Chin boarding/sitting

[SunshineChins]

Twice in the past week I have been contacted by people who want me to chin sit. The first one I am okay with as she adopted from me a few months ago. Another lady wants me to chin sit for a few months.

I let both people know that they need to keep a CC on file and a signed statement saying I can get their chin vet care with their vet (or mine if they don't have one) in case of any emergency.

My other worries are what if the other chin is in bad health? I don't want to take on an animal only to have it die in my care and then they blame me for its death. Should I require they take him to the vet for a medical checkup prior to him staying with me? I had thought about this as it would also let me know that he wasn't going to bring anything to my chins.

While I don't mind chin sitting(as with the girl who adopted a rescue from me) .. there isn't much out there about small pet boarding.

I haven't said yes yet to the lady wanting me to chin sit for months (seems like she wanted me for 6 months or something like that).

Any ideas?? Anything I am not thinking of?

 

[3CsMommy]

How are they providing for the animal while it's with you? Are you supplying food/dust/chews or are they bringing it and paying for any extra that's needed? What if their chin does damage to your house (baseboards, electrical cords, etc.)?

 

[SunshineChins]

How are they providing for the animal while it's with you? Are you supplying food/dust/chews or are they bringing it and paying for any extra that's needed? What if their chin does damage to your house (baseboards, electrical cords, etc.)?

They would pay me weekly for the care. Any extras they would have to pay for as well. Good point.. I hadn't thought about how much food/dust/bedding that is going to be for 6 months. I am not really worried about the damage as we have a bathroom that is chin proof where the chins play.

 

[addictedtochins]

My other worries are what if the other chin is in bad health? I don't want to take on an animal only to have it die in my care and then they blame me for its death. Should I require they take him to the vet for a medical checkup prior to him staying with me? I had thought about this as it would also let me know that he wasn't going to bring anything to my chins.

A vet check-up won't do much to assure the chin won't die in your care, or bring anything to your chins. It is hard enough to bring a half dead chin to the vet and get a diagnoses, I imagine if it looked fine the vet would say it was fine, you could probably do a better well exam yourself. Also chins don't only die from bad health. There is old age and accidents (by both chins and humans.) Michelle (NorthIdahoChins) kindly watched my chins last month and I drew up a simple contract stating which vet we had, how much I could spend total or on each chin (had 3) for vet care. That I absolve her of any liability incl. death, injury, loss, theft. And that I am absolved of any injury or damage the chins cause after a $25 limit.

 

[jenjenn2005]

My main concern bringing a chinchilla into your home for a short or long time is exposing your own chins to any infectious disease or flora they might have that could potentially hurt your chins, or the other person's chin you're watching. Even if you plan on having them in separate areas you'll want to make sure you keep your hands washed as to not cross contaminate and if you're using the same play area, you'll want to clean it after every chin so nothing can be spread. Another concern would be if something happened to their chin you'll want to know the maximum amount they'll want to spend if something bad happens... some people will pay anything, some will do very little... I'd also make them supply the food, because the move alone will stress out the chins and you don't want to make them more stressed out.

 

[jmdebb]

I have no clues for ideas, but I would be worried about the same thing as you, especially with all the sue happy people today.

jean

 

[SunshineChins]

I have no clues for ideas, but I would be worried about the same thing as you, especially with all the sue happy people today.

jean

Which is the reason I am hesitant about taking care of someones chin for so long. A week or two is one thing.. 6 months is quite a long time. To many things can happen in that amount of time.

 

[SunshineChins]

My main concern bringing a chinchilla into your home for a short or long time is exposing your own chins to any infectious disease or flora they might have that could potentially hurt your chins, or the other person's chin you're watching. Even if you plan on having them in separate areas you'll want to make sure you keep your hands washed as to not cross contaminate and if you're using the same play area, you'll want to clean it after every chin so nothing can be spread.

When Hayley gets dropped off next month I am going to treat her the same as I do the rescues who come here. She will be in seperate rooms/seperate play areas. But.. I know this chin she lived here for quite a while before being adopted.

Another concern would be if something happened to their chin you'll want to know the maximum amount they'll want to spend if something bad happens... some people will pay anything, some will do very little... I'd also make them supply the food, because the move alone will stress out the chins and you don't want to make them more stressed out.

Thats another good point..with my chins spending $300 is a no brainer.. I would spend it. I do need to make sure I know what their limit is. Hayley already eats the food/hay from here as her owner purchases it from me. Who knows.. with everything I have told them they might change their mind and not want me to chin sit.

 

[starleomach]

Make sure they sign a waiver stating any vet care is their responsibilty to pay for and that if the chinchilla were to die in your care you cannot be held responsible

 

[Chinniechantel]

I have done this a few times, against my better judgment, and have been lucky. I only sit chins I have sold or adopted out, and I have a pretty detailed contract stating I am not responsible for anything but feed and water and a/c basically. If the chin gets sick, dies anything I am not responsible. I used a regular pet sitters contract as a guide and just made it fit the situation. Although 6 months is a long time, I feel better having the chin than having some random person have it that does not know what they are doing or worse yet it end up on CL.

 

[SunshineChins]

Make sure they sign a waiver stating any vet care is their responsibilty to pay for and that if the chinchilla were to die in your care you cannot be held responsible

Exactly my thought.

 

[SunshineChins]

Chantel how long did you chin sit for? Her wanting me to take care of him for so long is what un-nerves me a bit.