25th November 2008
I thought I’d do something a little different here and do a journal, not only for myself and waffling on, but for the chins as well and all the progress they make.
The biggest thing to happen this year was the move into the new house, it was rather rushed so we moved in without some things being done by the landlords, but that’s ok - I’ll get it done in the next few months. I moved all the chins over on Thursday evening and didn’t stop until nearly 1.30am, but it gave me a chance to get them settled and into the rooms before the chaos of the furniture being done in the morning.
Everyone settled in very well though and I was worried how they would react - but they have been brilliant. There are some changes I need to make - mainly making wooden stacking cages and slowly replacing most they are in now, but I’ll get there, I got two made so far so not bad - Haha
I worked it out today that six chinchilla’s have arrived this year, one of which was half way through her pregnancy and has since had a lovely son and there is another coming in a few weeks - she is 15 years, so she’ll fit in nicely with Tamika, my other 15 year old girl, but I will not be putting them together. All the arrivals this year are permanents here, as the rest of them are too. What worries me about adopting any out is if they don’t get the care they need and then they slip back again, yes I know there are good chin owners out there and very honest people, but do I risk it when the chin will be the one to suffer should I pick the wrong person? No, I can’t, or maybe that should be, won’t! I have promised to care for them and so what if it takes the next 20 years - my promise to them stands!
Anyway, all chins are doing well - the two newest ones living together are Jett and Mika - two boys and they are doing really well together - YIPPEEE a happy pairing at last lol
Ok - best get to work and earn some money for them.
Til next time, Lycia - Proud Slave To Chins
26th November 2008
Today was very special - the Chinchilla’s and I received visitors, and the visitors were Hugo and Eira
Schwyzer of Matilde’s Mission all the way from the USA.Yes, I do admit to being nervous, I generally am when visitors come to see the chins, but it’s the ‘stigma’ of it all I have placed on myself. I guess it’s a thing like I see set-ups others have and while mine do not want, it’s never as pretty or as elaborate as others, so yes, my nerves were ‘iffy’ and I think that is also because of the work Hugo and Eira do and all the place’s they have been to and other rescue’s as well then little ole me in little ole New Zealand. But never mind that!
What an honour to meet them both and hear what they have accomplished and places they have been to and yes, even Chile and seen chins in their natural habitat, I’m so jealous! Hearing about them in the wild - it makes you realise how much humans have forced them to change through the decades, I guess I am grateful that chins were taken, how can I not be - I wouldn’t have had the honour to have the ones I do, but to make them change so much at their ‘captives’ hands - I just don’t know!
I explained how Environment Southland have their ban on chinchilla’s and it got me wondering if I am really opposed to it and 90% surprisingly I’m not …. Why??? …. Because, in one small part of my world where chin’s cannot be neglected or abused. Yes I know there are chinchilla’s there, but with the restrictions they have on them, well neglect could happen, but with so many looking out (so to speak) I don’t think there would be a chance for them to be neglected - well that is the wish anyway.
The support and encouragement I received - it won’t be forgotten for a long time. I do feel isolated at times, but to meet two people who genuinely care, and who are so passionate about chinchilla’s - it was just lovely. I am grateful they both took the time out of their hectic schedule to visit - thank you for coming Hugo and Eira J
7th February 2009
Well, it’s been some time since I last wrote as things have been rather busy. I have successfully managed to introduce two same-sexed pairings and they have bonded very well and I have to admit - it’s lovely seeing chinchilla’s in pairs and how they bond. Tiffany’s son Chokotah is now living with Shay, it’s interesting though, I tried Chokotah with four other males and as soon as wee Chokotah saw them, he started grunting at the boys, but I did the same thing when letting him see Shay and he made all the correct baby ‘defenceless’ sounds and Shay accepted him straight away - I guess Chokotah wanted to pick his new room-mate for himself and it’s worked J
Late last year there was a bit of a panic on my behalf as in the middle of the North Island there were 10 chinchilla’s that needed rehoming, all I could think was “oh heck, how can I fit 10 new ones in and still have the time for the current chins here” Thankfully the lady (Sandra) who collected them kept the three boys, the smallest girl (in a group of six) was removed (under my advice) as she was very small and Sandra popped her in with one of her female chinchilla’s and they have bonded and getting along very well, the single female was sadly euthanised due to having a severe neurological problem and extensive scaring in both eyes which caused her blindness, it would have been ok if she was blind, but it was the neurological issues where the vets recommendation was to euthanise this precious wee girl. I do have photos I still need to get on here, but that will be done ‘soon’.
