Therapy Chin Visit

[PetoftheDay]

My mum-in-law had hip-replacement surgery, and I was visiting her in rehab last weekend, and a lady came in with pets to visit the patients. I was not surprised to see the bunnies, and ended up getting handed one to hold for a while, but she also had conures and one little Chinchilla!

I held him for quite a while, my mum-in-law petted him a little, but was busy watching and petting the rabbit on her bed. (She bunny-sat for us in the past.) The chin was very small and much lighter than I expected, and he fell asleep in my arms! Awww!

It is the first time I have ever held a chinnie, ever! Do any of yours do visits with people? It seemed rare to me, but she rescued him, and so he just became part of "the program!"

Sadly, it seems I probably am allergic to them, as afterwards my eyes were very itchy, so like kitties, I will just have to admire them and let others own them, and feature them on our website. (We do CatoftheDay.com as well as Pet of the Day and Dog of the Day, and I am terribly allergic to kitties, so am not terribly surprised at my chin allergy, sigh.)

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Sigh, not a good occupation for a chin. Chins are not like rabbits or cats or dogs - they (for the most part) do not like to be held. And it is no doubt stressful to be around so many new people.

Im not sure what you would be allergic to, with cat allergies people are allergic to cat saliva, which in turn comes off in dander...but chins do not groom themselves like cats so idk.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

actually some chins don't mind all the attention. A good friend of mine had a chin that loved all the attention. She would bring him in to 4-h meetings to explain about the care of chins and so forth. The chin loved to be pet and did not mind the attention from strangers. If the chin was calm at the re-hab and didn't try to run and hide he might be one of those rare chins. As for the allergies. I do know some people are allergic to chins. However it is a possibility that 'petoftheday' is allergic to the rabbit she was petting

 

[tunes]

The attention would not be an issue as far as I'm concerned. I would just be conscious of possible overheating. I used to take chins to the kids school all the time for show and tell, presentations, whatever. The chins did just great. I just kept a careful eye on their behavior, their ears, the room, and when I said they were done, that was it, they went back in their carriers.

 

[alli713]

I agree, I think it depends on the chin and their demeanor. Chibi, I have no doubt would be good at something like this. She loves people. And doesn't mind being held.
I've taken her to class for presentations before.

But with many chins, no, this wouldn't be a good idea. Some chins, even if you got them with the intent of bringing them places just would not do well. I think it all depends on the chin. Some are born cuddlers and love people, and others prefer to spend time in their cage.

 

[menagerie]

A few times a year Wee Companions is invited to do a presentation to the Pet Pals program (a Saturday kids program) at the Humane Society. I often take chins as it is in a temperature controlled, indoor environment. I set up the play pen and the chins hop around and do chin things and take a bath. We then talk about the care of the various animals we take, what being a rescue means, where our animals come from, what it takes to be a responsible animal caretaker, etc. I usually take one of the tripods and another chin and ask the kids what is different between the two, other than the obvious color difference. We then talk about how they became a tripod and how important it is for each species to live in a species appropriate cage.

After the talk, the guinea pigs then go in low sided pens and the kids can gather around and pet them and offer them treats, the rats, mice and hamsters are allowed to be held (if the animal wants to participate) and I typically hold a chin so that each child and adult can gently pet it and feel the fur. Nobody but me is allowed to hold the chins at these events.

I am not a kid person, but this is always a really great event because most of the kids go to the program every week and are extremely respectful of the animals and us. They all sit around on carpet squares and there's no yelling, freaking out or wandering all over.

 

[llough]

Funny thing, I've been thinking about this exact thing recently. I work at the Mayo Clinic and they have pet therapy programs for hospital patients (moslty dogs). But chinchillas are mostly hypo-allergenic (or so I thought), and my particular chinchilla is very friendly as long as I'm around as a "safety spot." Hospitals are kept very cool for the comfort of patients and surgeons, so overheating wouldn't be a problem. Everyone that I show Izzie to seems to adore her, and just marvel at how soft chinchilla fur is.

Doe anyone have any experience/knowledge on using chinchillas as pet therapy in a hospital setting? My chinnie is cute, cuddly, will happily sit with her apple stick and chew away, etc.

I thought it would be a fun way to brighten some people's day in the hospital, if its possible.

Just musing . . .

 

[PetoftheDay]

Mt. Zion Chins, I know I wasn't allergic to the bunny I also held for a while and was petting, I had a rabbit for 11 years who didn't make my eyes itch or cause any reactions. So I figured, sadly, it must have been the chin. I have plenty of unusual allergies, so am not too surprised, hey, I am even allergic to celery, which I never even knew was possible!

He seemed perfectly comfortable with me holding him, but I am not "most people," animals seem to trust me instinctively. He didn't seem at all stressed once I had him settled on my arm, and even fell asleep after a while! But he was a rescued chin, so I don't know what his previous circumstances were. He seemed very small and light, how much do chins usually weigh?

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

Petoftheday, you might not have been allergic to the chin itself but the dust or hay it had been around that day. I never had a hay allergy until I got my chins, and I had bunnies growing up that ate it, which is weird in itself...but that is just my thoughts on it..so don't give up the thought of never being able to own one one day..

oh..and speaking of unusual....my husband is allergic to the allergy medicine he is on..but youre right, I've never heard of a celery allergy..:hmm:

 

[PetoftheDay]

Good to know, as I am quite dust allergic!

My sympathies to your husband, no fun being allergic to yer drugs.

 

[Ash]

Chins can do great in a controlled environment. When I was in highschool, I cared for a preschool class as part of my Child Care elective and took in chins for "show and tell" a few times. I'll have to find the pics, but the chins had a great time, and when it started getting overbearing, back to the carriers they went. My ex-bio teacher would let me keep them in his back room during the rest of the day (quiet, cool, and fairly dark), as he loved seeing Hash and visiting with her (she came from him originally), as well as the newer chins I'd gotten who ended up being better ambassadors than Hash was. She wasn't stressed, but she wasn't as keen on being handled as some of the other chins I'd gotten.

As far as in a hospital environment, though, I'd be careful of the poop issue. I don't know how many hospitals would be OK with that.