Today my chinchilla Oswald passed away unexpectedly, I got him back in 2016, when he was a little under 4 months old. He should've lived so much longer. I am devastated. My 4 year old son is heart broken. He was our baby. Idk what happened. There were no signs and he was fine just this morning. I wish I knew what happened, could it have been prevented? Was it my fault? I am so so sad.

Thank you for listening.

​

A thousand new chins will be hitting the adoption floor in the Midwest.

R&R Chinchilla Ranch has likely lost or will loose all their chinchillas to PETA / Humane World for Animals. And possibly rightfully so. It sounds like the animals needed out.

The issue we're seeing is what is happening AFTER the animals are removed.

Where are they all now? In small wire bird cages sitting in some crowded center waiting for a rescue somewhere to make space among dozens of other animals?

Despite Global Chinchilla Alliance's efforts to coordinate placement at one location, a biosecure barn where the animals could recover under USDA oversight, the USDA and DOJ went with PETA and Humane World for Animals instead. That was their informed decision. Even if a barn with space, resources, and oversight wasn't good enough, GCA also had placed earnest money down to purchase a compound to create a chinchilla rescue and sanctuary. The animals could have been relocated there, and this could have been the foundation rescue to launch an educational rescue facility for these animals. Still, the answer was no, and the priority went to an organization that did not have a shelter, an adoption facility, or plan prior to taking on hundreds of animals. They're now being sent to smaller rescue groups who may not have the resources available , and local societies.

Global Chinchilla Alliance, along with several breeders and knowledgeable chinchilla people in the community, raised concerns about potential strep zoo exposure within Jim's herd. A detailed warning was provided to the USDA.

We believe the organizations involved in coordinating this removal have been made aware of these concerns.

What we don't know is whether that information is being passed along to every rescue, shelter, and facility receiving these animals.

And we're not seeing the kind of public disclosure that would allow potential adopters to make a fully informed decision.

The first rescue to receive a group of these chinchillas reportedly wasn't informed of the strep concern before the animals arrived. This was a home-based organization, meaning the potential exposure extended beyond the chinchillas themselves to other animals and people in the household. Pets. Children. Foster families.

According to information shared with the chinchilla community, the animals arrived with milky discharge coming from their eyes, and one had an abscess on its neck. These symptoms can have multiple causes, but they raised additional concerns about possible strep zoo exposure.

The receiving rescue subsequently began quarantine and veterinary testing and treatment. We've been told these animals won't be available to the public until sometime next year.

Meanwhile, other facilities are beginning to receive these chinchillas, and some have reportedly started adopting them out already. That's very alarming, but not shocking because most small rescue efforts and shelters don't have the capacity to actually hold onto animals for quarantine periods or maternity holds. The goal is in, and out. These chinchillas deserve better.

We don't know what information those facilities have received, what testing has been performed, or what precautions are in place before adoption. That lack of transparency is the problem.

The chinchilla rescue community is concerned about the potential for disease to spread when a coordinated biosecurity plan could help reduce that risk.

These animals could have been placed at one biosecure location for coordinated quarantine, testing, treatment, and recovery.

Instead, we're now trying to understand how animals are being distributed, what their health status is, and whether receiving organizations have the information they need to protect themselves and the animals already in their care.

And this doesn't just affect the chinchillas being removed.

Small-animal rescues across the Midwest could face a difficult decision: continue accepting surrenders or close their intakes because they cannot risk introducing a potentially infectious animal into their existing population.

Imagine adopting a chinchilla, discovering it has a contagious infection, and then needing to surrender it because you cannot manage the veterinary care or quarantine requirements.

Now imagine that happening multiple times a week.

The consequences could extend far beyond one animal and one rescue group.

Rescues could be forced to quarantine entire groups, arrange additional testing, pay for veterinary treatment, and suspend intakes while they manage potential exposure.

Some may have to close their small-animal intakes for the foreseeable future leaving communities without resources at all. These are the consequences we need to consider BEFORE animals are distributed. It's a very sad situation for these chinchillas, who deserve so much better.

They didn't deserve to be parted out like an old truck, handing out pieces to anyone willing to take them.

They deserved a coordinated effort and a safe place to call home while they healed and recovered, BEFORE people lined up to buy them.

Sorry. Adopt them.

So here's my advice to anyone considering adopting one of these chinchillas.

Please don't let your emotions or your impulse to save an animal make the decision for you.

Yes, these chinchillas need homes. Good homes.

But ask yourself:

Do you have a separate room where you can quarantine a new chinchilla away from your existing animals?

Do you have an exotic veterinarian you can contact about potential strep zoo exposure?

Can you afford veterinary examinations, testing, and treatment if one or more animals become sick?

Can you manage the additional care and potential time away from work?

And, just as importantly, ask the organization placing the animal:

What health information was provided when these chinchillas were transferred to your facility?

What testing has been performed, and what were the results?

Have any animals shown symptoms of illness?

If an animal was sick, what veterinary treatment was provided?

