?'s on Rescuing a chin

[jmdebb]

Hi everyone. I've been thinking :hmm: about rescuing and I have some questions.

Okay the only place I was thinking from rescuing from is the pound. That way they wouldn't be put down, and then hopefully I could find them a good home.

So my question is this and I know it's not going to be a black-n-white answer because no 2 rescues are the same, but do need feed back to decide if this is something i should do or not.

Okay so i have never rescued before, so is this a bad thing to get into because I don't know about all the problems a rescued chin might have? Also I know all pounds are different, but if anyone of you guys gets rescues from pounds do they charge you the adoption fee, or just let you take them because you are rescuing them? What are some major concerns that I would need to know about on rescuing chins, other than to keep them away from mine? Not to sound like an idiot, but is it very costly..vet bills..etc.. And if so what are the major problems you guys see when taking in a rescue? Do you have good luck finding them new homes when they are ready to be rehomed? I do know to ask about chin knowledge and I also suggest to people to join a forum and I tell them about at least 4 forums, so that part wouldn't be problem.

I can't think of any more questions at the moment. So in your opinsions also, is this something I shouldn't do because I've never done it before, and if I left anything out [question wise] about something I would need to be aware of, PLEASE DO TELL. I don't want to get into something that I won't be able to do because then I won't be helping the chins that need help.

So I will thank everyone who answers this ahead of time, your answers will be most appreciated.

Jean

 

[addictedtochins]

It does cost a lot of money for the chins basic needs plus toys, better cages, vet visits, special food etc. I thought you didn't have a job?

 

[iayla]

Hey Jean,
Is there an established rescue near you already? If so, or within an hour's drive, I would suggest working with them as a foster home. This way you can ease into the rescue world, with the established rescue to help.

I made the mistake of jumping in full force, and while I love doing rescue work, looking back now, I wish I'd gone at it a bit slower. First you need to have a seperate quarantine area - and of course extra baby safe cages (in case any rescued females might be pregnant). An ample first aid kit for any middle of the night emergencies, including stuff for handfeeding kits, or sick adults. And hopefully a decent savings account set aside for unexpected vet visits.

You'll also need a good reliable car, and the ensuing gas money, to pick up the rescued chins -especially if you plan on working with animal control or a local Humane Society. They certainly wont be bringing the chins to your doorstep. As for the shelter fees, I've not personally dealt with that aspect, but I can send you the name of a MI rescue who works with the Humane Society here. I'm sure she'd love to help you get started, and answer any questions you might have for her.

As for keeping the rescue chins away from your own - after quarantine I see no reason to keep them entirely seperated. I have a quarantine room in the upstairs of my home, and a 'critter room' in the downstairs. All chins - whether for myself or thru the rescue - stay in the quarantine room for at least 4 weeks. When they've been deemed healthy and ready for the transition, I move them into the critter room where they are acclimated to our daily routine. The rescues have their own cages, but thats as far as I go in "keeping them away" after quarantine is over.

In my own experience, the biggest problem in doing rescue work, is dealing with people you wouldnt normally even give the time of day. You have to be able to hold your tongue when someone hands you a ratty matted male/female pair of chins and tells you "dont seperate them, or else they'll die of heartbreak. They're in love"
You'll also need to be able to say NO to potential adopters who you dont feel are the right home for your chinnies. I try to be polite in my rejections, because if you go off in a rude "you arent fit to even have a pet rock" belittling speech, you'll do nothing but give yourself - and your rescue - a bad name.

I'm sure there are many other points to consider, but I'll stop here so I dont go writing an entire novel (lol)
~Barb~

 

[jmdebb]

It does cost a lot of money for the chins basic needs plus toys, better cages, vet visits, special food etc. I thought you didn't have a job?

I don't have a job.. But i am certifiably nuts when it comes to animals. And i was talking to someone and it got me thinking, maybe if people that rescued said it usually doesn't cost much at the vets, then i would bite the bullet and help the little guys out because i just love animals so much. As for food, I'm still using mazuri [tried to switch of it but had some poo problems so i went back on it fully again] so i get that in 25 lb bags for only $13, so extra food wouldn't be a problem because it is so cheap, and i always have a ton of toys. THey aren't much. I have only been spending money on the animals the past few months, dumped cable, got a roommate so that helps, and my dad helps me out alot with money too.. Yes i'm still crazy, but to me if i could save a life from being put down, it would be worth it. Know what I mean.. But then again, if everyone says the vet bills are out of this world, then I can't do it, that is the one thing that would make me say i can't do this.. As for cages, I have extras from when I have upgraded I always kept the smaller cages. So except for the vet bills and lack of knowledge on rescues, everything else would be okay.

Oh and just fyi and keeping my fingers crossed, i got a call from someone who has a cousin that is very high up in a state agency, and he wants to see my resume. So maybe i will be finally getting a job.. Please pray for me.

