About Us

We're Kjell & Marne and Alexander and Nikolai.

Kjell

Kjell grew up with all the typical pets of your average city slicker: a dog, a cat, and a handful of fish. Until he met Marne, his only experience with chinchillas was a documentary on chinchillas he watched in the third grade. And he only remembered the footage of a wild chinchilla bathing.

He spent most of his childhood and early adolescence absorbed in electronics tinkering, computer programming and learning about the telecommunications system. Before the internet went public, he ran a BBS and was an active participant on FidoNet. As an adult, he spent several years working as a network administrator and PCB designer.

In 2005, Kjell abandoned that career path to get away from the ulcers that went along with it. A few years later, he had accumulated an Associate of Arts in Education, a Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing, and even some short story publications. He dusts off his technical gloves in order to maintain the underpinnings of the Finally Home Chinchillas and Wunderchins websites. He also helps out with manual labor and the basic care for the chins in the rescue and sanctuary.

Marne

Marne had pets from a very young age, working her way up from plants at the age of 2. She's always had fish of some sort, and has had hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, rabbits, turtles, toads, salamanders, rabbits, cats, dogs, birds and chinchillas. Marne also lived on farms, helping to care for a plethora of animals, including cows/calves, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens.

Marne also started her volunteer work young, with her first full-time volunteer work starting at the local rest home at the age of 8. She volunteered there through the age of 14, adding in occasional work at the local VA Hospital, where she worked with V'iet Nam Vets. Marne was licensed as a foster parent (with special consideration) at the age of 15. She had to get several personal and professional references in order to be licensed, including those from college professors she'd had from the age of 12. Marne helped raise and care for over 30 foster children. Marne has worked with a variety of people, preferring to work with Alzheimer's patients and troubled teens and youth.

Marne has her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and the Pre-Seminary Program. Marne has her Master of Divinity with a focus on Hebrew Bible, and a minor focus on Grief Counseling. She is half-way through her Master of Sacred Theology degree.

Marne's entire life has been geared towards helping others, including animals. Marne takes the command to care for and respect animals sincerely. She takes great joy in helping others reach their full potential, preferring to take up a supportive roll. Marne has always given credit to the chins for their improvements while they are in her care. All she provides is the environment, which she and Kjell work hard to make as low-stress as possible. Marne sincerely believes that anyone can do what she and Kjell do, it just requires the proper environment and training. As she likes to say, "the only reason I'm here, and you're there, is that we were born at different times and had different opportunities."

Alexander and Nikolai

Alexander and Nikolai are our sons. The boys love to interact with the chins. Alexander will regularly make the rounds, looking into each bottom-level cage to say hi. They are learning to be gentle, and that all animals deserve respect. When they are older, we will teach them how important proper care is, and that every animal matters.

Why a rescue and sanctuary?

As a former foster parent, Marne is keenly aware of those that are left behind, and who fall through the cracks. She's seen the damage this can do first-hand, and so when she and Kjell were planning out their rescue, the first plans they established were for a sanctuary. Marne knew from posts on several forums that there are chins that have serious, sometimes extreme, issues, and she knew that time was of the essence for those particular chins.

Chinchillas, like all animals, are incredibly resilient. They can survive horrifying abuse and injuries. They can overcome these things to live lives that are fulfilling to them. Marne wants to be a part of that. She recognizes that not all injuries are completely overcome. For instance, Nadia, who had a broken pelvis when she was surrendered. She was horribly abused. She had been in rescue for over a year before coming here, and her recovery, while positive and incredible, is very slow. Her rehab is extensive and must be carried out carefully. Nadia will need supportive care for years, if not her entire life. Another chin this is true of is Babbette. She had a skull fracture, which is plainly obvious to anyone who touches her head. She's blind in one eye, and clearly suffers from a brain injury. Babbette has made incredible strides. Yet, it is the nature of a brain injury to be permanent, and most of Babbette's issues will never be resolved. She is a wonderful chinchilla, her life has value. She deserves to have a safe place to live, and that is what our sanctuary provides.

