Upsetting discussion with a lady

[Anne-Lise]

I had to talk about it, I really feel bad right now....

Last weekend I has a stand at an animal expo and we had a couple chinchillas and my stuff for sale. This lady comes, saying she feels really anxious. Somebody gave her 2 chinchillas, a male and a female, and now the male is always on the female (those are the words she used). I told her to separate them right away, she said they like each other, I said doesn't matter!

We talked about food, she said she gave that crappy prestige mix, I said switch, she said BUT IT'S WRITTEN CHINCHILLA ON THE BAG :wacko: She said but they love it! I replied a kid's gonna love candies too!

That lady obviously, by the way she talked and answered had a deficiency, a light one, but still. And I don't have anything against that kind of people, I work with them often as a teacher, don't take my message as an insult about that category of people please. I was just.....I didn't know what to do! I tried to talk slowly, to be logical, not too many complicated terms or explanations so she would understand.

I tried to 'scare' her about telling her babies can fight to death, you may have to hand feed 24/7 etc. She agreed to separate them but I gave her my phone number and asked her to call me if anything went wrong or if she had questions. She is most likely gonna end up with babies in 111 days and won't have a clue what to do.

Who the **** had that *)&?)* idea to give that lady a couple of chinchillas to breed hun??? I don't understand how people will do such things!

How would you react? I just wish she'll call me and tell me she has problems so I can pick up the chins and maybe let her a same sex couple after the babies are born with simple instructions how to take care of them.....

 

[Sesame]

Were you able to refer her to the forum? Sometimes it helps when people realize there is a supportive community.

If you hear back from her, try referring her to read some of the information posted on this forum. She'll need help when the female gives birth.

 

[Anne-Lise]

Sesame I live in Quebec and that lady spoke French. I doubt she knows how to use a computer, but I will refer her to a french forum if she calls. Although as I say I doubt she has the capacity to to use Internet correctly.

 

[mercynursie]

I work ob-gyn and I see folks every day that you wonder how they are going to be capable of raising a child.Yes, please don't take offense- breeding is instinctual, parenting is not. I feel for the human babies just as I feel for all creatures with anything lacking a parent figure. It truely has nothing to do with intelligence either,it all boils down to love and willingness/desire to learn. Some of the best most loving and caring parents I have seen would probably be considered mentally challenged, but they take the time to go to parenting classes,ask mentors for advice and actually work very hard to take care of their children.At the other end,I have seen very intelligent professional/college educated people who are lousy parents and think all children need are things that are bought for them instead of the priceless gifts of love/attention/discipline. Okay, I think I'm done now. :hair:

 

[Anne-Lise]

I'm not taking offense, I know she would probably do for the best, as far as she knows what the best is. But what is logical for them is not always logical for us I think. For example, that food she thought HAD TO BE GOOD because it was written chinchilla on it and they liked it. She was a very nice lady, I am just scared about the chins. If the mother has problems giving birth, I doubt she'll see it. I doubt she'll know what to do if the babies fight to death, if the mother bleeds, etc.

My real problem is with the people who gave her these chins. She probably needed something to take care of, something to give affection to. You probably misunderstood the focus of my '*&?%(*&%&* lolll. Nothing against the lady!

 

[mercynursie]

UhOh! I think you misunderstood me too. Sorry,I totally understand where you are coming from with the lady, that's what I was trying to say. I don't understand how people can sell their animals to some folks either, unfortunately too many people just care about the almighty dollar/yen/peso etc. Sorry if I wasn't making myself clear. I should know better than try to post with only two hrs of sleep

 

[Rickman]

I've tried myself, to people met on the street - sometimes they listen, others just remind me of that old saying; "You can lead a horse to water, but - - - - - ".
If you tried, you did the best you could! Move on to the next one - maybe they'll listen!