Success Stories!
Frankie
Frankie is a white ebony chinnie born in March 2007. He now lives in Bronxville, NY with his happy momma, Jess. Jess writes:
Frankie is the most wonderful gift I’ve ever received, and he has the best story too! I had been wanting a chinchilla for months (maybe even years!) but I never really started pursuing the idea until early 2007. I saw Frankie on the FAOM website one day, and fell in love. He was only a few days old in the photo, but I knew I wanted him! Unfortunately, a few days later, he had a big “on HOLD” sign next to him, and I was devastated. My boyfriend, Sean, kept saying it’d be okay, and that we’d get a chinchilla soon, that I shouldn’t worry about it. In April 2007, my birthday came and went… with no present from Sean. I was very suspicious, but Sean played it cool. I asked tons of questions. Where’s my present? “It’s not here yet.” Why isn’t it here yet? “It’s not ready yet.” Is that because it needs to grow up? Is it a chinchilla?! “No, Jess… Please don’t be upset when it’s not a chinchilla.” Then, in mid-May, a friend of mine took me to have my hair dyed in NYC. It ended up taking hours (but it’s the best hairstyle I’ve ever had!) and when I got home I was kind of sleepy but excited about it. When I walked in, though, Sean said he had to show me something… I walked into my room, and there was Frankie! The chinchilla of my dreams! Sean had driven over to New Jersey (in a rental car, no less!), picked up Frankie, brought him back, assembled his cage and let him sit in there and settle in for a little while, all while I was getting my hair done! And Corey and Ryan were amazing about it. I emailed them about being upset that Frankie had been put on hold, and wondering if they’d have another white ebony anytime soon, and they totally played it cool. Along with my boyfriend and best friend, they helped mastermind the whole thing — and I couldn’t be happier!!
Papaya
Back in May I recieved a phone call from a chinchilla rescuer relaying a horrible sad story about a chin who had gotten her leg broken in an accident. The previous owner had taken her to a vet where the leg was pinned and bandaged. Since I was in the process of graduating from school, Ryan and Corey graciously stepped in and came to this poor chinie’s rescue. They took her in right away, acting as a foster family until I could get back and formally adopt her. Well, the entire rescue did not go as planned whatsoever. When the previous owner “delivered” the poor fuzzy to Ryan and Corey she was in a shoe box. Not just any shoe box, but the shoe box containing her food. At least she was in safe hands at this points and treatment of the leg could begin. Ryan called me the day they had picked her up and the process of unraveling her story began. Apparently, this chinchilla (who was supposedly 5 months old) had broken her leg. She was brought to a nearby vet hospital approximately 3 days after the initial break. This vet pinned the leg, (here is the killer) and DID NOT give her any pain medication or antibiotics. The receptionist at the hospital even told us, “Well we just kind of wanted the animal out of the hospital. We couldn’t get the owner to come and pick her up.” Since this owner wanted to get rid of this poor fuzzy, the vet was offering free vet care to whoever took in the animal. (red flag number one) However, after calling the hospital, hearing about the lack of antibiotics, pain medication AND the fact that the bandage had not been changed in about two weeks, Ryan and I both decided to forget this vet and bring the chin to his vet. The very next day, Ryan (admist his crazy school schedule and work) brought this chinchilla to his vet. What they uncovered was described as “roadkill”. The three pins that were placed in the foot were not secured in place, nor were they totally covered in flesh. At the base of her foot, near her toes, IN PLAIN SIGHT were several centimeters of the pins. She was immediately given pain medication and antibiotics. To top things off, both Ryan and the vet agreed this chin could not possibly have been 5 months old. The vet guessed around 2 months of age, weighing around 310 grams. Ryan took her home, called me with the news and prepared for the long haul. Four days later, half of the leg was amputated and the chinchilla was officially given the name “Papaya”. The vet did a radical procedure and attempted to save some of the foot pad tissues to give Papaya a “pogo stick” type leg. It worked.Five months later the leg is totally healed and Papaya weighs close to 500 grams. Without Ryan and Corey this chinchilla would have died.Suffering from a massive infection, I don’t know how much longer she would have lived if under her past conditions. To this day, Ryan and Corey feed Papaya and her playmate as they supply me with almost all my needs. They have never failed me when I needed a question answered and they are ALWAYS filled with suggestions. If you are looking for a chinchilla, I would have to reccomend these two. Not only are their babies super cute and I want all of them, they are also GREAT care takers (antibiotics three times a day anyone?) you know that you will be getting a happy and healthy chinchilla.
Sparkle
We love our Chins so very much. Last year we bought an adorable baby hetero beige female, Sparkle, from Corey and Ryan. They are so helpful and knowledgeable and know their chins. Sparkle’s mom was a Champion too! We are so very excited as they were judged on 8/2/2009 for the Middlesex County Fair. Sparkle has also won in other county shows. Many thanks to you both. We will attach photos when they give out ribbons and trophys at the end of the week.