Jean

 

[jmdebb]

Hey Jean,
Is there an established rescue near you already? If so, or within an hour's drive, I would suggest working with them as a foster home. This way you can ease into the rescue world, with the established rescue to help.

I made the mistake of jumping in full force, and while I love doing rescue work, looking back now, I wish I'd gone at it a bit slower. First you need to have a seperate quarantine area - and of course extra baby safe cages (in case any rescued females might be pregnant). An ample first aid kit for any middle of the night emergencies, including stuff for handfeeding kits, or sick adults. And hopefully a decent savings account set aside for unexpected vet visits.

You'll also need a good reliable car, and the ensuing gas money, to pick up the rescued chins -especially if you plan on working with animal control or a local Humane Society. They certainly wont be bringing the chins to your doorstep. As for the shelter fees, I've not personally dealt with that aspect, but I can send you the name of a MI rescue who works with the Humane Society here. I'm sure she'd love to help you get started, and answer any questions you might have for her.

As for keeping the rescue chins away from your own - after quarantine I see no reason to keep them entirely seperated. I have a quarantine room in the upstairs of my home, and a 'critter room' in the downstairs. All chins - whether for myself or thru the rescue - stay in the quarantine room for at least 4 weeks. When they've been deemed healthy and ready for the transition, I move them into the critter room where they are acclimated to our daily routine. The rescues have their own cages, but thats as far as I go in "keeping them away" after quarantine is over.

In my own experience, the biggest problem in doing rescue work, is dealing with people you wouldnt normally even give the time of day. You have to be able to hold your tongue when someone hands you a ratty matted male/female pair of chins and tells you "dont seperate them, or else they'll die of heartbreak. They're in love"
You'll also need to be able to say NO to potential adopters who you dont feel are the right home for your chinnies. I try to be polite in my rejections, because if you go off in a rude "you arent fit to even have a pet rock" belittling speech, you'll do nothing but give yourself - and your rescue - a bad name.

I'm sure there are many other points to consider, but I'll stop here so I dont go writing an entire novel (lol)
~Barb~

Thanks for the info, i didn't think to see if anyone rescued around me. I'll have to check around, but [okay dumb dumb here] do you know how i would find that out. I mean I know you don't live near me, but just didn't know if there was some general way to find rescurers. OH and yes, I would turn down a home if i thought the chin wouldn't get proper care. As for keeping my mouth shut picking them up, that would be hard, I know I would go off on people for abusing the animals. I would have to glue my mouth shut when picking them up..LMAO. I love them all, mine or not.

Anyways, i didn't think about if i got pregnant moms and i don't really have a baby safe cage, just a make-shift one. But i would need another, that's also why i asked if I missed anything out that I would need to know. Without answering everything you commented on in your post, i have to say you have giving me great insight, so thank you. And I think i will wait until i get a job...

Jean

 

[arf2184]

No job, no money - I think rescuing is beyond your means. You can still help though. Why don't you just go the the 'pound' or shelter and give them your information. Let them know that you have some experience with chinchillas and would like to help. Maybe inquire about volunteering while you're there. This will help you not only establish a relationship with the shelter, but also give you a better idea if rescuing is really something you want to get into. We'd all love to save them all, but it takes a lot of work and a lot of dealing with all types of people. Its not for everyone.

Oh, and I do think most places would require you to pay the adoption fee unless (1) you foster the animal for them or (2) you are a 'licensed' rescue (with all the non-profit org paperwork filled out). They can't just go giving animals away to anyone who claims to be a rescue.

 

[LovableFuzziezandCrawliez]

Yes, rescuing chinchillas means you spend way more money than you make. Luckily, for me, I am able to spend every cent that I make working on the animals. My husband covers our bills. But if he wasnt able to do that - we would be on the streets!!! Paying for vet care is essential and when things go wrong - they go really wrong so you usually pay an arm and a leg to get a rescue chinnie healthy. I personally have spent over $1000 on 1 rescued chinnie - she was in terrible condition - malo, matted fur, sinus infections, etc. She ended up having to be put down because her teeth were rotting and she was getting terrible sinus infections, couldnt eat properly, etc.

Plus, there is the emotional aspect!! As much as you love animals, you will get some that you cant save no matter how much money you spend trying. It's tough. You cry a lot! I have only had two that arrived to me in such poor conditions that they had to be put down and that is two too many!!

And then you need a lot of space! Quarantine room, and then a main room, etc. You could be very well surprised as to how many chinchillas you will get calls to surrender. The FIRST DAY I announced my rescue opening, I got a call about 12 chinchillas to surrender. **** good thing I was ready! So I had to separate and house 12 chinchillas right off the bat. If you ever think that rescuing means taking in one or two at a time, you are mistaken!

