I am so sorry for your loss. I had a chinchilla that captured the largest part of my heart some years ago. After he passed away, I could hardly stand it and cried ever time I looked at his cage. I told myself that I would never get another chin, but just honor his memory of the six years that I had him. However, one day I bought another chin and I felt like I was dishonoring Billy's memory. I soon realized that Billy had taught me how to care for chins and love them, and he would want me to take care of one of his brother or sister chins. There is not a day that goes by that I don't remember Billy, but I now have several precious chins that fill my heart with joy and I love very much. I would be very lonely and heartbroken without them. Four posts below yours is the poem that I wrote after Billy passed, I hope you read it "Chinchilla in a Locket", and you will know I felt like you do. I am so sorry about Petey.