Chinchilla Rescue, Rehoming and Classifieds

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Chinchilla Rescue, Rehoming and Classifieds
Chinchilla Rescue, Rehoming and Classifieds

Rescue and Rehoming Chinchillas

If you adopted from a reputable pet breeder (one with healthy, happy, well-dusted chins that receive a lot of personal attention and live in large, clean cages, etc.), always contact them FIRST if you need to give up your pet, some pet breeders even include this stipulation in their adoption contracts. Returning chins to the breeder who brought them into the world act as a “checks and balances” against pet overpopulation.

The two essential components to ANY rehoming, whether through a rescue service or by direct placement, is an adoption contract and a significant adoption fee. These determine whether the adoption applicant has sufficient knowledge (contract) and financial competence (adoption fee). Free to good home (FTGH) puts a chin’s life in danger.

ALWAYS conduct a home visit before finalizing placement. Don’t leave your chin with anyone until you have seen for yourself what kind of environment they will be living in. That is your right and duty as a responsible, caring chinparent, to prevent tragedies like hoarding, neglect, and abuse. Never trust your chin to anyone who refuses a home visit.

The overwhelming majority of chins that end up at rescue are victims of human circumstance: allergies, relocating, a change in lifestyle or preference (busier schedule, new hobby/ interest, going to college, starting a family), etc., they’re not “rejects” or in any way less valuable than their counterparts at other adoption sources.

Guides to Responsible Rescue and Rehoming

Rehoming By Contacting A Rescue Service

1. If the situation is urgent and the pet must be relinquished immediately, contact a chinchilla rescue service. Be aware that a rescue service will not buy your chinchilla, that is what classifieds are for. Rescue workers provide an emergency service, they foster chinchillas in need at their own expense (often paying for veterinary treatment or neutering in addition to routine care) until they are able to place them in a forever home. The adoption fee that is charged upon placement acts as compensation for costs incurred while the chinchilla was in their care and helps ensure that the adoption candidate is financially competent.

2. Always check first with the Animal Abuse Crime Database and The National Animal Abuse Registry. NOTE: It is impossible for list keepers to guarantee the character or legitimacy of those who volunteer online as rescue services! Therefore the task of screening is the rightful responsibility of the relinquishing chinparent, the person who deals directly with them. Don’t blindly trust advertisements or people who seem “nice” via phone or email. Hoarders act like regular people, and they often really believe they are “rescuing.” Anything short of a thorough investigation is courting disaster.

Hoarding vs. Legitimate Shelter or Rescue by tufts.edu

One of the most disturbing trends in animal hoarding cases is that of a person hoarding under the guise of being a legitimate animal shelter, sanctuary, adoption agency, or rescue group. These cases are particularly difficult to resolve because it involves overcoming an entrenched systematic effort to acquire animals, usually with a long history of enabling by a public ill-informed about animal hoarding and easily swayed by claims of good intentions.

Sometimes these truly remain relatively solo efforts, with a half-hearted attempt to maintain the facade of a legitimate agency. Other times, the barriers can be more formidable, as occurs when the hoarding is done under the guise of a registered non-profit organization calling itself a sanctuary, retirement home, or no-kill shelter. Of course, all of these can be and often are legitimate activities providing needed services to unwanted animals; each of these activities does and should elicit great sympathy.

Experience has proved that courts, the public, and the media have great difficulty distinguishing between legitimate operations where the needs of the animals come first, and those which are smokescreens for institutional hoarding. Part of this is the baseline level of confusion about different types of animal groups and what they do. The absence of established standards for companion animal care also contributes.

Finally, the Internet appears to be becoming a vehicle for national, and even international, solicitation for animals. HARC has personal testimony from people seeking to place a special-needs animal lured by an appealing website, only to find a hoarding situation when they happened to visit.

