [Company Name]
att [Relative's Full Name --- who is owner of the company]

inside there was a dead rat!
why would anyone do that? 
what is the message?
does anybody understand?

===

(Having watched all the Italian mafia movies -- guessing this may we
something similar to recieving a dead fish in wrapping paper.  Worth
reporting to authorities?)

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Clarification of Question by sxd-ga on 26 Apr 2004 05:23 PDT

Company resells office furniture; animal testing not really
applicable.  (good thought though)

Hi,

I believe this is serious, bue to the fact that there might have been
a biohazard problem (bubonic plague).

why would anyone do that?
???
what is the message?
Rat=snitch.
does anybody understand?
The sender of the "item"

I would report this to the poilce.

Good luck.

X

Rats can carry hantavirus and other unpleasant infectious agents.

I would definitely report this to both the police and the public health authorities.

In gang-speak, a "rat" is an police informant. A dead one is, well, a dead "rat".

I'd definitely report it to the authorities.

tutuzdad-ga

Although I completely agree with the potential health hazards of dead
(and living) rodents and the reference to Mafia symbolism (although a
bit theatrical in this day and age, wouldn't you agree?), is there any
possibility that it is a twisted reference to animal testing of
products? Could it be a reference to products your relative's company
manufactures/sells, or perhaps a major distributor of their supplies?

Regardless of the underlying cause, the mailing of non-refrigerated
and improperly packaged dead animals is a severe violation of USPS
regulations (not to mention several other Federal agencies) and should
be immediately reported.