We're permanently home!
We're here because we needed some permanence in our lives. We've been passed around, given away, and have either health issues or behavioral issues which increase the chances that we will never find permanent homes outside the sanctuary. We tell our stories below our pictures so that you can get to know us better.
If you'd like to sponsor one of us, please click on the donation button below the picture of the chin you'd wish to sponsor. Your donations help defray the costs of living, and help to buy us pellets, hay, dust, and toys. They also go towards our vet bills. Thank you for choosing sponsorship.
It only costs about $8.25/month to sponsor one of us. There are no commitments. Even a one-time donation will help tremendously.
Sponsors will receive a picture of their chin with the chin's life story, if known, and issues he or she is currently working on. Sponsors will also get a birthday card and a winter holiday card (we request that you specify the holiday you observe).
Esther Ann
February 6, 1999
Hi, I'm Esther! I'm 12 years old. My daughter Naomi and I came here on September 7, 2008, after being at another rescue since February 5, 2007.
Marne said she is super proud of me, and that you will be impressed to know my most recent weight. I weigh 700 grams! My fur has grown in, and though it's a bit sparse, it's still fluffy and soft. I used to hate being touched, but now, when they open the doors to the cage, I come running up for attention. Just yesterday (April 26, 2011), I let the lady scritch my nose!
Naomi Ruth
April 14, 2003
Hello, I'm Naomi, and I am 8 years old. My mom (Esther) was surrendered to another rescue on February 5, 2007, and I joined her a year later after my dad died. We came to Finally Home Chinchillas on September 7, 2008.
I'm a friendly girl, if I say so myself. I'm just not very used to human contact. I have a rudimentary right eye that requires weekly drops. I require special eye drops from the vet that I will need for the rest of my life. At the last rescue, things started becoming stressful and I started chewing the fur on my hips. I needed special intervention to help me overcome this. I'm also what the vet called "malnourished" and so I get the same things my mom gets: Critical Care mixed with Lifeline, acidophilus tablets, Calf Manna and crushed rosehips. Since I've gotten here, I love to sit in front of the bowl and chow down on the pellets. I'm a real good eater, and the lady here said that she needs me to eat as much hay as I can so she can give me more. I'm still trying to figure out the hay box, but she puts some hay on the shelf for me to work on.
My eye has not had any issues for the past several months, and I'm much more willing to be picked up. When they open the doors to the cage, I come running up to be held.It is $16.50/month to sponsor Esther and Naomi. To sponsor them, please click below:
Queen Nadia
July 12, 2006
Nadia came to us in July 2009. She is a 5 year old girl that was transferred from a rescue in Wisconsin. When she arrived at the other rescue last year, her back seemed to be an odd shape, and she was smaller than expected. She had a lack of appetite and hated to be touched. The rescue took her in to the vet where they discovered Nadia had a broken pelvis, which was confirmed via x-ray.
Because of the location of the break, a cast wasn't an option. The rescue worked very hard with Nadia, giving her pain meds, encouraging her to eat Critical Care, and keeping her confined to a very small space. After some time, her pelvis did heal, though in a way that left her back straight (as opposed to rounded). Nadia can hop incredibly fast, which is pretty miraculous, considering what she's been through.
March 2011: Nadia is still doing very well. The vet has given her the all-clear to have a wheel! We never thought that it would be possible for Nadia to have a wheel, so we are thrilled. Unfortunately, Nadia has been diagnosed with overgrown roots and two abscesses. We have been able to clear up one abscess and most of the second through a month-long course of antibiotics, and she will continue the meds for another full month. Nadia has been placed on our "Malo Diet" and she is doing well on it. In May, she will be x-rayed again to look at her roots and to see whether the abscesses have fully cleared.Nadia's earned the nickname "Little Queenie" due to the regal way in which she surveys the room and anyone in it.
Nadia is being sponsored by Sherry B. Thank you so much!
Mitzy, Trinket and Cerise
April 7, 2004; February 9, 2007; October 21, 2003 respectively
Mitzy, Cerise (in the willow tunnel) and Trinket (cardboard tunnel) during playtime.
