The law you are talking about is not about rats, which are specifically exempted.
The sources of your story are misquoting and spinning to make a political protest seem like they are putting the poor people of Northern Va. in danger, in another example of commie-lefties trying to ruin your life.
Here's what a mainstream local TV station, WUSA/WTOP, had to say when they fact-checked the story.
They say Ken was wrong, wrong, wrong,wrong, and very slightly right
There WAS a modest (and stupid) proposal from some tree-huggers a few years ago that rats in the DC suburb of Takoma Park be transported about 20 miles away to the upper Montgomery County area and released. Locals swiftly told the Takoma Park supporters where they could put their rats. That's the closest thing to your story that has happened in the region.
Rats that have been raised from pups as pets can be really fun; but nobody who has endured a real wild rat infestation would ever think that this plan is a good idea.
PDQ, If your sources were reporting facts, instead of passing fabrications around as fact, I would be right there on line with you. They are not.
You should consider getting more truthful sources for your news. You opinions are being formed based buckets of lies.