There are some general characteristics that should at least raise the suspicion of hoarding:

  • Unwilling to let visitors see the facilities where animals are kept
  • Unwilling to say how many animals are actually present
  • Little effort made to adopt, and much effort focused on the acquisition
  • Continued acquisition in the face of declining care for existing animals
  • Claims of being able to provide excellent lifetime care for animals with special needs (paralyzed, feline leukemia positive, extreme aggression) without verifiable resources
  • Number and staff and/ or volunteers inconsistent with the number of animals
  • Desire to receive animals at a remote location rather than on-site

Other news:

  1. Other Precautionary Messages: “Local Man Living With 37 Dogs“
  2. “Woman Accused Of Drowning Hundreds Of Animals” and Hoarding Investigation
  3. “Why People Do Rescue,” “Behind Closed Doors: The Horrors of Animal Hoarding“

Ask these questions of any rescue service, your chin’s life depends on it!

  • What is the extent of their chinchilla knowledge and do they know that rescue chinchillas should not be bred?
    They should have a solid understanding of The Essentials as well as have the supplies and setup already in place. A reputable rescue service will understand that chinchillas with NFB indicators should not be bred.
  • Do they use an adoption contract?
    Better still, ask to see an electronic copy. Adoption contracts are mandatory, they ensure that placement efforts will be selective, that is, only rehoming to people who possess the necessary knowledge to provide proper care. Their adoption contract should be thorough and include these critical points. Feel free to offer them ChinCare’s Adoption Contract/Qualification Assessment.
  • Do they charge a significant adoption fee when placing chinchillas in their care?
    They need to charge at least 50 USD per chin (charging more is strongly advisable, both pet stores and breeders charge more and rescue/ rehomed chins aren’t “less valuable”). Charging an adoption fee is absolutely necessary, it’s not an act of greed on the part of the one charging it. Rather, an adoption fee gives the adoption candidate an opportunity to provide proof of their financial competence and ability to cover veterinary and routine care expenses for their future pet. It also discourages unscrupulous persons who seek out cheap or free animals for unethical purposes, such as hoarding, selling to laboratories, etc. FTGH puts a chin’s life in danger.

3. As stated previously: ALWAYS conduct a home visit before finalizing placement. Don’t leave your chin with anyone until you have seen for yourself what kind of environment they will be living in. That is your right and duty as a responsible, caring chinparent, to prevent tragedies like hoarding, neglect, and abuse. Never trust your chin to anyone who refuses a home visit.

When you are certain that you have found a reputable rescue service to take in your chinchilla, arrange to make a home visit in person to deliver your chinchilla to his new home. This is your final opportunity to ensure that everything is right, i.e., that the environment is clean and not excessively loud or chaotic. Observe firsthand that everything is prepared to receive your chinchilla, that the cage, proper supplies, and setup (air conditioner, especially) are represented as was previously agreed upon. If anything is significantly awry, or if you get a bad feeling and have misgivings, trust your instincts and politely decline to complete the transfer. Return home with your chin and pursue other options, don’t compromise your chin’s future for anything!

Rehoming For Yourself, Directly Placing Your Chin Into A Forever Home

1. If time allows and you are in a position to directly place your chinchilla in a forever home, DO NOT put an advertisement out for “Free to Good Home”!

2. Advertise in chinchilla classifieds or on forum classifieds and do not hesitate to charge a significant adoption fee. A good adoption candidate will be prepared to make a substantial up-front initial investment, and a minimum of at least 50 USD (charging more is strongly advisable, both pet stores and breeders charge more and rescue/ rehomed chins aren’t “less valuable”) will help discourage unscrupulous persons who seek out cheap or free animals for unethical purposes such as hoarding, selling to laboratories, etc. An adoption fee is essential because it gives the adoption candidate an opportunity to provide proof of their financial competence and ability to cover veterinary and routine care expenses for their future pet. FTGH puts a chin’s life in danger.