And then, as previously mentioned, you have to deal with some pretty foolish people and that is exhausting in itself!

It is a huge responsibility - a lot more than some people think. So prepare yourself for anything and everything.

 

[jmdebb]

No job, no money - I think rescuing is beyond your means. You can still help though. Why don't you just go the the 'pound' or shelter and give them your information. Let them know that you have some experience with chinchillas and would like to help. Maybe inquire about volunteering while you're there. This will help you not only establish a relationship with the shelter, but also give you a better idea if rescuing is really something you want to get into. We'd all love to save them all, but it takes a lot of work and a lot of dealing with all types of people. Its not for everyone.

Oh, and I do think most places would require you to pay the adoption fee unless (1) you foster the animal for them or (2) you are a 'licensed' rescue (with all the non-profit org paperwork filled out). They can't just go giving animals away to anyone who claims to be a rescue.

If you read my last thread I said I'm not gonna do it because of lack of funds, but just to let you know, I make more on unemployment than alot of people do working..So it's not like i don't have a decent amount of money coming in, just not what i used to.. I also have a huge savings account. So the NO JOB NO MONEY, I THINK RESCUING IS BEYOND YOUR MEANS, is not for you to say is it. You have no clue as to how much money i have. You could work on being alittle nicer when answering a thread.I was asking for advice not sarcarasm, and if you read what i wrote thoroughly you would of realized that.

JEAN

 

[jmdebb]

Yes, rescuing chinchillas means you spend way more money than you make. Luckily, for me, I am able to spend every cent that I make working on the animals. My husband covers our bills. But if he wasnt able to do that - we would be on the streets!!! Paying for vet care is essential and when things go wrong - they go really wrong so you usually pay an arm and a leg to get a rescue chinnie healthy. I personally have spent over $1000 on 1 rescued chinnie - she was in terrible condition - malo, matted fur, sinus infections, etc. She ended up having to be put down because her teeth were rotting and she was getting terrible sinus infections, couldnt eat properly, etc.

Plus, there is the emotional aspect!! As much as you love animals, you will get some that you cant save no matter how much money you spend trying. It's tough. You cry a lot! I have only had two that arrived to me in such poor conditions that they had to be put down and that is two too many!!

And then you need a lot of space! Quarantine room, and then a main room, etc. You could be very well surprised as to how many chinchillas you will get calls to surrender. The FIRST DAY I announced my rescue opening, I got a call about 12 chinchillas to surrender. **** good thing I was ready! So I had to separate and house 12 chinchillas right off the bat. If you ever think that rescuing means taking in one or two at a time, you are mistaken!

And then, as previously mentioned, you have to deal with some pretty foolish people and that is exhausting in itself!

It is a huge responsibility - a lot more than some people think. So prepare yourself for anything and everything.

Yup been there done that, my free cat is my $1000 cat..LOL. I got her as a kitten and she had one of those crazy accidents and broke her leg.. $1000 later it healed up great. Someone told me i was nuts for spending that much money on her and I should of put her down, I was like NO WAY...I would never put an animal down if they can be helped out.

But that's why i was asking, because even though i do bring in decent money on umployment, have a good savings, have gotten a roommate and with all the help my dad gives me {$$$}, i didn't want to get in over my head.. So all the helpful NICE comments are welcomed and appreciated very much. I didn't know it could cost that much on a chin too.. So I'm glad I asked about it and just didn't jump into it.

Ya know, just want to say, i love animals so much, I want to help the abused and abandoned ones if i can.. but like i said above I am going to wait until i get back to work. [which if this lead pans out, i will be back to making decent money again, so please pray for me..]

Thank you for your input.
jean

 

[alli713]

Unemployment doesn't last forever, as I'm sure you know. I think that anyone who comes on saying you shouldn't do it when you don't have a job is really only trying to help both you and the chins.
Yeah, I love chins, and have thought about doing rescue work sometime, but even now with my job, I wouldn't consider it until I had a large amount saved up.
Most rescues aren't exactly the healthiest and can rack up bills quite quickly.
I think you'd have to have a thick skin to rescue, to deal with the heart ache and to deal with the idiots who just don't care about their animals.

 

[arf2184]

It wasn't sarcasm and wasn't intended to be mean. I don't have the means to run a full out rescue and take care of anything that may come up with my on animals. Few people do these days. It's a fact that rescuing takes money...sometimes a lot of money. In your previous posts, you made it seems as if this was not something you had at your disposal. I merely suggested other ways to help.

 

[ABBY W.]

