Busted!

[Whimsy]

I take our committment to the chinchillas very seriously. We have a contract. We expect people to abide by the contract.

I discovered last night that one of our adopted rescue chins was posted for sale on craigslist. The poor thing was hunchbacked, dirty and emaciated. I contacted the person and told them that by selling the chin they were in voilation of our adoption contract. At first they denied knowing me. Silly them. The email and name matched. So I forwarded our prior emails to them and posted their picture on our website with the link to "refresh her memory". Then things got ugly. She stated that her daughter accidentally tried to sell the chin and did so by hacking into her mom's account. Yeah....right. Then the woman stated that IF she were ever to get rid of the chin, it certainly wouldn't be to me. So there I had a statement from her admitting she would not comply with our adoption contract. Double whammy. Breach of contract=lawsuit.

Fortunately, with the help of the local police and animal control, she agreed to surrender the chin.

The poor baby came back in horrible condition. Not only did it have purple dyed carefresh for bedding, but the cage was broken with a bar poking into the cage, a feeder full of junk food and surprise..surprise....my organic hay. There's NO way that could have lasted 6 months!

The chin was adopted out when he was only 26 weeks old. He was returned now just over a year old and still weighs the same as he did when he was an adopted baby!

Grrrrrrr!!!!! This is my first BIG bust. It feels horrible. It makes me wonder about the conditions of those we have adopted out and never heard back from again. Need hugs....

[Julie]

Well you saved a chinnie you should be happy about that. Now that chin can have a happier and fuller life then it had before. All you could do is pray that the ones who were adopted out got a loving home. This chin was just unlucky to get bad owners but was lucky to be saved.

Lots of Hugs
Julie

[Jamie]

Aug 13, 2011 13:24:43 GMT -5 Whimsy said:

I take our committment to the chinchillas very seriously. We have a contract. We expect people to abide by the contract.

I discovered last night that one of our adopted rescue chins was posted for sale on craigslist. The poor thing was hunchbacked, dirty and emaciated. I contacted the person and told them that by selling the chin they were in voilation of our adoption contract. At first they denied knowing me. Silly them. The email and name matched. So I forwarded our prior emails to them and posted their picture on our website with the link to "refresh her memory". Then things got ugly. She stated that her daughter accidentally tried to sell the chin and did so by hacking into her mom's account. Yeah....right. Then the woman stated that IF she were ever to get rid of the chin, it certainly wouldn't be to me. So there I had a statement from her admitting she would not comply with our adoption contract. Double whammy. Breach of contract=lawsuit.

Fortunately, with the help of the local police and animal control, she agreed to surrender the chin.

The poor baby came back in horrible condition. Not only did it have purple dyed carefresh for bedding, but the cage was broken with a bar poking into the cage, a feeder full of junk food and surprise..surprise....my organic hay. There's NO way that could have lasted 6 months!

The chin was adopted out when he was only 26 weeks old. He was returned now just over a year old and still weighs the same as he did when he was an adopted baby!

Grrrrrrr!!!!! This is my first BIG bust. It feels horrible. It makes me wonder about the conditions of those we have adopted out and never heard back from again. Need hugs....

gosh Whimsy ...not such a great day for chinchillas around here
I also got a personal email from David Gaines (one of our members)
who's been fostering two chinchillas for 3 years...
they were seized from some lady along with her dogs and cats etc

anyway the supreme court of his state decided to give the lady the animals back

I was beside myself when I read his letter

and your story makes me want to come there myself and give
this person a piece of my mind and then some

BRAVO!! for protecting the chinnies as you always do
fighting the good fight.

As for me..while people hunted for whatever "hunters" think is sport today the police stopped me and made me not only clean
my dogs poop, but other stuff..like parking crooked

Next time Ill carry my ID , and some dog poop bags

thanks again Whimsy

hugs
jamie

[charliebunny1]

oh thats horrible, when you think you have found a chinny a forvever home and they turn out to be idiots, i'm so glad i managed to rescue my little Herbie he is mummys little boy all you can do is hope that the other chins u adopted are happy. i know most people that come to rescues to get a pet really do want to save them.
so so so glad you saved this poor little guy X

[Whimsy]

Wow Jamie, I'm sorry you were picked on. Sometimes cops can be bullies. Actually, one of my psychology professors swears that bullies choose that line of work just so they can do what they do best...legally.

Charliebunny1, you're right, most people who come to rescues do it out of the kindness of their heart. Sometimes folks come looking for a cheap exotic. I feel I usually do a good job telling who is who, but this person had me fooled. She was sweetness and light in our earlier exchanges. Told me I was doing a wonderful thing, etc. But when I caught her she suddenly threatened to call animal control on me! WTF? I told her I am a shelter affiliate, go ahead and call. I have nothing to be concerned about. She said my children are living in filth. Interesting comment that. Most people remark that my my house full of animals DOESN'T smell like we have animals. I'm very proud of how clean and sweet we manage to keep the place. But I'm going off on a tangent. Her bahavior is typical of someone caught in a lie. Deny, attack, reverse victim and offender. I'm sure she's lamenting what a big bully I am for taking her chinchilla away!

[Whimsy]

Just wanted to post an update about the little guy who was returned thanks to the help of the police and animal control. He's been eating and drinking like crazy. We also had another chin surrendered whose cagemated died. Both were cleared of any health issues (except for the failure to thrive on the first little guy). The two boys decided they need and like each other, so now they're sharing a cage and getting along great! It was a very easy introduction. The tiny little guy was sooo excited to see a chin friend again. And the lonely one snapped out of his depressed funk. What perfect timing for a pairing.

[abcchinchillas]

It is good to hear you got him back. I gave up on contracts because they could never be en-forced here.

[piratesmom]

GOSH! What a horrible story!!! Our rescues here have it in their contracts that people have to accept one or two visits in the new home of the pets - although I know they don't do that always.

I am just glad this little Chin came back to you and even found a new friend!! They both would for sure deserve a loving and caring new home!!! Will you keep them for a while now, or looking already for a new home?

~ Ilka ~

[charliebunny1]

oh i'm so glad they both have a friend, i wish i lived near you i'd be takin them home they are both so lucky to have you

[tman4500]

So glad to hear they found each other and are friends!