Was I wrong/rude?

[Kmammone]

I actually think we've found homes for both of our rescue chins, but I received this email about these chins yesterday (I'm not including names). This is all it said:

Do they bite, and how noisy are they? Thanks.

Now, to me this was kind of a red flag that this person does not know much about chins. Even abused ones don't tend to bite. I know there are some that do, but its rare. And the noisy part really threw me.

So, here was my response:



If you need to ask these questions, then rescues are not for you. Most rescue animals are not well socialized, but these questions lead me to believe that you don’t know a lot about chins. That is not meant as a put down in any way. But I think you do need to do some research before committing to a rescue chin, or any chin.

There are good forums out there to answer your questions. Do a google search for Exotic Pet Zone and Chins and Quills, both are very good.



My "not well socialized comment" meant, to me, that even not well socialized chins don't bite, and his questions tell me he doesn't know much about chins.

Here is the response I got this morning:



If you can't answer simple questions that are put to you in good faith by a potential adoptor then I have to believe that rescue work may not be for you. I am asking about these chinchillas specifically. And it is a complete fallacy that all rescue animals have behavior problems. Lots of luck with your attitude and your animal placement. I'm sure your animals are grateful.



In fact (and I did not write this to him), we have a VERY good placement rate. These chins have been with us for so long because there just hasn't been a lot of interest in rescue chins, most want chins with pedigrees. But we have a great placement rate with our animals over all (we do not just do chins), and are VERY selective as to who our rescues can be adopted by.
To me, his response says he's not willing to do his research, he obviously doesn't know chins and I wouldn't adopt to him anyway.
And yes, most of our animals are grateful and spoiled rotten. Most of you have seen the pictures of these rescues when they came in (if not they are on our rescue page at www.nc-claws.org (http://www.nc-claws.org)), they were underweight and looked like they'd been rolled in oil and TERRIFIED! Megan posted a picture of the one she adopted a couple of days ago. All of them are now great size, their fur looks awsome, and they are no longer scared! Not that they are lap chins, but how many of those do you really find?
Honestly, people are the ones who make rescue work suck! Dealing with the animals, even the dangerous ones, is the easy part!

But, I want to know what you all think?

[Megan.]

Kindra,

I don't think you were rude. If anything, a little research will tell you that most chinchillas are not aggressive, do not bite- and ARE noisy. It's part of being a chinchilla to cause noise, I think. I know with my guys, half the time they sound like they are going to come through the ceiling! They are a spare bedroom, and when they get going--they get going. I can hear loud crashes, bangs, ect - and they are IN their cages.

I can tell you, from adopting Pheonix- She came to me 100 times better looking than in the photo's of when she first came into your rescue, SWEET, more foreward- and WANTING to come out of the cage and onto my hand(Well, half the time past my hand..but I like to think she relaly wants to see me ;), and deffinantly NOT shy. The first few days she was shy, but really settled in. I could tell she was loved, and cared for--and got great care by the looks of her.

Whenever I have her out- my mom says to me "Is that the girl that was shown at York that you bought?" and I tell her no, thats the chin I adopted from Kindra--she cannot believe she isn't a breeding quality chin--and looks that great!

Besides- as a rescuer you SHOULD be careful with who you place your animals with, and should try to find and experienced home for them; or atleast someone knowledgeable enough about them. You don't want them to go into a worse place then what they came out of!

[paris26]

I think you were perfectly reasonable Kindra! If I were applying for an animal from a rescue, I wouldn't expect anything less than a thorough screening. Most animals that end up in rescues were not in good situations in the first place, so what is wrong with being sure that their new home is going to be there forever home?
People don't understand that rescues are not going to adopt their animals out on a whim or an impulse. We see too much of that already!

[chinchillalady]

I know when I was adopting three of my chinchillas from a shelter, I was asked the various questions and was made to fill out a form stating I wasn't going to breed, use the animals for experiments, etc. I was not offended at all by the questions and am very thankful that they are very particular about who they adopt out to.

There are many people out there who need to do a lot more research. I researched chins myself before first buying Zesty.

I would love to start a chinchilla rescue myself. I, too, would be like you Kindra. You just have to be selective in who they go out to, because you want the very best possible home for them.

[Kmammone]

That's the thing. We don't do this to have the animals potentially worse off then they were before we took them in! AND, I have an adoption policy page that CLEARLY states to be prepared for questions and so forth.
People seem to think that if they WANT to adopt an animal, they can. They don't realize, I don't even sell my baby chins that way, much less adopt my rescues out like that.
The rude response just shows how little the person really knows. Its not like he's asking about a dog, who could be a barker or not....

[picasso]

You were not rude at all. I think you have to be stern with people though. Especially if you are placing one of your sweeties in their permanent care. He just got way too defensive because maybe he knows he is too lazy to do a little bit of research.

Those are the top 2 questions I get from people who don't know anything about chins. I make them do research before I sell my precious babies to them. He had nothing to get upset about. If he wanted the pet so bad, why didn't he do a little homework? Research is rewarding in the fact that you get to know more about your animals and can care for them in better ways.

[Mouser'sMommie]

I agree, especially on the noise issue. It is music to my ears :hearts:

[KatyJ]

I don't think you were rude, either. Just because someone is adopting a rescue rather than paying several hunderd dollars for a pedrigeed animal does not mean they don't have to know anything about the animal. As a matter of fact, since a rescue may have previously been mistreated they should know even more about the animal, its needs and behaviors!

[bear]

I don't think you were rude, either. And the guy could have realized how dumb his one-liner sounded from your perspective, and repaired the damage with his reponse, rather than getting upset.

[dream21]

I agree w/ everyone else. There was nothing rude about your reply. I think it's odd when someone inquires about an animal w/ such a short note. Those always bug me. I wouldn't worry about what that guy thinks. He doesn't sound like a chin person.