I needed help :(

[Evelyn]

Ok there's two things I needed help for

First, independence day is coming up and we are going to the family out of town for three days. I normally leave my chin with my best friend. But this time she is going to her family too. The trip is two hours. I really don't want to bring him because they have a lot of dogs and cats while gizmo lives by himself forever. Also, I have a beetle, so only spot his cage can be in would be open to the sunlight. I don't trust don't pet-sitter in town that offering to take care of him. Sure it is not hard to take care of a chin but anyway. Is there anyone in this forum live close to Amarillo, TX by any chance? If not, can I leave him home alone for 3 days? I will make sure he has plenty of food and AC stay on.

Second, I clean up the house and his cage today. I normally have his stuff like, his old carrier, hay, dust and stuff by his cage. I usually made sure he couldn't reach it from in side the cage but it fell down. When I was moving thing I saw his old carrier

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753524

was torn up. and plastic window is gone by half! Apparently he has been chewing it (for a long time I would guess) But he hasn't been sick, his poops still the same. He's very healthy and never looks depress or anything. Could it be that he chew it but didn't digest it? I was looking for that piece of plastic to see if there any little piece by the cage but there weren't any.

Thanks

 

[tunes]

First, no, absolutely not. You cannot leave him alone for 3 days. What if there was a power outage and the a/c went off? What if the water leaked out of his bottle? What if he got sick or hurt? Call a local vet and pay to have him boarded there or maybe someone here will step up and chin sit.

Second, most likely he's fine after chewing on the carrier. If he's acting completely normal, then I doubt there is a problem.

 

[ChinHog]

No i would not risk it look for a sitter please!
you never know what could happen.

 

[starleomach]

3 days is too long alone.

 

[Laurie]

If you can't find someone to care for him you need to bring him with you! Perhaps you can check with your local vet and see if they would watch him for you--they would charge of course but might be willing to do so!

 

[menagerie]

I agree, you can't leave him home alone. You either need to find a qualified pet sitter or stay home.

That carrier is not chin safe, as you have seen they can and will chew it. You need something that Gizmo cannot chew out of.

 

[Evelyn]

I agree, you can't leave him home alone. You either need to find a qualified pet sitter or stay home.

That carrier is not chin safe, as you have seen they can and will chew it. You need something that Gizmo cannot chew out of.

yea, thats why i said it is his old carrier.

trust me guys, i do not want to leave him alone whatsoever. I just try to find help from someone in this forum rather than out there with stranger. The vet disappointed me so bad last time I took gizmo there. So the trust I gave him are as much as I gave to ppl from craiglists.... I would rather rent a bigger car and take him with me than leave him with those ppl.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Evelyn,

look onlline for a petsitter - many will come to your home as little as once a day (usually around 10-15$ a visit) and will care for him. I have used petsitters in the past and find they are super nice people. They even left me notes daily about what they did and stayed for a minimum of 30 minutes. MAKE SURE YOU MEET THESE PEOPLE FIRST - 1) to show them what to do, and 2) so that you feel comfortable with them. I would highly recommend that you go with a sitter who is licensed, bonded and insured. If they are not bonded and insured find another sitter. You could also ask for copies of their drivers license (that would help in the event anything was stolen from your house). I am certain you could find someone you would feel comfortable with.

 

[Evelyn]

Evelyn,

look onlline for a petsitter - many will come to your home as little as once a day (usually around 10-15$ a visit) and will care for him. I have used petsitters in the past and find they are super nice people. They even left me notes daily about what they did and stayed for a minimum of 30 minutes. MAKE SURE YOU MEET THESE PEOPLE FIRST - 1) to show them what to do, and 2) so that you feel comfortable with them. I would highly recommend that you go with a sitter who is licensed, bonded and insured. If they are not bonded and insured find another sitter. You could also ask for copies of their drivers license (that would help in the event anything was stolen from your house). I am certain you could find someone you would feel comfortable with.

thanks for the tip I was thinking of that too. I had interview several of them and most of them have kids and just want to do this to see if they ready to have a chinchilla (I'm from a very small town). Somehow I get paranoid that they will not give gizmo back to me when i'm back in to town lol.

Anyway, I solve problem by give a key to a friend and she will come check on him in the morning and evening every day until I'm back. So problem solved successfully. Thanks everyone.

 

[fanofdmb84]

I second the petsitter idea. Pet sitters are great--your pets will be cared for and they won't be stressed by getting shuffled around to a new location. Of course, I'm a little biased, I'm a full-time pet sitter But they are out there, you've just got to search for them. Many pet sitters (like me) can't afford to advertise on TV, the radio, or big billboards, so spend some time on Google searching for places in your area.

 

[Luci]

in my opinion...take him.

im going out of town this weekend as well and mine is coming with me. its also a 2 hour drive. the longest ive left him alone for is friday night to sunday morning (with my roommates checking on him).
as long has he has AC, he should be fine. just keep him in a separate room than the other animals.

im not fond of the idea of random pet sitters, but maybe you can ask one of the technicians at the vet to take care of him. while i went home for christmas, one of my vet techs took care of my chin for 2 weeks. she didnt charge me, but i still bought her a gift. try that option. there are always people who are willing.

 

[Evelyn]

I'm going camping at the lake so I can't bring him no matter what. I don'ttrust the idea of random pey sitter either.

 

[Brittany_Lynn]

Make sure your friend stops by so you can show her what to do morning and night! Also so that she knows how Gizmo looks normally, in case anything happens (like if his water bottle leaks or something) and she needs to know what to look out for and change.

 

[Evelyn]

Make sure your friend stops by so you can show her what to do morning and night! Also so that she knows how Gizmo looks normally, in case anything happens (like if his water bottle leaks or something) and she needs to know what to look out for and change.

yes, she babysit him couple of time before. Thanks!

 

[VolunteerChin22]

If by "don't trust random pet sitters" you mean you are worried about theft that is the point of the bonded and insured part. If you mean you don't trust their expertise then that's another story that could easily be fixed with some instructions.

I am glad you have found a friend to do it but in the future petsitters are still a great option.