Do you let people in your house or do you meet potential buyers

[arf2184]

I usually meet people in a fast food place parking lot, not because I don't want them to come to the house, but because most people don't want to drive all the way out here. I'm big on pictures...I'll send pics of kits, parents, grandparents, the set up...whetever they want. I've got tons of pics on the computer and most of the chins are on my website so its just a matter of me attaching the pics in an email.

When I do have someone who wants to come out and see my set up and play with chins, I always make sure there are other people home. I email quite a bit asking and answering questions before I'll hand out my address. I'm not too concerned about people coming back to break in...nothing much worth stealing here and the chin room in on the second floor with no easy access from the outside, I've got two big dogs and an attack cat, and the neighbors are pretty good about watching for weirdos. Plus at night the Sheriff patrols the neighborhood.

 

[AZChins]

I like for people to come here. It's easier for me and I can show them all the chins - that saves me a lot of time.

I had someone report me years ago for "breeding exotic animals." They did an inspection, which lasted all of three minutes, and left saying there were no problems. I believe that that was another breeder in Phoenix that did the reporting. Someone, who had never been here, and who I refused sale of chins several times because that person is never anywhere near the chins.

If someone wants to report me, let them. I'll talk to animal control or the sheriff's dept and I am more than happy to show them all my animals. There's nothing to hide here.

I do have a lot of chinchillas and I am zoned to have animals on the property. At this point my "business" generates so little income that it's considered a hobby, which is sad to me, very sad. I work harder than everyone I know doing a job that isn't very profitable. If someone wants to have a fit because of me refusing to sell them a chin or because I am cruel to my animals (HA!!!!), fine...I can take it. I know that I keep things nice for the chins and work my butt off making sure that they have toys and playtime every day.

People really need to back off and let other people live their lives. All the reporting and complaining is a huge drain on everyone when it's just for stupid, petty reasons. I should know...if you ever want to hear a really sad story about my neighbor ruining my life, PM me. I will spare people that here!

 

[Riven]

If someone refused me to look at their animals I would not buy from them, and I wouldn't expect any less from people wanting an animal from me. I know from personal experience and from learning some some awesome ranchers/breeders that what you see in a picture is not always what you get. I've posted before how photos can be deceiving on size as well as color, etc. with example photos.

If my chins are exhibiting signs of illness, nothing comes in or goes out. If a person coughs and sneezes, I recommend setting up another time and let them know the chins can get sick too. People don't want their new pet sick, or to take a new pet home and not be able to play with it!

Millers always told me that they would not ever pick an animal out for me, that I needed to come and pick it out for myself so I knew exactly what I was getting and it was what I wanted. I agree with that, even though I probably trust their judgment more than my own in some points!

My chins are not in my house, except rescues. I have two large dogs, one 130 lb Komondor bred specifically for guarding. He guards me, my house, my kids, and... the goat... NO ONE he doesn't know touches his goat!

Everything here is locked, as well, I know that insurance can't replace animals, but it can replace your investment monies.

 

[EveningChin]

My chins are not in my house, except rescues. I have two large dogs, one 130 lb Komondor bred specifically for guarding. He guards me, my house, my kids, and... the goat... NO ONE he doesn't know touches his goat!

:rofl::hilarious::hug2:

Thats was just too funny! Good goat. Sorry to be off topic.

 

[Riven]

Yea, she's a pygmy goat and literally can stand under him. He's snapped pretty good at people for trying to pet his goat through the fence. But if he's out and we're in the yard, he loves everyone.

 

[~*=Phoenix=*~]

I will honestly say it depends on the person, if I feel comfortable having the around my herd, in my home etc....

A random person that gives me the slight creep, no. But people who are established breeders, trusted, and non-creepish, then more then likely I will.

And the same with asking to view breeders, cages, etc. When I'm getting a new chin I make sure that I'm not sick. I shower and put on clean clothes right after, and the leave (without playing with any of my critters). And honestly, it may seem wierd.... But I will a lot of the times bleach my shoes. If my animals have something, I don't want to share it.