The remaining five girls arrived on 13th January 2009 and as with any chinchilla, there were some concerns with a select few, but thankfully my worst fears were laid to rest, I guess my paranoia really. While one’s jaw line felt fine, it was her weepy eye and not eating that was making me think the worst, so we went to my vet and she had a thorough examination and her teeth are fine - all correct size and in alignment but she had a wee infection, maybe bacterial in her eyes, so I have drops to put in twice a day and if that doesn’t help, she will need a minor operation to open her tear ducts and get a wee flush out at the same time, thankfully though her drops are working, but we will still go back for a re-visit to the vets. She was the smallest of five that came down and her weight was fluctuating, but with Sally’s help/advise she has been gaining weight each day, so it’s good to see her getting a bit more weight on her. I have kept the five together as they are so bonded and it’s lovely. The first cage I had them in I swapped for a lower but wider one and they are enjoying this much more. Due to how the cage was set-up in their old home - they had a few issues with jumping and Sandra did a great job at helping them learn this, but the cage I had them in originally they did fall a few times and I won’t risk any injuries and with some falling, it was making them feel terribly insecure, so since that has been changed, they have quickly settled in and it’s been beautiful watching their personalities develop, there is still a little way to go - but I certainly don’t doubt the progress will continue and the weight will be gained by the one causing my extra grey hairs.
I have had some interest in people adopting a rescue or two, but it seems as soon as they know they cannot breed them and will be required to sign my contract - that is the end of that! It doesn’t bother me so much but I do feel ‘let-down’ for the chinchilla(s). They come here as they aren’t wanted or have issues, and the potential people interested in them, well they reject them as well. I wish people understood the reason I say no breeding is for the chinchilla’s welfare for a variety of reasons and that I am not just saying it to be ‘mean’. Then I think if people can’t be bothered it’s probably just as well they do stay and I know I’d miss them and I just talk myself into keeping all of them - sometimes it’s just so much easier doing that than going through the process of adopting any! And yes, I am well aware I am protective over every single fluff ball here - who wouldn’t be J They are precious and rely on you so much - how can it be any other way!
Well I am sure there is a water bottle that needs to be filled - so I best go and find it.
Lycia
There is another young lady here by the name of Kahma-Jaye’s, she came from Wellington on 2nd April 2009, after being taken to a foster home of mine in Wellington (many thanks Sandra). The poor wee lady though - she arrived and saw me for not even a whole 24 hours before I ended up in hospital and kept in for an emergency operation. Thankfully I was home on 6th April and could see how she was going and settling down and that was nice J But then things took a turn for the worse and I ended up back in hospital on 11th April and pushed to get discharged on the 14th, and have been doing what I can to stay out lol. But wee Kahma is doing just great. She now sleeps in her hammock from time to time, otherwise it’s just her chose sleeping shelf.
She came from a pet shop as she started fur chewing but given her age of 11 years, the owner wanted to her go to a home where her needs would be met if she needed care given her age. So huge pats on the back to the owner of the shop for making the contact and allowing her to come to me. Her fur chewing has stopped, it did when she was at Sandra’s and her fur is starting to grow nicely. She isn’t quite there yet in coming out of the cage and I have myself to blame for this due to being in hospital, but we are making huge progress now I am home and can put the time into her. She’s a funny wee lady - I can’t say any of the other chins have ‘snorted’ at me when they want attention - but Kahma does, her breathing is fine as when I first heard it I thought she had a wee infection, but no, she just snorts out her nose!
Taya, my wee skinny girl that arrived in the group of five Chinchilla’s in January this year finally got up to the 400gram mark the day before I went to hospital and has holding it the first week I got out, but when I weighed her after my second stint, she was 390grams, which I did think would happen, and thankfully it was only 10 grams she lost, so now I am getting her back up to 400grams and trying to get her to increase her weight from there.
