We've got a couple things to work on before we're ready to go home.
Lexi
Lexi was surrendered to another rescue on September 28, 2007, and she came to Finally Home Chinchillas on September 7, 2008. Lexi is very affectionate, and practically lives for scritches. She loves to engage us through the bars of her cage, and will sit and "talk" for hours. Lexi is very animated and just loves attention. We have not been able to hold her yet, but we're sure that once we gain her trust, she'll come out in no time. Lexi was born in approximately March 2004.
October 4, 2008: Lexi continues to blossom into a wonderfully friendly chin. Most days we wonder if her true name isn't Loki for all the antics she pulls! She loves to come up for scritches. We're continuing to work with her in regards to her terror of men. She doesn't mind Marne reaching in to the cage to give her scritches or to clean off shelves, but with Kjell it's a different matter. Lexi and Marne are currently working on trust, and Lexi does, on occasion, come onto Marne's hands. She's got wonderful potential.
November 3: We've moved Lexi into our bedroom, because the activity in the living room was too nervewracking for her. She's doing very well adjusting to the lower-key activity of the bedroom, and she's taken big steps in her trust of us. Lexi gets to visit with our boys, and she sees how we interact with them. That's helped her to understand that we don't intend to harm her, and, as a result, she's gotten even more friendly.
Lexi moved to the living room this past February. She has really come out of her shell and loves to interact with us. Lexi regularly comes up for scritches (of course!) and loves to lounge in her hammock. She and Anika met when they were stacked, Anika in the top level and Lexi in the bottom. With Nick's full knowledge and permission, we introduced the two during mutual playtimes, and with great success. They got along so well we were able to move them into a 2-level in a month. They have never fought, and love to share everything, even chewing on one toy at the same time.
Both girls remain hesitant of leaving their cage, but since living together have gotten a lot better about it. They have some minor issues to work out, but we have confidence they'll do it in no time.
Lexi is currently sponsored by Nick. When they are ready, Lexi and Anika will be adopted by him. Nick will provide them with such a good and knowledgeable home that we are going to board them here until he is able to adopt them. He will provide them with a wonderful home.
Remy
Remy was born around December 2008. He was originally surrendered with Ryu, his companion, due to economic hardships. Their surrender was based on the promise that neither chin would ever be rehomed. Shortly after they arrived at the rescue, Ryu died due to liver failure. This left Remy very depressed and lonely.
He came here (with his previous owner's permission) because the rescue didn't have a male that was willing to be his cagemate.
Since coming here, Remy's hit puberty and is more interested in romance than having a buddy. For the time being, Remy is very happily residing as a bachelor with his teddy bear.
Muffin
Photo and Biography coming soon!
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.