Marne knows how to help chins with a variety of health and behavior issues, and felt it would be wrong to do nothing. She has been teaching everything she knows to Kjell, because he felt the same way. Piet's advances in behavior are an excellent example of why they are in this work for the long-haul. Everyone deserves a chance.

Why do the chins have so many fleece items, and other things that only pets usually have?

Marne knows from her work with abused children that feeling like they belong goes a long ways towards healing and recovery. As a result, the plan was made to treat every chinchilla well, offering it the same comforts they should expect in a pet-home, while they await their forever home.

Marne and Kjell also believe that it is wrong for a rescue to make demands of a potential adoptive home that the rescue itself is not willing to meet.

How do you house all the chins?

We have four 3-level Ferret Nations (soon to be five) and one Quality Mansion. Our pets have four 2-levels (soon to be six). Our pets and some of the more anxious rescues/sanctuary chins are in our bedroom. The rest of the rescue and sanctuary chins are in our living room (with the exception of new arrivals who are in quarantine. They are in another bedroom). With the exception of those in quarantine, everyone has a clear view of the tv, which we leave on 24/7.

We are currently in a home that is almost 1000 square feet, with plans to move shortly into a home with over twice the space.

Why do you have Ferret Nations?

We have Ferret Nations for several reasons. The main few are: they are extremely sturdy. They are easy to arrange. They hold up well to wheel running (we currently have a wheel per level in three of the 3-levels, and yet the cages do not shake). They are incredibly easy to clean. The large doors make it easy to get any chin in the event of an emergency.

Our other preferred cage is the Quality Mansion (1"x1" spacing). They, too, are very sturdy, easy to arrange and clean. They hold up well to wheel running.

How do you fund your rescue and sanctuary?

We are almost entirely self-funded. We do have a store (Wunderchins) that does help support our rescue, though in our effort to keep quality supplies affordable in this economy, we do not make a lot. We researched suppliers for everything to ensure we can get the highest quality for the lowest prices.

When our rescue and sanctuary was still in the planning stages, we applied for and got a tax-ID. We have always planned to apply for our 501(c)3 status. This tax-ID allows us access to wholesale pricing (it is a different tax-ID than we use for the Wunderchins Store). Clearly, we have a budget in place, with several funds to cover cages, wheels, toys, fleece, bedding, litter pans, shelving, vet care and food.

Who is your vet?

We have an amazing vet, Dr. Ariana Finkelstein. She works at two clinics. The first is I-10 Pet Emergency in northeast San Antonio. The other is Southeast Animal Hospital in southeast San Antonio. I-10 is open 24/7 and does treat chinchillas. Southeast is very easy to get same-day appointments and costs just a tad less.

We highly suggest her to any and all area chin-owners. The knowledge and care she demonstrates for the rescues and our own pets is unsurpassed by other area vets. Their pricing is reasonable, with a "brief wellness check" costing $32 per chin when examined at Southeast and $48 at I-10.

We prefer Dr. Finkelstein, not just for her dedication and knowledge, but for her philosophy that the best approach to health and wellness is to take the least-invasive and least-harmful path allowed.

Why don't you list your physical address?

For safety purposes. It is our duty as their rescuers to ensure the chinchillas' safety. Our current address is known to a very limited number of people. We have a special phone number that we list and/or give it out whenever we feel the need.

How do we know that you take good care of the chins?

We've had several different rescuers to our different homes (we have moved more than once). Most are respectable and trustworthy, and they can attest to the state of our rescue and home. Besides what pictures can show you. Former owners of chins who are in our sanctuary are happy their chins are in our care, with one owner stating "I am so happy that he is there with you. He is doing so well!"

Other comments we've gotten, some from other rescues, some from professionals we work with, are

• Wow! The rescues here are better taken care of than my pets at home!
• These are rescues? [turns to her friend to say] You need to do this for your chins!
• I'm very impressed with your set up. The chins are all friendly and well taken care of. They obviously love and trust you, and you them.
• You have how many chins?! I'd never guess that from the way it's set up and how clean everything is.
• I'm glad I sent the chins to you. They're doing so much better there, and I know you love them and will give them the best care possible.
• It's clear you know what you're doing, and you take excellent care of the chins in your care.