German police in Essen stopped a 38-year-old woman after she urinated on a train platform and discovered she was carrying 15 overcrowded rats in a cage, which were later seized and handed to an animal shelter.

The woman had attracted attention during the night to Wednesday when she was seen urinating on one of the platforms. Officers intervened and, during the check, came across a cage containing 15 rats. According to police reports, the cage was overcrowded, with some of the animals lying on top of each other.

When asked, the woman reportedly told officers that she intended to travel through Europe with the rats. The animals were seized and handed over to an animal shelter.

The woman is now facing charges for violating animal welfare laws as well as for soiling the station.