Mitzy and Trinket were owner placed into our sanctuary due to severe epileptic seizures the girls both have. They did come with Belle (a mini chin) and Chrystal (recently lost her mate and was severely depressed). Unfortunately, shortly after arriving, Belle died due to genetic fatty liver, and about a month after that, Chrystal died due to pyometra, a gastrointestinal infection and cancer.
Mitzy is grey, Trinket is violet. Mitzy is Trinket's mother. When the girls were brought into our home, both had seizures. They are stress induced, and they are nearly identical to Johan's. Since that night, Mitzy has not had any seizures at all, but Trinket has had 2 seizures. Both were 4 minutes long, and she did expel fluid from her lungs. Trinket does not seem to have long-term damage from her seizures, but it does take her quite some time to recover after them.
We are pleased to announce that the girls have less than 4 seizures a year each. Their trigger is smoke-induced stress.
Cerise came to us for a couple reasons. First, she wasn't really fitting into the breeding program where she was. Second, she is not ready to be placed directly into a pet home due to behavior and personality issues. Cerise is a very special girl, and was well loved in her last home. Cerise came down on a chin run at the end of March, 2010.
Cerise is a wonderful girl. She is very skittish and hid a lot at first, and she runs when she sees our hands. Cerise is coming around, however, and on occasion she will let Marne pet her hands. She takes rosehips from Marne, and she no longer hides when Marne is giving her a new toy or refilling her pellets/hay. When we catch her to hold her, Cerise soaks up all the attention and just loves to be pet and fawned over. She gets the cutest grin. Cerise likes to sleep half in her hammock, half on the shelf. She fits in nicely with Mitzy and Trinket, and she is doing well here. Cerise takes it upon herself to offer care and comfort to Mitzy and Trinket if they have seizures. She stands close so they can't harm themselves.
Mitzy, Trinket and Cerise's sponsorship is $24.75/month. To sponsor the girls, please click the button below:
Cheech
August 1, 1992
Cheech is another owner-surrender. Due to the economy, the family could no longer care for Cheech the way he deserved. They told us they got him from a friend, and that Cheech was 17. We told them he'd stay in our sanctuary for the rest of his life (mainly because elderly chins are not often adopted), and the family did appreciate knowing he'd be here. He apparently spent most of his life in a 55 gallon aquarium. It is taking him some time to get used to being in an open-air cage, he was recently upgraded to a 1-level Ferret Nation. Cheech is very proud of his new cage.
It's clear that the family loved Cheech very much, and they gave him the best care they could. Aside from having poor vision, Cheech is a healthy and friendly chin. We must approach him slowly and let him know of our intentions before we act, to help him feel comfortable and safe.
Cheech is in the sanctuary due to his age, the number of places he lived before coming here, and some occasional behavior issues that are related to his age and poor vision. Cheech does occasionally bark and he does occasionally lunge if we reach for him without letting him know. We think that is also due to being in an aquarium; he is not used to people being able to reach through the side of his enclosure to touch him. Cheech is learning to appreciate scritches. He's doing very well here.
Cheech's sponsorship is $8.25/month. To sponsor Cheech, please click the button below:
Rhody is a very sweet little guy. He loves attention and will sit for scritches for hours on end. Rhody was an owner surrender. He was going to be transferred to another rescue, but upon his arrival here we realized he had signs and symptoms of malo. After discussing it with the other rescue, we both decided we should work with him here. We took Rhody to the vet due to his symptoms, and discovered that his teeth had points. The vet couldn't get a very good look in his mouth, so we decided Rhody should have his mouth examined while he was getting the points filed down. He went in a couple days later to have his teeth filed and have his mouth inspected. At that time there were no signs of root problems, just misaligned molars. Rhody has recovered very well. His appetite has picked up, and his fur is softer and more sleek.
Rhody has dental issues that are genetic. We are working with his diet for now. Rhody is currently on a mixture of Beaphar Xtra Vital Care+ for Chinchillas and Oxbow Cavy Cuisine, alfalfa hay, and a special supplement we have designed for chins who need a little extra calcium supplementation. He is also getting 1 TUMS a day. Rhody has gone from needing tooth filing every two months to not needing it at all, while on this diet.
Since being on this diet, Rhody has experienced a complete reversal of his malo.
Rhody is being sponsored in honor of Coleen C. Thank you so much!