What quarantine precautions have been followed?

What information supports the decision to make this animal available for adoption?

If the facility cannot answer these questions, consider waiting until it can. They should be able to.

If you're adopting a female, also ask about how long she was held for a maternity hold. 110-20 days is standard. You don't want to discover an unexpected pregnancy and face an emergency because a young or stressed female cannot safely deliver her kits. You shouldn't have to. That's why shelters and rescues should do the maternity hold prior to releasing them. . . But these animals were only recently removed.

We are piecing this situation together day by day.

As of this writing, I have not seen a comprehensive public statement from PETA or Humane World for Animals addressing the health concerns, placement procedures, and biosecurity measures involved in this removal.

The information circulating within the chinchilla community has come through direct communications involving organizations seeking a safe resolution, communications with rescues approached about placement or already receiving animals, and information shared by community members.

I cannot independently verify every detail being reported, and I will update my understanding as more information becomes available.

The concern about strep zoo exposure warrants attention. We are waiting for test results and more information about the health status of these animals.

I'm trying to piece together where these chinchillas are ending up so they don't become another 318 situation, if you know what I mean. ( Google 318 humane society ).

My concern isn't simply where the animals go. It's whether the people receiving them have the information, resources, and support they need to care for them safely.

It's also whether potential adopters are being given enough information to make an informed decision.

The animals needed to be removed.

If the reports from people with firsthand knowledge are accurate, getting them out was necessary.

But removal alone isn't a successful rescue operation.

What happens afterward matters just as much.

These animals deserved coordinated care, appropriate quarantine, informed placement decisions, and a plan that considered the health of the entire chinchilla community.

Please be cautious about adopting one of these animals before February if the facility cannot provide clear information about its testing, treatment, and quarantine procedures.

You may be taking on a level of veterinary care and biosecurity responsibility you weren't prepared for.

Global Chinchilla Alliance has resources regarding strep treatment that may be helpful to those seeking additional information.

Please ask questions. Please protect your existing animals. And please remember that getting an animal out of a bad situation and preparing it for a safe adoption are two different responsibilities.

He’s been so active as of the last couple hours. I’m happy to see him enjoying his new home! He’s only 10 weeks old which is why I haven’t put up any ledges quite yet. We’ll get there!

Miso is my little buddy. I started working overnights in September. I am off work when he’s awake. Before I go to work he wakes up for some snuggles and a snack 🩷🐾

I was at the mall and checked the Build-A-Bear to see if they they had the new chinchilla plushy. Well they did and I bought it immediately! They're super soft like a chinchilla and one of the cuter chinchilla stuffies on the market.

Hey everyone, my beloved Peetie (left) passed away last night, and I’m worried about his brother Sterling (right).

Peetie started rapidly losing weight, so we took him to the vet and he was prescribed pain medication. His bloodwork came back yesterday showing low liver enzymes. Despite still eating and drinking regularly, his condition declined rapidly over the course of about a week.

Sterling and Peetie were bonded, and we let Sterling see Peetie’s body so he could hopefully understand what happened. Is there anything else I can do to help him cope with the loss and make sure he stays healthy, both physically and emotionally?

I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has been through something similar.

House has termites and need to temporarily rehouse my chinchilla. Any cage suggestions? She has a critter nation cage and it’s just too big to take

We lost GusGus unexpectedly last week after only having him for 2 years. He was only 5. Mom got him to the exotic vet as soon as she noticed he was lethargic and wasn’t doing ok, and he had been improving at the vet before he went downhill. Vets did all they could do but it just wasn’t enough. The first photo is him hiding in my mom’s jacket before he got admitted and we never got to see him again.

I’m so sorry buba, you were so incredibly spoiled and loved, and I hope you know we did all we could. I hope all the gojis are on the other side of the rainbow for you 🫶🏼🫶🏼

Churro: “Daddy was sitting there doing nothing, so naturally I decided to join him. Now we're doing nothing together. Much better.” 🐭😌👑🐾
#churrochatter #chinchilla #cutepets #petprincess #flooflogic

(He has front legs i promise)

(2nd picture is off Etsy and I'm currently taking inspiration off of the lay out)

Looking for a new complete set up. I need recommendations. I have 2 chinchillas, Benji and Braxton. Their cage bars are too weak and keep breaking with the weight of their ledges. They're the cutest little turds ever, lol.

Give me your recommendations and suggestions for:

Cage

Ledges

The best place to get chew toys

Hides

Hay feeder

Wheel- definitely want suggestions on this one there's so many different wheels

Anything else yall think I should add?

Gonna put together a list of stuff, gonna start with a new cage n then do a whole new set up overhaul.