3. Screen adoption candidates (applicants) thoroughly, start by checking the Animal Abuse Crime Database and The National Animal Abuse Registry. After the applicant clears that, ask questions to ensure that the applicant is prepared, with both knowledge and resources, to properly care for the chinchilla. Don’t be afraid of “putting off” someone by asking questions! A good adoption candidate will understand your position, welcome questions, and be prepared to answer them.

There are unscrupulous persons who are experts at appearing otherwise, so if an applicant balks at answering appropriate questions, tell them “thanks anyway,” end the communication and proceed to better prospects. Remember that your chinchilla’s very life is in your hands, their future is hanging in the balance, don’t let them down! You can use ChinCare’s Adoption Contract/Qualification Assessment, or request answers to the most vital questions as outlined below…

Be sure that the critical points here are acknowledged and ask these questions:

  • How long has the applicant owned chinchillas, if there were deaths what was the cause, do they plan to keep their chin/s if there is a change of lifestyle in the future (starting a family, college, military service, etc)?
  • Is the applicant aware that rescue, pet store, and most rehomed chins are NFB?
  • What type of feed does the applicant use? If it differs from the pellets and hay that you use be sure the applicant realizes that you’ll be providing a small quantity of what they’re eating now so that a gradual transition in the chin’s diet can be made, to avoid GI distress.
  • Have the applicant read and acknowledge that The Essentials will be provided as described.
  • If the applicant will be introducing your chinchilla to one of theirs, have they read about Introducing Chinchillas, especially the warnings against dangerous methods?
  • What is the name, location, and phone of applicant’s exotics specialist vet, what recourse is there for an after-hours emergency?
  • Does the applicant have a knowledgeable, responsible pet sitter in case of emergency or vacation, is applicant prepared for the possibility of a catastrophe/ emergency in these ways: animal emergency stickers present on both the front and back doors of the home AND enough carriers standing by to take all chinchillas to safety?

4. As stated previously: ALWAYS conduct a home visit before finalizing placement. Don’t leave your chin with anyone until you have seen for yourself what kind of environment they will be living in. That is your right and duty as a responsible, caring chinparent, to prevent tragedies like hoarding, neglect, and abuse. Never trust your chin to anyone who refuses a home visit.

When you are certain that you have found a financially competent, knowledgeable, and responsible home for your chinchilla, arrange to make a home visit in person to deliver your chinchilla to his new home. This is your final opportunity to ensure that everything is right, i.e., that the environment is clean and not excessively loud or chaotic. Observe firsthand that everything is prepared to receive your chinchilla, that the cage, proper supplies, and setup (air conditioner, especially) are represented as was previously agreed upon. If anything is significantly awry, or if you get a bad feeling and have misgivings, trust your instincts and politely decline to complete the transfer. Return home with your chin and pursue other options, don’t compromise your chin’s future for anything!

Rehoming and Adoption Articles

Adoption Fees and Dangers of Free To Good Home (FTGH)

The bare essentials of rescue/ rehoming are the administration of a thorough adoption contract and the charging of a significant adoption fee. Adoption fees aren’t a sign of “greed” of the present chinparent or rescuer, the latter of which often invests hundreds of dollars in the vet or routine care expenses just to get a chin to the point where it is adoptable.

Rather, a minimum initial investment of 50 USD (charging more is strongly advisable, both pet stores and breeders charge more and rescue/ rehomed chins aren’t “less valuable”) for a chinchilla is necessary to show some proof that the adopter is financially competent and willing and able to cover veterinary and routine care expenses. Anyone who would refuse this basic request for accountability should be regarded as unscrupulous and untrustworthy.

Never casually entrust your pet’s very life based on a “hunch” or “intuition” about the character of a person you’ve just met, someone who “seems nice” but wants something (a living being, at that!) for nothing is NOT the right choice: FTGH puts a chin’s life in danger!