Claye made a beautiful cage for the group of five, I have yet to get a photo of it up here, but it’s much better for them and they love it. He made it in a way that they wouldn’t fall as I found when they first came and went into a bigger cage, they did fall, only with them not being use to height so they went into a smaller cage but longer and now they are in their own permanent cage - it’s been brilliant and best yet - no falls J
So things are rocking on nicely now. A huge thank you to Hugo and Eira of MM for sending over a big order of Chinchilla Pellets and Chinchilla Sand when I was in hospital, with being on forced home rest t means I can’t clean and not cleaning, means no money, so it’s a blessing having them in my corner and also Sally, who put some money in my account - that went straight onto bigger cages I can use for quarantining new arrivals and with them being bigger - can be permanent cages too. Then here is Sandra and Jude who sent all sorts of things so I have supplies of goodies to make the chin toys with as they knew I needed them, but with not working was worrying about all sorts, but this has truly seen the chinchilla’s are well catered for until I can go back to work - so thank you all - very very much J
Lycia
Adoptions Of My Special Cases
I have been so very fortunate to have not one, but two homes become available for rescues, that’s after being vetted.
One new owner told me the nature of the chin she wanted and told me about her home and I just knew Ouzo was the one for her. After coming to my home and meeting him and explaining the condition he came in - she just wanted him. A home visit to her home was organized and approved so precious wee Ouzo left for his permanent home on 7th November 2009.
From all accounts he is settling in very well and loves cuddling into his new Chin Mum and I was very lucky that Ouzo has learnt how to text as I received two lovely text messages from him as well as photos - so I’m just delighted.
His son, Kuzo was the next one wanted by yet another lovely lady - she came to meet him twice and I took a wee drive out to her house and help put the shelving in the cage she brought for him. Kuzo left today. And I know he will be so well cared for - just as much as Ouzo is.
Letting these two boys go has been a real tug at my heart. They came to me 4th February 2008 and I still remember it so clearly as that day my heart just broke and I cried about how they were - such pitiful wee souls - all fur chewed, grossly underweight (that I could honestly feel every single bone on their bodies) and extremely unsettled. This is the reason they came to me as they were just getting worse despite all the best efforts given. It took some time for them to settle down and I lost count of the times I’d get up to them calling out through the night and even through the day just to calm them down and I slept on the floor of the room they were in - just to let them know someone was there, loving them. It didn’t take long for them to settle down and gain weight and with that, their fur grew back and they just flourished. And while I knew for some time that Kuzo was ready for his new home, I wanted to be sure and I always thought Ouzo would be a permanent, but he just really suited the nature of the one his new chin mum was wanting, so how can I say no just to be selfish and keep him!
I cried before both left, cried the day they left, and still am, partly for the above, but also out of gratitude that these two precious wee boys now have the homes they deserve and more. When people have come here looking to adopt, or just meet chins - these two really put on a wee show, up at the cage front, begging for attention and they did get it - until I said how they were when they came and the look in people’s eyes - both boys have bites in their ears (from wounds/fights prior to coming here) and people wanted perfect and/or pretty chins and I guess it was me, putting human emotions into my chins, but I just felt the rejection for them and it broke my heart, they deserve better than that - they all do, needless to say those people left with none, or they were wanting pairs, generally though it was me declining adoptions for reasons I felt were justified and I stand by that.
They are in separate homes, with all the care and attention and most importantly - the one-on-one they can get in a single chinnie home and if these homes hadn’t come up - I’d have them still until the right ones were found, but each home is the right home for them and I am so pleased that both ladies stuck with my questions, emails, and all the rest to the point where I was interested in doing a home visit to check the suitability of their environment for the boys. It seems to quiet here without them and despite having the numbers I do - I do notice it when one has left for his or her new forever home - but the most important thing is they have been placed into wonderful homes, where I can visit them both and keep in contact, like all previous adoptions and the very best thing - no more rejection for them - they were wanted, they are wanted and now they can touch someone’s heart the way they have mine, and while they have left and have a new family to cherish them and protect them - they will always have a very special place in my heart.
So if you ever look at a potential new pet and see ‘flaws’ - think about why they have them and believe me when I say it’s cosmetic, and these ones with flaws - just need your love as much as the ‘pretty’ critters do and often more so.
I can’t express what it means to me that Ouzo and Kuzo have homes now and that the look won’t be in their eyes when people turn away, and the look in mine when I saw how much they were reaching out - no, no more rejection for these two at all. If their new Chin Mum’s ever read this - I hope it explains my tears my day they left and thank you from the depth of my soul. A friend said to me recently that this is what I am here for - to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome when the right homes are there and it’s true, logically I know this- but man emotions do kick in!
That’s really all I feel like writing.
Lycia