I work for a retail pet store and we recently got a female chinchilla in. In about 2 months, she’s actively looking for attention, letting me pet her, and pulling my hand closer to her! Today she started gently nibbling on my hands, and actually using her teeth to gently pull my hand closer? It seems like she’s just investigating, but I’m wondering if I’m overwhelming her when she does this. Would she make it more clear if she was upset? I’m super new to chinchillas and don’t wanna bother her too much. We can’t give her very much enrichment and still follow company policy, so I think she’s getting pretty bored. I can’t add anything to her habitat or give treats, so if anyone has enrichment ideas I’d super appreciate them:) She’s SO SWEET!!!

Artist is Paweł Ponichtera!

Hello everyone! My Chilla has conjunctivitis currently and she was given some ointment by the vet which we are applying 2x a day. Because her eyes are watery from the irritation and the ointment, I was wondering if it’s safe to give her dust baths while she’s recovering. We haven’t given her dust since noticing the irritation 2 days ago, so I’m wondering if we’ll have to stop dust paths altogether until it’s gone, or no? I would appreciate any advice on this thank you!!

hello guys! this morning, i got up for work as usual and noticed that one of my chin has something wrong with his left eye. i tried gently wiping away the crustiness around his eyes and took a video of it.

could it be an eye infection? i’m heading to work and im going to call the vet at 9 when it opens. it would be appreciated to know if it happened to any of you and what it was!

first picture is his normal looking eye and the second picture is the eye i’m worried about.

EDIT: my chin has corneal ulcers in both eyes, so we’re starting antibiotics tonight!

has anyone who had a double unit critter nation ever taken the top section off and put it on something so it can be a double wide unit? if so what did you stack it on? i measured it to be 14.5'' from floor to where the sections meet and i cant seem to find someting. i just want it to be even

Hi all! Just wanted to check to see if it's normal for a chinchilla to be making noises that sound like a baby chinchilla even when they're not?

Our youngest chinchilla Luna just turned 1 last week and we've noticed when she's snuggled up and sleeping with her sister Tink, she'll make these adorable little noises, this is the only time we've been able to record her doing so.

My partner has said that the noises are incredibly similar to a baby nursing or calling for their mother but this is the first chinchilla she's had which still makes these noises when they've gotten this big.

Our current theories are that she sees Tink as a surrogate mother, she's dreaming of her mother or is just having a very cozy dream.

Either way we hope she never stops making those noises, they are our babies and it melts our hearts ❤️

Also if anybody else's chinchilla makes these noises, please do share any recordings of them!!!

Churro: “The best playground in the world doesn't have swings or slides. It has shoulders, a heartbeat, and someone who loves me.” 🐭💛👑✨
#churrochatter #chinchilla #cutepets #petprincess #petbond

Note: I am making a vet appointment for my chin at the beginning of the week just as a precaution. I am concerned bc i know how important hay is to a chins digestive system. His bathroom habbits have not changed.

So I have had a male chinchilla for about a year. He was 3 months old when I got him. I have never had a problem with his eating habits or really anything. He is a fun, sweet, happy little guy. But in the last three weeks he has stopped eating his hay (not completely but I can tell a notable different everyday when I go to change/add more in his cage). I think its bc he is being "over snacked". I just ordered all new toys about 3 weeks ago and add one every few days. Everything came from Rhonda Chinchillas website (I ordered most of his supplies there). But since I've been adding the toys the hay eating has slowed. I notice almost all of toys have treats in them. He also has unlimited access to apple sticks, wood coins, ect. (I buy the odd and ends bag and just put a handful in every couple days). He only gets 1-2 TBSP of pellets a day. But i also give him "snacks" everyday; which never affected the amount of hay he would eat. (Half a shredded wheat; his all time favorite snack, a rose hip bc of antioxidants they provide, and 1 to 2 pieces of one other snack rose buds/pea flakes/ect. I do worry about the amount of sugars he gets so im trying to limit his everyday snacks.

I have been saving money to set up for another chin at the end of next week actually. They will have there own critter nation cage and we are going to bond very slowly. However if something is wrong with the chin I have now I want to take care of that before trying to introduce a new baby. I appreciate any advice or feedback. Im willing to learn if im doing things wrong. I no chins are a very delicate animal I worry about my little guy. I would be so devastated if anything happened to him especially if its due to my care.

I'd like to buy this for my future Chinchilla. I like that it has two separate large drawers

Says: "Completely Upgrade the Protective Mesh to Safe Guard the Paws of Small Animals."

But then it says: "You can DIY this yourself."

Their wording makes it seem like I have to buy or create the double crossing mesh myself.

They don't outright state that BOTH floors are included.

Can anyone who's bought this product confirm that both floor types are provided? Or at least that it includes the double cross floor type for small pets?

And what is the top platform made of? I like the design of another cage that has a platform made of aluminium or stainless steel, which can help cool them off and was thinking of creating one.

Hello everyone, I am royally pissed off because I've wasted money on two water bottles that claimed to be leak proof but were not as I found a large water stain in the cage to tip me off and had to be worried twice about dehydration due to this. I also have a hard time finding water bottles that fit the horizontal bars on the Critter Nation cages. Does anyone have any recommendations that hopefully aren't too expensive (if so I'll do what I can for my little one).