“A free pet is a disposable pet! Paying a fee for a pet shows good faith on the part of the new owner and demonstrates their willingness to properly care for the animal. The truth is, there is no such thing as a “free” pet anyway… A responsible person who would properly take care of an animal will understand this and will not be opposed to paying a reasonable fee for a healthy pet, especially if some or all of these health items have already been taken care of.”(ref- petrescue.com)

“People value what they pay for. Pets obtained for free are less likely to be spayed or neutered by their new owners (why bother with vet bills?), and more likely to be abused and/or discarded, because “there are plenty more where that came from!” A recent study at one animal shelter yielded the startling statistic that 51% of all owner-surrendered dogs had been purchased for less than $100; 41% of all owner-surrendered dogs had been obtained “Free to Good Home”. (ref- Michelle Crean, Animal Aid of SW MI)

“Bunchers”

“A buncher is a person who either steals or “adopts” for the purpose of selling the animal (e.g. medical research labs, bait to train dogs for fighting rings, breeding stock for puppy mills, or catteries). Bunchers can be very deceptive. They will sometimes use children as part of the ploy and present themselves as a perfect family. Beware of ads in the paper that say something similar to ‘Looking for a new home for your pet? We can help. We will pick up your pet and find it a new home. Call now!'” (ref- theanimalspirit.com)

“Class B dealers are USDA licensed dog and cat dealers who acquire and resell “random sourced” animals to medical laboratories for experimental research. Some of these animals are often obtained by people called “bunchers” who collect animals for Class B dealers who then sell the animals to medical laboratories. “Bunchers” look for cheap deals and often comb neighborhoods and newspapers in their search for stray and free animals. While against the law, “bunching” still occurs in the United States. Never give animals away for free.” (ref- Happy Tails)

“Free to good home ads attract many different clients for many uses: dog-fighting rings as fighters or as bait, to puppy mills for breeding, as meat for human consumption, as prey for exotic animals, as fur for clothing or accessories, as protective guard dogs or for cult rituals. However, the most consistent and highest-paying client is often the research industry. Hundreds of thousands of animals are used as laboratory subjects in universities and testing and research institutions every year. Research institutions prefer to experiment on animals [chinchillas included!] that are accustomed to humans, as they tend to be much easier to handle.” (ref- Columbus Dog Connection)

“Class B dealers, who collect dogs and cats from random sources, routinely violate the Animal Welfare Act. This federal law sets the minimum standards of care for animals and requires accurate record-keeping on their acquisition and disposition. For too long, Class B dealers have thrived in a ‘cottage industry’ that collects dogs and cats, sometimes family pets obtained by theft or fraudulent means, in order to sell them to laboratories for between $200 and $800 each. Although there are only 17 Class B dealers selling random source dogs and cats for research, there are thousands of suppliers [bunchers and they deal in many other pets besides dogs and cats] to the dealers.

“Dogs and cats that rightfully belong to individuals and families may be illegally acquired by use of ‘dirty tricks,’ such as: *Responding to ‘free to good home’ ads in local newspapers, posing as providers of loving homes
*Falsifying animal records to keep their true origins unknown
*Stealing pet dogs and cats from their owners’ yards and farms
Too often, dogs and cats are subjected to abusive handling and exposure to the elements while kept on the premises of Class B dealers. Sadly, Class B dealers routinely deny these animals sufficient food, water, and veterinary care before they are sold off to laboratories.” (ref- saplonline.org)

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“Hoarders” or “Collectors”

Hoarders also readily pick up “Free To Good Home” pets!

