P
pinkprints
Guest
Hello all :wave3:! I'm stoked to have come across a site dedicated to chinchillas (and hedgehogs as well so I see!) that is so friendly and informative. I can't wait to get to know everyone, their chins, and even their hedgies -- but first I guess I should tell you all a bit about myself, how I happened upon this website, and why I'm here.
First off, to start it all off, my name's Alison though most everyone calls me Allie. I'm 26 years old and live in northeast Ohio with my roommates, my one chinnie girl, and my kitten (who just happens to have turned a year old on April Fool's Day). I am currently working part-time as an office manager and am hoping to return full-time to school this coming fall or winter semester in the hopes that I will one day become a veterinarian.
In the past, I've run the gamut with pets of all types and sorts. But, without a doubt, my heart belongs to chinchillas (and cats but of course!) and I don't think I can ever envision not having at least one of these spectacular animals in my home and life. I've not ever sought out a forum dedicated to animals (specifically pets), but I'm so grateful that I happened upon this site as I can't imagine not having access to such a wealth of information going forward. I guess you can say that it didn't take me very long to make my way over to the dark side...
.
As of now, I have just one chin -- Delaney. She is a 3 year old ebony who I've had since she was just a kit at only 8 weeks old. But Delaney isn't my first chinchilla. Before I purchased Delaney I was owned by two standard chinchillas named Ava and Grace. Unfortunately Ava passed away at only 5 years of age due to malo (which I later came to find out was rampant in the breeding program I acquired her from) and Grace passed away only a year later due to a severe case of bloat. Losing Ava and Grace was heartbreaking, but they gave me so much in the years that they were part of my life. And, without them (and Delaney!), I'd have never had the experience or understanding of chins that I have now. Nor would I be as determined as ever to become a veterinarian in the future. My chinchillas (past and present) have taught me love, patience, and understanding...and for that I am forever grateful and indebted to them.
My other fur-child is my kitten, Cassidy. She is a year old, ginger and white in color, and long-haired. Last year, one of my roommates rescued an emaciated (and very pregnant) cat named Gaia from the streets of downtown Cleveland. Not two days later (on April 1st) did Gaia deliver three very tiny babies -- one of which was stillborn. Unfortunately, the stress of the pregnancy and delivery was too much for Gaia and she passed on within hours of giving birth which left my roommates and I with two defenseless newborn kittens to hand-feed. And, as a group, my roommates and I did hand-rear the two kittens and they thrived despite the odds stacked up against them. And by the time they were 8 weeks old it was apparent that they weren't going anywhere. My one roommate (who has since gotten engaged and moved in with her fiancee) adopted the male, now named Gunther, and I adopted my Cassidy. Without a doubt she is my best friend (with the exception of Delaney, of course!) and I couldn't imagine life without her...
Together, my roommates and my pets are my family. I'd never be able to survive this life without them and I my only hope is that I can give back just a fraction of the love and care that they've given me. That's why I'm here -- I want to learn and understand as much about my furry loved ones as possible. And I hope, in the meantime, to be able to offer some inisight and experience of my own into the mix. After all, this website wouldn't exist if it weren't for each and every one of us, our loved ones, our pets, and our experiences both good and bad. I truly can't wait to get to know you all better (furred and quilled ones as well!) and experience this forum for what it is -- an amazing community filled with hope, experience, and knowledge.
Thanks for being here and for letting even wordy 'ole me become a member :hug4:. I guess I'll be seeing y'all around...
First off, to start it all off, my name's Alison though most everyone calls me Allie. I'm 26 years old and live in northeast Ohio with my roommates, my one chinnie girl, and my kitten (who just happens to have turned a year old on April Fool's Day). I am currently working part-time as an office manager and am hoping to return full-time to school this coming fall or winter semester in the hopes that I will one day become a veterinarian.
In the past, I've run the gamut with pets of all types and sorts. But, without a doubt, my heart belongs to chinchillas (and cats but of course!) and I don't think I can ever envision not having at least one of these spectacular animals in my home and life. I've not ever sought out a forum dedicated to animals (specifically pets), but I'm so grateful that I happened upon this site as I can't imagine not having access to such a wealth of information going forward. I guess you can say that it didn't take me very long to make my way over to the dark side...
. As of now, I have just one chin -- Delaney. She is a 3 year old ebony who I've had since she was just a kit at only 8 weeks old. But Delaney isn't my first chinchilla. Before I purchased Delaney I was owned by two standard chinchillas named Ava and Grace. Unfortunately Ava passed away at only 5 years of age due to malo (which I later came to find out was rampant in the breeding program I acquired her from) and Grace passed away only a year later due to a severe case of bloat. Losing Ava and Grace was heartbreaking, but they gave me so much in the years that they were part of my life. And, without them (and Delaney!), I'd have never had the experience or understanding of chins that I have now. Nor would I be as determined as ever to become a veterinarian in the future. My chinchillas (past and present) have taught me love, patience, and understanding...and for that I am forever grateful and indebted to them.
My other fur-child is my kitten, Cassidy. She is a year old, ginger and white in color, and long-haired. Last year, one of my roommates rescued an emaciated (and very pregnant) cat named Gaia from the streets of downtown Cleveland. Not two days later (on April 1st) did Gaia deliver three very tiny babies -- one of which was stillborn. Unfortunately, the stress of the pregnancy and delivery was too much for Gaia and she passed on within hours of giving birth which left my roommates and I with two defenseless newborn kittens to hand-feed. And, as a group, my roommates and I did hand-rear the two kittens and they thrived despite the odds stacked up against them. And by the time they were 8 weeks old it was apparent that they weren't going anywhere. My one roommate (who has since gotten engaged and moved in with her fiancee) adopted the male, now named Gunther, and I adopted my Cassidy. Without a doubt she is my best friend (with the exception of Delaney, of course!) and I couldn't imagine life without her...
Together, my roommates and my pets are my family. I'd never be able to survive this life without them and I my only hope is that I can give back just a fraction of the love and care that they've given me. That's why I'm here -- I want to learn and understand as much about my furry loved ones as possible. And I hope, in the meantime, to be able to offer some inisight and experience of my own into the mix. After all, this website wouldn't exist if it weren't for each and every one of us, our loved ones, our pets, and our experiences both good and bad. I truly can't wait to get to know you all better (furred and quilled ones as well!) and experience this forum for what it is -- an amazing community filled with hope, experience, and knowledge.
Thanks for being here and for letting even wordy 'ole me become a member :hug4:. I guess I'll be seeing y'all around...