Bentley and Chipotle
December 15, 2003
Bentley (left) and Chipotle sleeping
Bentley and Chipotle were surrendered to our rescue when their owner realized he couldn't keep up with their care. One of the boys was a reported biter, and so to ensure they'd find a safe home, their owner asked that they come here. They were underweight when they arrived, however both boys have gained weight nicely.
Bentley has been drooling somewhat due to an overgrowing molar. We have placed him on our special Malo Diet with great results. The boys have been placed in our sanctuary due to Bentley's drooling.
Bentley and Chipotle's sponsorship is $16.50/month. To sponsor Bentley and Chipotle, please click the button below:
Asherah and Aviva
birthdays unknown
Asherah pauses during her first-ever playtime
Aviva right before her pre-playtime weigh-in
Asherah and Aviva (and Esperanza, rest in peace) were rescued from severe neglect by a kind-hearted woman in Tennessee. She contacted us for help when she realized how severe the girls' issues--particularly Esperanza's--were. After securing a foster home for one of the chins here, we were able to take in the three girls.
We do not know much about them, other than Esperanza was Asherah's mom, and both girls have genetic malo. Aviva is their unrelated friend.
The girls are on a very strict no-added-phosphorus diet. Phosphorus is found in grains like oats, wheat, quinoa, etc. It blocks the absorption of calcium. Past studies have determined that often times, chins who have malo have trouble absorbing calcium. We concluded that it would be bad to then give malo chins something to eat that would block calcium absorption even further. The girls get Beaphar Xtra Vital Care+ pellets from the UK, Manna Pro Sho pellets, alfalfa hay and a special blend of herbs that have calcium in them. We also give them crushed rosehips, because Vitamin C aids in the absorption of calcium.
While on this diet, Asherah had a complete reversal of her malo symptoms. Thankfully, we have a very wonderful friend in Germany who is willing and able to send us the Beaphar pellets we need. We have been able to resume feeding it to the chins with dental issues, and Asherah does not drool any longer. Her weight is back up, and we expect her root overgrowth to reverse once more.
Asherah and Aviva have an anonymous donor! Thank you!
Cheeko Isaac
December 14, 2003
Cheeko getting squishy-hugs from Marne.
Cheeko came to us on July 12, 2008. He was born in December 2003. According to the woman who got him off craigslist, Cheeko was fed nothing but pumpkin seeds. I can see he has a slight hunch, but being as all five chins had them when they were rescued in February, that's really not verification that the pumpkin seed claim is true.
At his last home, the owner let her cat Neptune pick Cheeko up in his mouth as though he were going to eat him! This is the reason Cheeko's Jewish name is Isaac. In Genesis, Isaac was bound by Abraham. He was spared by the intervention of angels/God. Clearly, Cheeko survived Neptune's attack, and I can only believe it was by similar intervention. Cheeko is very sweet and loves getting chest scritches. He'll watch tv for hours. He's a bit skittish about being picked up (but after what he's been through, who wouldn't be?!), so we're working on that with him.
Cheeko is going to be here for life. He's been scarred by his life up until this point, and the best assurance of a happy future is for him to stay here. We're the 5th people to have him (at least), and so to preserve his ability to bond with people, he is staying. Cheeko has the signs of dental disease, and he is now on the Malo Diet we have worked so hard to develop.
Cheeko is being sponsored for Marne in lieu of a birthday gift. Thank you!
Eva Rebekkah
October 19, 2006
Eva came on July 12, 2008. When she was a kit, she lost her right eye. It was sewn shut by the breeder, and she was eventually sold to the lady we rescued her from. At some point, the thread was groomed out, and the eye, not being flushed as it should have been, became infected. We believe (but are not 100% certain) that the bordetella entered her eye while in that home, and as a result, Eva got severe pneumonia (bordetella cripples the immune system, which allows other infections to enter). She survived this, and January 2008, we paid to have her eyelid sewn shut. Unfortunately, that vet never explored Eva's eye socket, she just cut the lids and sewed them shut. (Vet's cut the lids so that two "exposed" pieces of skin grow together into one piece).