“Hoarding is a problem involving dogs, cats, and sometimes other species. Animal Hoarding is not about legitimate sheltering or rescue. It is a disorder. The Tufts University has a good working definition: Someone who accumulates a large number of animals; who fails to provide minimal nutrition, sanitation, and veterinary care; fails to act on the deteriorating condition of the animals (including disease, starvation, and even death) or the environment (severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions); and who fails to act on or recognize the negative impact of the collection on their own health and well being.” (ref- americanhumane.org)

“Unfortunately, owners desperate to place an unwanted pet may not ask too many questions, even when the solution sounds too good to be true. Animals rescued from hoarding situations are often too ill, too old, too debilitated, or too unsocial to place through legitimate adoption avenues. Even in the best of circumstances, a large influx of difficult to place pets will overwhelm most sheltering and rescue organizations, making humane euthanasia the sad end to the suffering of hoarded animals.” (ref- tufts.edu)

“Hoarding” or “Collecting” is a psychological disorder. It occurs when animal lovers or rescuers take on more animals than they can manage or are for; thus, they unintentionally become passive abusers themselves. Hoarding can become both a cruelty issue and a public safety (health) issue.” (ref- animaladvocacy.net)

USA and International Rescues/Shelters

Find chinchillas near you in urgent need of knowledgeable, caring forever homes!

Be aware that most rescue services that take in chinchillas are either small animal rescues or pet chinchilla breeders who also do a rescue as their contribution to preventing overpopulation; when contacting them you can specify your interest in adopting a rescued chinchilla.

Disclaimer: It is impossible for list keepers to guarantee the character or legitimacy of those who volunteer online as rescue services and the ones presented here derive chiefly from online lists or website claims. Therefore, we assume no liability whatsoever in connection with presenting the rescue services listed here. These rescue services are NOT being “recommended” and they have NOT been pre-screened, that is the sole responsibility of the person who will be meeting the rescue service face-to-face, the one doing the actual adopting or relinquishing.

View Petfinder’s Shelter Status in the USA and Canada, and post this link
on your site. PLEASE! Before you consider adopting a rescued chinchilla, be
SURE that you really understand all that is involved in caring for chinchillas. Many of these little ones have survived terrible hardships and really need a chinparent who is willing to go the extra mile for them!

See: ChinCare’s Adoption Contract/Qualification Assessment.doc

Online Rescue Listings

(Sites that list rescue services, including individuals who do rescue but don’t have a website)

Be aware that online rescue listings often do not accurately reflect the current number of rescues for a given area, because list keepers add to their lists without verifying the open/ closed status of those already listed.

The Primary Chinchilla Rescue Listings

Canada and USA

USA

Worldwide

USA Rescue Websites

*Be aware that rescue resources come and go, especially in hard economic times. Therefore, links may be outdated.

Alabama – Georgia

Hawaii – Maryland

Massachusetts – New Jersey

New Mexico – South Carolina

South Dakota – Wyoming

International Rescue Websites

*Be aware that rescue resources come and go, especially in hard economic times. Therefore, links may be outdated.

Canada

United Kingdom

Sponsoring a Rescue Chinchilla

Tanzy’s Chinchilla Rescue, NZ, and R&J Chinchilla Rescue in the UK are excellent examples of reputable, hard-working rescues in their respective countries. Both rescues operate on a large scale and their sponsorship programs accept PayPal so that anyone worldwide can reach out and bless the life of a precious, deserving chinchilla.

Below is the story of Whisper and Timmy (R&J Rescue sponsorship letter)

Whisper and Timmy Chinchilla Rescue
Whisper(top) and Timmy(bottom) Chinchilla Rescue

“Hello, thank you for taking the time to sponsor me. Your kind donation will go towards my upkeep for the next 12 months. My name is Whisper, I am a Homo Beige and live with my cage mate Timmy, a castrated Hetero Beige male. We came into the rescue on 24th June 2006 as our previous owners were emigrating to the USA.

“We were in very good health when we arrived, although my eyes were a little weepy. It is believed that I have been blind since birth, but had little ‘rosebuds’ as eyes. Once settled I was taken to the vets to have my eyes checked out and put on a course of eye ointment to try and make my eyes better. Unfortunately, the weeping continued despite several different courses of treatment. The decision was then made for my eyes to be removed. During the operation it was discovered that I had a string of abscesses in each eye socket, making the surgery quite complicated as the vet had to ensure the optical nerves weren’t damaged.