Yeah, I have to agree you are being a little thin-skinned on that one. I didn't read any of the comments in this thread as being mean or sarcastic. Believe me, if/when someone on here decides to be mean to you, you will definitely know it. Some of the people here don't tend to be much on the subtle side lol

I do commend you for checking things out before just jumping in. Rescue work can be very satisfying, but also sometimes heartbreaking and (as stated above) expensive. It sounds like once you get back on your feet, though, it might be something you want to explore a little. With your passion for animals, you could be an asset to the rescue community. I hope you get this new job you are hoping for. We'll all be pulling for you!

 

[jmdebb]

Unemployment doesn't last forever, as I'm sure you know. I think that anyone who comes on saying you shouldn't do it when you don't have a job is really only trying to help both you and the chins.
Yeah, I love chins, and have thought about doing rescue work sometime, but even now with my job, I wouldn't consider it until I had a large amount saved up.
Most rescues aren't exactly the healthiest and can rack up bills quite quickly.
I think you'd have to have a thick skin to rescue, to deal with the heart ache and to deal with the idiots who just don't care about their animals.

Allie, I understand that if it costs alot it's something i shouldn't get into. but like i mentioned in my first thread, i was just asking about rescuing and even mentioned asking for advice to see if this is something i should get into or not because i don't want to get in over my heard. I never said i was 100% going to do it. Was just looking for advice, and as we know many people can get nasty in here, maybe i took what she said the wrong way, but when i read it the first time i thought it to be rude. I always try to be nice to people. And i just didn't think it was necessary for that comment when I had already said, looking for advice on whether or not i should do this, and then mentioned, that i wasn't going to do it because of what someone else wrote..did that make sense..

jean

 

[mishellyshel]

sounds like to me you have a big heart and love for animals! You should definitely offer some fostering services and see how that goes.
i would LOVE to do that, just nervous i wouldnt have the time and i know i do not have the ability to say NO to a chin that needs help!!

 

[jmdebb]

It wasn't sarcasm and wasn't intended to be mean. I don't have the means to run a full out rescue and take care of anything that may come up with my on animals. Few people do these days. It's a fact that rescuing takes money...sometimes a lot of money. In your previous posts, you made it seems as if this was not something you had at your disposal. I merely suggested other ways to help.

Well then if you didn't mean it in a sarcasim way, then I do apologize, but the way you wrote it, i took it to be nasty. You have to understand at one time there were alot of nasty people in here, so sometimes i might jump the gun read something the wrong way. So for that I am sorry. But, I also did already mention before your post I wasn't going to do it, so that also made me think it was sarcasm and led me to think you didn't read everything i wrote...

And yes, i have written that i don't have a ton of money to blow, but that's because i'm not making what I used to and I really BLEW alot of money on animals..LOL...SPOILED THEY ARE. SO when you go down in the amout of money you make it's tough to do, but fact of the matter is [and not being sarcastic] even though i hate to make a vet visist [not just with the chins] if it is something i can home remedy because some things you can.. And also I do make decent money on unemployment, and yes i do know it won't last forever, but i also have gotten a great roommate my dad gives me a ton of money [thank GOD for italian parents....]and i've also been able to save a few thousand even on unemployment [not to mention the savings i already had before i started unemployment], but i still don't want to spend money on unnecessary things if i don't have to because of not working..did that make sense. I mean I do have the money to do what needs to be done. and i just thought that if people said it wasn't expensive then maybe i could save a couple of them. but seeing that it is expensive, i don't want to waste my savings on vet bills so that is why i have decided not to do it until i go back to work. [hope all that made sense.]

jean

 

[xcoronaangel]

I don't have a job.. But i am certifiably nuts when it comes to animals. And i was talking to someone and it got me thinking, maybe if people that rescued said it usually doesn't cost much at the vets, then i would bite the bullet and help the little guys out because i just love animals so much.

Its debatable on whether a rescue animal costs more then a breeder animal.

I can say from person experience through my own adoptions and rescue that with my 3 dogs so far my 2 rescue ones have cost me thousands more then my breeder puppy. Though right off the bat the cost of the breeder puppy was TONS more then a rescue. Which may or may not be the same for you since we are talking about chinchillas. Though I have seen chinchilla rescue prices the same or a small amount more then local chinchilla breeders prices (never mind getting into the rare colors or such).

I love animals and it sounds like you do too.

When I was jobless I personally fostered instead of taking on more personal animals. For ME that was the right choice. The rescue helped out with the cost and I still felt like I was helping save a life. And when I found a job a few years back I adopted more animals.

Each person is different though and only you can know if adopting or fostering is the way to go. I always bank on the worst happening with animals and hoping for the best. My first rescue dog cost me 3 grand the first 2 weeks. If I hadn't been ready for the worst I would have had to do something I don’t even want to think about!

Best of luck on whatever you choose.

 

[chinsNdobermans]

I think fostering would be the way for you to go right now, if the rescue you were working with helped with costs. Rescuing can be expensive (as can breeding) and I don't think it is such a good idea for you to jump into it right now...