We discovered at the end of February 2009 that Eva's eye hadn't been properly removed by the last vet. That vet sewed the eye and tear ducts in behind her lids. It got infected, because it couldn't be flushed out. Eva got pneumonia again, though we caught it very quickly and she only had it in one lobe of her right lung. After a two-week course of Trimeth-Sulfa, Eva recovered. A week after that, she went in for eye surgery, where our vet discovered the atrophied eye. He removed it and her tear ducts, flushed out her eye socket, and sewed her eyelids shut properly. She now has a bright future ahead of her, with our vet saying he's 95% confident that she'll never get pneumonia again.
Eva is a wonderful girl, very friendly and social. She loves to watch Go, Diego, Go and Lilo and Stitch on tv. She always comes up for scritches. She's got a great personality. Of course, she's not very keen on being picked up, but we've got no problem working on that with her.
Eva has not been sick since she underwent eye surgery.
Eva had tooth points at her last check-up. We have put her on a special high-hay, high-vitamin C diet. She is scheduled to go in for x-rays in July.
Thank you, Ali, for your generous contribution towards special toys for Eva!
September 6, 2001
Lilith says hello.
Rosalie Lilith came to us unexpectedly on January 11, 2011. She is approximately 9 years old. She and her sister were taken in with a boy chin, one person kept Rosalie Lilith and the boy, another took the sister. Soon, the boy was given away, and Rosalie Lilith was brought to live with her sister. Their new owner had to downsize due to allergies in the family, and so Rosalie came here.
She is a very sweet girl who enjoys hanging out in one of her hidey houses (the one without the roof). So far she is quiet and has been crying quite a bit. We are quick to reassure her. Once she has settled in, we are going to see about pairing her with Talia and Rafi.
Unfortunately Lilith has overgrown roots and tooth points. She has abscesses as well and has started a course of baytril (due to her heart murmur). We have placed her on the "Malo Diet" we use, and she has been gaining weight. Lilith is a very sweet girl who loves to watch tv, chew apple sticks, and eat hay.
Lilith has an anonymous sponsor! Thank you!
Poppy
January 8, 2001
Poppy came to us January 8, 2011. She flew in from Seattle with her (human) mom! Poppy came due to malocclusion. Poppy is a very sweet girl. She was adopted from Petco after someone dropped her and her friend off. The two had been fighting. Someone adopted her friend, but no one adopted Poppy. She was there for two months when her mom took her home. Poppy has been very well loved and treated in her last home. She is a bit shy, but she does take treats from us and occasionally watches tv.
Her "entry weight" is 522 and we will work with her to get it up, hopefully over 600 grams.
April 3, 2011: Poppy has stopped drooling and the teeth inside her mouth are perfect. She has moderately overgrown roots, as exhibited by x-rays. Poppy is on our "Malo Diet" and is doing marvelously. Poppy's current weight is 593! She loves to watch Babylon 5 and Dexter, and she runs on her Flying Saucer during her episodes of Bones.
Poppy's sponsorship is $8.25/month. To sponsor Poppy, please click the button below:
Talia, and Laney & Junebug
November 11, 2004; July 11, 2009, July 11, 2010
Rafi (left, rip) and Talia say hi.
Laney perfects her Playchin pose while Junebug oversees her work.
Junebug thoroughly enjoys her hammock, which was donated by Jean at TJ's Chinchilla Supplies.
Talia, Rafi, Joony and Laney arrived on January 8, 2011. They came from Louisville, KY. The girls and Steven & Jeffrey arrived via long-haul truck through the program Operation Roger. The link is on our links page. We renamed the chins because we couldn't tell who was who of the younger chins and we thought it would be easier if we just renamed everyone. They now all have letters on their ears.
Their owner contacted us because Rafi (formerly called Sweet Pea) needed medical care for dental disease. Due to this horrible economy, the quality care was too much. He asked if we could take them in, and after discussing it, we said yes.
Talia is the 6 year old mother, and the girls are her daughters, aged 1 to 2. Talia is pregnant, and we think that at least one other chin is (because there was a girl in with the two boys for the ride over). The girls are a tad skittish, particularly after their adventure (traveling is hard on chins). They have settled in somewhat and do like to watch us move around the room. Talia loves to sit and watch the tv. The chins do take treats from us, their appetites are wonderful and they are enjoying the multiple toys that greeted them upon their arrival. They were very loved before they came here.