When I get home, my clothes go into the wash, my shoes get washed, and I go for the shower. Because I don't want my animals to get something that someone else's herds do. Or, I might even take "foot condoms" with me (they're plastic boots that go over your shoes). It all depends lol. My classes are going to my head I think.

I may ask to hold a random chin, I respect their decision if they say no. I never put an animal into a cage without verifying that is the animals cage. If they only allow me to stand inside the door to glance around, that's fine too. I like to see how they are used to being housed.

 

[Riven]

This is called bio-security and is very common with chickens.

One thing I also like about people visiting my place is I can see them interact with the chins in their own environment. Some people don't really know what to expect and might change their minds BEFORE taking the chin home and neglecting it because it's not what they wanted.

 

[PetProductsByNature]

I like for people to come here. It's easier for me and I can show them all the chins - that saves me a lot of time.

I had someone report me years ago for "breeding exotic animals." They did an inspection, which lasted all of three minutes, and left saying there were no problems. I believe that that was another breeder in Phoenix that did the reporting. Someone, who had never been here, and who I refused sale of chins several times because that person is never anywhere near the chins.

If someone wants to report me, let them. I'll talk to animal control or the sheriff's dept and I am more than happy to show them all my animals. There's nothing to hide here.

I do have a lot of chinchillas and I am zoned to have animals on the property. At this point my "business" generates so little income that it's considered a hobby, which is sad to me, very sad. I work harder than everyone I know doing a job that isn't very profitable. If someone wants to have a fit because of me refusing to sell them a chin or because I am cruel to my animals (HA!!!!), fine...I can take it. I know that I keep things nice for the chins and work my butt off making sure that they have toys and playtime every day.

People really need to back off and let other people live their lives. All the reporting and complaining is a huge drain on everyone when it's just for stupid, petty reasons. I should know...if you ever want to hear a really sad story about my neighbor ruining my life, PM me. I will spare people that here!

Jeff & I went to Susan's 2 weeks ago to get our 1st 2 boys, Chipper & Mason. It was a different experience in some regards than what we expected because we see things (as a pet only home) differently than how a business would operate. It was overall a very good learning experience, especially because we are new to the world of being owned by chins.
We spent almost 3 hours with Susan and her chins and although she had tentatively picked out 2 boys that she felt would fit our lifestyle, she was happy and seemed comfortable to let us see her entire set-up and view the chins.
We had our hearts set on our own 2 by time we got there, but she let us interact all we wanted with any of the others...because she wanted to make sure we got the 2 we were most in love with and we did not get home with 2 strangers wondering if we got the right 2 for us.
As a first time owner of chins, going to her house was really important for us learning how to be first time owners. There was a wealth of information we may not have otherwise gained. Thanks AZ Chins

 

[lilchinchilla]

Well I had an attempted break in from someone who had visited a month beforehand(this was about 5 years ago). They weren't local to me either. They were from Burnaby. I'm on the island. A good two hour ferry ride, not including driving.
Up till then (been raising chins for 13 years now)- I used to let anyone in whenever. I've had numerous breeders, ranchers and pet owners in my home over the years.

But after they tried to break in to my son's (he was only a toddler at the time) bedroom window, at around 4:20 or 4:30 am in the morning - had I not been a night owl and up all night with my chins - I don't know what would have happened.

I still let "most" people visit. If they are friends, family or people I know and trust(other breeders or ranchers or pet owners I know personally.), they are always welcome over. I just do not let any random person in my home. My husband is in the military - often he is not home, sometimes up to 6 weeks at a time. It's just me and my kids and chins. Our "attack dogs" are just pomeranians - so they wouldn't be doing much attacking.

I've had one other bizarre visitor earlier this year. Not trying to break in, but just talking personal(and uncomfortable) stuff to me, wouldn't leave and made himself at home in our house, and he told me he was bringing his wife with him only a few minutes before(he called) he came over, but then he didn't. It took a while to get him out of my house and he did make me feel creepy with what he spoke about and how he came to the place. He wouldn't leave till I told him I had to pick my son up from school. He had been coming to our home for about 5 years now, on and off to visit, but he always brought his wife, till then.