“When I came home I had to be kept separate from Timmy for a few days in case he decided to chew my stitches, but we both missed each other. Instead of Timmy helping me around the cage, I had to use my nose (I usually use my whiskers). Once I had the all-clear from the vets, I was able to go back with Timmy again where I felt safe as he looks after me. I have had to go back to the vets a few times to ensure everything is fine and my vet has decided to rename me Grasshopper.

“A few weeks after the operation, my nose began to discharge so I had to have a course of antibiotics to clear it up. We aren’t sure what the problem was but it soon went away. Timmy looked after me though. Having Timmy with me ensures I don’t come to any harm in my cage and we are very good at knowing when someone is close- we know the difference between someone coming with a treat or medicine. We are at the front of the cage for treats but go into our nest box if its horrible medicine!

“We have many chinchilla friends at the rescue, we have our own purpose-built shed that lets in plenty of fresh air and doesn’t get too warm or too cold. During the spring and summer, we are allowed to play in our outside run, but Mum and Dad keep an eye on us all the time.”

Important Note by ChinCare: According to R&J Chinchilla Rescue, before their vet sewed Whisper’s eyes shut he removed Whisper’s lachrymal gland (produces tears, is located at the top of the eye) and tear ducts. We have treated a couple of cases of chins with no eyeballs, and in our cases, the eyelids weren’t sewn shut. Unless the exotics specialist vet takes measures such as those observed in Whisper’s case, to ensure the eye won’t continue to ooze white, thickened, protective/lubricating conjunctival secretions after being sewn shut, it would be in the best interests of the chin to leave the sockets open. That way, the chinparent can periodically clean them gently with a Q-Tip and flush them with veterinary prescribed anti-bacterial eye drops or a saline solution.

Why Rescue Workers Ask Questions Prior To Placement by Second Chance Chins

When each of my rescues was taken in, each former owner was assured they would be placed in the best homes possible, not to just the first person who expressed an interest. In a sense, these chins were once “someone’s babies”. They were part of someone’s family. Would it be fair to them to place them in sub-standard homes?

Chins are not right for every situation, and that is the reason I ask so many questions. I never want to place a chin in a home and worry if I made the wrong decision. So far, that hasn’t happened, as each one that has been placed has gone to an awesome home! Many people think that running a rescue is an easy task, but I can assure you, it is not. A lot of time and effort goes into it, but I do this because of my love of chinchillas.

The reason you can walk into a pet store and purchase whatever you want is that the store is in it to make money. The almighty dollar….they don’t care where their animals go or even where they came from, as long as they get their money. That is not why I am here. I am here to assure that these little guys end up in homes where they will be cherished.

The adoption fees I charge go right back to the rescue to help other animals. I make NO profit, other than knowing that I have helped yet one more chinchilla find a perfect home. If you went to the Humane Society or similar public shelter, they are going to ask questions about the care and home environment of the animal being placed just as I do.

Information Resources

Resources Sites

Rescue Programs for Chins and Other Exotics

Chinchilla Hotel/Temporary Lodging

Lost Pet Resources

Classifieds

Forums often have classified resources available:

ODE TO A MUTT
Born in an alley, one of six was I, no right to live, too tough to die. Worn out mother, father unknown, the runt of the litter, in a world alone. Raised in the streets by wits alone, taken in twice by what I hoped was home. Not well-bred the people would say, can’t keep him when he looks that way. Legs too long, head too small, didn’t notice the heart at all. Look at me deeply, I wanted to say, I’ll give you love, please let me stay. Somewhere I know there’s a place for me, where I can share the love… someone will see. Someone will look beneath my fur and skin, see my soul, and take me in.
~ Author Unknown

THE ANIMALS’ SAVIOR
I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter… the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness, and betrayal. And I was angry. “God,” I said, “this is terrible! Why don’t you do something?” God was silent for a moment, and then He spoke softly. “I have done something,” He replied. “I created You.”
~ Jim Willis

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