Talia had two kits, two weeks after she arrived. Unfortunately, due to inbreeding, they have both died. Talia has a significant calcium deficiency that we are doing everything we can to reverse. She has settled in very well and comes up to take treats and sticks from us, she loves to watch tv every night. Talia and Rafi are living in a 1-level in our living room, where it is warmer. Rafi's roots are overgrown (not as badly as Nadia's) and she had a very enlarged liver in March. We added Milk Thistle to her pellets and her liver is now normal sized (one month later). She no longer drools, her sweet-smelling breath is gone, and she has gained a miraculous amount of weight. We have placed her on a modified Fatty Liver Diet which consists of Beaphar Xtra Vital Care+ for Chinchillas (the extruded pellets), and then Oxbow Cavy Cuisine (timothy-based pellets with extra vitamin C). This combination is keeping her teeth looking perfect. She gets Oxbow Botanical Hay, and Milk Thistle powder added to her pellets. Rafi and Talia get NO grains of any kind (oats, wheat, quinoa, etc).
Laney and Joony are now in a 1-level in our living room, where they love to participate in the activity throughout the day. They are great chins, full of mischief and spunk, they love to tackle each other and they get rambunctious when we hand out sticks, stealing each others sticks.
When Rafi came in, her weight was 408. As of April 3, her weight is 493! She gained 50 grams in the two-three weeks that we added the Milk Thistle to her diet! We are hoping Rafi will continue to gain weight, so that she reaches about 575. For now, Rafi is on the Fatty Liver Diet we are designing, along with the Beaphar Xtra Vital Care Plus for Chins that we get from Germany.
Talia's sponsorship is $8.25/month. To sponsor Talia, please click the button below:
Laney and Joony's sponsorship is $16.50/month. To sponsor Laney and Joony, please click the button below:
Talia, Rafi, Laney and Joony's sponsorship together is $33/month. To sponsor the girls together, please click the button below:
Steven
November 11, 2004
Stevie prefers to chew his favorite toys in his little hidey house.
Steven arrived on January 8, 2011 from Louisville, KY, with Talia, Rafi, Joony, Laney and Jeffrey Noah. They came via long-haul truck through the program Operation Roger (link is on our links page). Steven is the 6 year old father. The chins were very loved in their last home. They came to us due to the horrible economy.
Steven does not have any known medical issues right now, but because they are all related (Rafi, Joony, Laney and Jeffrey Noah are brother and sisters), and because Rafi has dental disease, we have to keep the chins here for the rest of their lives. Steven is a fur chewer.
So far, Steven loves to hang out in the dust houses and to eat piles of hay. He occasionally chews on his toys and sits and watches us as we go about our days. He loves to watch tv at night, and to chew up any stick within a 12" radius. lol
Steven is in our bedroom, where it is as quiet and stress-free as possible. He's doing very well there and has stopped his fur chewing.
Steven has an anonymous donor. Thank you!
Honeysuckle "Honey" Adira-Eliana
Honey has had a very hard life. She was surrendered June 14 by a kind young lady who helped to rescue her from unimaginable abuse. For one thing, Honey was being burned with cigarettes! She was also bred, and the kit was sold before Honey and her baby could be rescued. Honey has also been drooling excessively and has lost a lot of weight. Since there are no chin-experienced vets in that part of Arkansas, Honey's owner asked us if we could help. We immediately agreed to take Honey into our sanctuary.
Honey is going to make the trip down here within the week. At that time, she'll go in for an immediate appointment with our vet. Honey will be in quarantine in our bedroom, where we have a UV filter. Barring fatty liver, Honey will be placed immediately onto our malo diet. Due to her various issues, Honey will need a lot of work. Honey's sponsorship will help offset her vet costs and the special food we get shipped to us from Germany.
Honey's sponsor is Jamie G. Thank you!
You may notice, in the pictures, that the chinchillas here have fleece sets in their cages. When a new chinchilla arrives here, we buy fleece and then sew him/her a hammock, pillow, house, fleece tunnel and two liners for his/her cage. We believe that the softness of fleece is reassuring to the chins, and that having such things helps smooth the transition to the new surroundings encountered here. Our belief has been furthered by the fact that each chinchilla that's come here has taken to its tunnel immediately, and for the first few weeks, will rarely leave it. These fleece sets belong to the chinchillas, and each pattern/color combination is unique to each chin. If adopted, the fleece set goes with the chin to his/her new home.