I personally think about my safety and my family's safety before anything else. I will gladly send pics, if there is ever a need for them, or will show parents of the kits, etc... but I do take our safety into account over finding a home for one of our chins. It isn't worth it to me, if someone in my family gets hurt, or something happens to our home, just because I chose to welcome into our home, a stranger.

 

[AZChins]

I remember you talking about that. That's just frightening. Out here someone has to drive a long way to come out - the chins are in the house and my dogs would bark like crazy if anyone came around at night. Most people probably shouldn't do what I do as far as letting people come right over. I do like for people to see the chins, see how they are cared for, see my set up and allow me to show them things here. Many times people only have what the petstores tell them to go by when it comes to supplies and setting up a cage.

 

[lilchinchilla]

Before the whole attempted break in, I used to have people pop in as late as 10pm or 1:30 am in the morning.

They'd just call or come to my door as late as that hour, and I would let them in. Didn't ever know them before or spoke to them before that, either. They'd just show up on the doorstep.

But I don't do that anymore. I just am too wary of who comes around. I guess I am really lucky that those who visited back then, late at night when Ryan was off working, didn't do anything to me or the kids. I was pretty naive up till the whole break in thing. That changed me.

 

[rcr]

Before the whole attempted break in, I used to have people pop in as late as 10pm or 1:30 am in the morning.

They'd just call or come to my door as late as that hour, and I would let them in. Didn't ever know them before or spoke to them before that, either. They'd just show up on the doorstep.

But I don't do that anymore. I just am too wary of who comes around. I guess I am really lucky that those who visited back then, late at night when Ryan was off working, didn't do anything to me or the kids. I was pretty naive up till the whole break in thing. That changed me.

What a scary thing to have happen. Were the people who showed up at 1am drunk or something? I'd think they would have to be to have the audacity to show up at that hour and not expect to see a shotgun in their face.

 

[lilchinchilla]

They were teenagers. I did let them view them, but it wasn't exactly when I prefer to have visitors over.
They were just lucky, I was up at that hour. Yeah... I was home alone at the time too. I don't allow vistors over normally at those hours, and especially not anymore since the attempted break in. I didn't know them, hadn't spoke to them ever prior to them showing up on my doorstep.

 

[SunshineChins]

Don't let anyone into our chin room except friends. I just let people know that it is upstairs in my daughters room and that I don't let strangers into her room. If they want to see our setup or other chins I will offer to email them pictures or bring the chins downstairs.

I also will meet up with people as I don't live close to anything other than Disney (and usually vacationers are not buying chins...lol).

 

[greychins]

I haven't bred chins for awhile now, but when I did.... we let people into the house. While I can see the reasons for not doing so, I always felt it was sort of shady to not let people in the house. I could see people wondering if I had something to hide...

Part of why I let people in is because of the nature of chins--they're quick, they can get scared and panic... and people usually want to hold the chin before they buy it... you can't easily do that in a parking lot... what if they drop the chin or it jumps out of their arms? Forget injury for a second, it's a lot easier to catch a chin in a house where you can close the doors to other rooms than it is to catch one on the side of the road.

Also, I really like the fact that when they come to the house, I can show them proper caging, they can see how we do things here, so rather than us just talking about proper caging and such, they can see how things should be done and I can show them how to make a shelf with a drill and the hardware... stuff that couldn't easily be done somewhere else..

And thankfully, I haven't had any problems with anyone coming to the house. Only good experiences here...

ETA: ...that's not to say I never meet people. For one of the last rescues I got in, I met them right off of the interstate cause they weren't from the area. However, I really do not like doing this, partially because I am impatient and because of no-shows. If I'm at home, and they don't show, oh well. But if I'm sitting on the side of the road with a chin in a carrier and they don't show, I never know how long I should wait before leaving. With the rescue, I was 10 minutes early (from the time they said they'd be there) and they were 40 minutes late. Now, they did call to tell me that, but my patience was a little worn out, as I thought of all the other things and chores I could have been doing....

 

[AZChins]

I know that I don't like to meet people in parking lots. How do you give a chin a health check in a parking lot? It makes me nervous to meet people somewhere outside!

I'm always right on time or early when I go to meet people for anything. You would be surprised at how many people are extremely late or stand me up completely when they come here! (or when they are supposed to come here.)