Question:
Man, I got an e-mail from someone I know from a message group. She's a ferret person, and when she went to pick up her ferrets some food, she wound up leaving with a chinchilla. The chinchilla was just dropped off with all of its supplies-basically abandoned. So this girl agreed to take her home. Here's the e-mail:
ok.. so you all know I was going to get my new ferrets today. One the way home last night, Karl and I stopped at the pet store for some more ferret food. Well.... we wound up walking out not only with the food.... but a chinchilla... the cage.. a stand.. food.. treats.. dust bath.. you name it..... All for free ! The chinchilla is a girl, two and a half years old. Such a sweety too. She was dropped off there to be adopted cause her owners were expecting a baby and needed the room that Precious was in, for the baby. So...we got her totally free. I wanted to know... are they hard to breed? She is not fixed. ( i know this is where your specialty comes in.. lol)... OR if we were to sell her to a good home, how much would you sell her for? Like I said, she is 2 1/2, good health, cage, great wrought iron stand... all accesories..etc... For the whole kit and kaboodle.. how much would you ask for all that???? Need your help Carla ! !
I responded with:
She shouldn't be bred unless there's a pedigree along with her. Chinchillas can have very serious health problems with their teeth (among other things), and it's pretty dangerous to breed if you don't know the animal's background. The reason she isn't fixed, is because it isn't necessary-and it's super risky to put chinchillas under anesthesia-they don't usually handle it well at all.

Okay, now...you got her and all of her gear for free, but you want to sell it along with her. It's hard for me to give a price b/c I don't know what brands and stuff, and that plays a factor. So, I guess you could sell everything for $200-$300. **But, if it was me, I wouldn't try to sell her to make anything, but I'd try to place her in a loving home. Rescue chins usually go for around $50.

Where are you located? If you're close, I can see if I can scrape up what you're looking to sell her for. Just let me know. And if you aren't, I know chinchilla people all over the US-so I might be able to help place her.
This morning I got this:
yes, The reason I took her is b/c I wanted her to get a good home, not just someone taking her cause she was free. I was going to sell her for two reasons. Ppl who pay for animals are less likely to be neglectful since they are willing to fork out for them.. and secondly.. just b/c I am flat broke. I have a friend who wants a pet for her two kids. She is a very nice lady and Precious would get a great home with her, so I may just give her to them. Precious is darling.. lol.. gave her a dust bath last night.. wow-wee.. she rolled all around and dust was a-flying.. lmao.. it was too cute. I opened her cage and she walked right out onto my hands. She is settling in at our house already. In just a days time she comes out of her bed all the time, comes to see us, climbs into our hands..etc.. she is a well adjusted critter !
I am so distressed by this! Maybe my bipolar's acting up-and I'm taking this the wrong way...but she's trying to capitalize off of an animal that she didn't pay anything for. That makes me mad. And now she's going to give that poor sweet chin to some kids Anyone near Pennsylvania looking for a rescue???
Sorry for the rant, this just rubs me the wrong way


Answer:
I can see why your angry Carla. She's ridiculous! "Cuz she's flat broke" Too bad, she was broke before the freebie chinchilla came along. Does she even know anything about their care? If she must charge something...how about $50, like you stated? Would she give her precious ferrets to two little girls? Some people!


Answer:
Okay, so I'm not crazy...


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I can't believe that the pet store kept the chin and then gave it away for free......they should have called an spca or animal society of some sort......and for her to take the pet just because it is free....sounds like she want to capitalize on this deal...........and doesn't sound like a rescue person to me.............


Answer:
that is absolutely rediculous!!!!! you should let her know all the "pros and cons" for owning a chinchilla.. maybe that other lady with the 2 kids that just wants an animal will realize what they are getting into.. like health.. vet costs.. length of life.. etc....
also you should mention to her ASAP that ferrets and chinchillas should not be together!!! ferrets will naturally kill the chinchilla...
Carla I sure hope that everything works out for this poor girl!!!


Answer:
The reason I took her is b/c I wanted her to get a good home, not just someone taking her cause she was free
That's exactly what SHE did... if the pet store had charged her something she wouldn't have taken it b/c she is 'flat broke'!! This annoys me to no end! She obviously didn't take the chin to find it a 'good home' b/c she's already trying to make a buck off of the poor misplaced chinchilla! Also she mentioned breeding her.. to again make a buck!


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You are not crazy! This women needs a shot in the head! I truely hope this poor chin does not end up...


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The girl stopped responding to me-she won't answer any of my e-mails, and when I tried to IM her, she signed off


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I'm also completely disgusted by this woman! When you told me about her before my jaw just hit the floor. How can anyone be such a horrible person? If she's flat broke she shouldn't even br bringing new animals into her home. That poor chin doesn't deserve to be used as a money making device, that's so wrong and unforgivable!!
I pray to god that she stops being evasive and comes to her senses. Animals are not walking cash registers GDI!!
This is exactly why when I start breeding i'm going to ask anyone that I don't know who buys a baby from me that they return the chin should they ever find they can't take care of it anymore for any reason at all. No questions asked. I'm actually drafting up a minor contract saying that they agree to do this. I got the idea from a ferret breeder in Texas.


Answer:
I have a contract that all my buyers have to sign. It helps screen them out too. I really hope this chin ends up in a good place.