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Residents of Bushwick are grappling with a rat infestation. Starr Street has become overrun with rats, leaving residents to fend for themselves. Hunter Boone, a resident, recently found rat droppings on his kitchen counter and later tested positive for giardia, a parasite he believes his dog transmitted after exposure to rat feces. “I got tested, and it was giardia,” Boone said. “It’s most likely because your dog is getting rat feces on his feet.” Boone’s experience mirrors that of many others in the neighborhood. “Oh no, they’re friendly,” one resident quipped. “They’ll run right up to you.” The infestation has forced some residents to take matters into their own hands. “People are just throwing rat poison out on the sidewalk,” Boone added. Residents are calling on the city for more frequent extermination efforts. “You need to come out more often,” one resident urged, addressing city officials. The city’s Health Department tells us they’ve conducted “many” inspections on Starr within the last 90 days. A spokesperson says the last inspection was September 20th. ”