Author: Chinny Otaku
My Story
You could say I was destined to have a lot of animals. Unlike most children whose career goals changed week to week, I wanted to be a veterinarian for about 14 years. So, when I was 8 years old, the class trip to the zoo was a big deal to me. After all, one day I’d be taking care of these animals.
I don’t remember everything we did that day, but I know the layout of the zoo so well I could probably guess. The one thing I do remember is when the whole class gathered in the special events room to see the animals up close. There were a bunch of snakes and bugs, and I think they had a parrot, but those didn’t matter. What mattered was that adorable little animal I had never seen before, but suddenly wanted desperately.
The zoo keeper walked in from the back room with a grey chinchillas sitting on her shoulder. She introduced the animal and began telling us about their natural habitat. Then the moment of truth came, and we were allowed to touch her. Never in my life had I felt anything so incredible. I loved chinchillas from that day on.
On the way home, I asked my mother if we could have one. She said that no one was allowed to own them. Being a child I believed her, and accepted the fact that I would never own one. Gradually I let them slip from my mind, but anytime I heard them mentioned, I would remember that amazing creature I fell in love with at first sight.
Time went on, I grew up and landed a good job right out of high school. Wanting a pet to call my own, I considered getting a hamster and started checking in local pet shops for cages and food. Then, one day while looking at the teddy bear hamsters I happened to look down.
Tears ran down my face as I knelt down to stare at two standard chinchillas resting in their cage. Reaching in to their food bin, I picked out a raisin and handed it to the closest one who took it without fear. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. There were chinchillas here; chinchillas I could own!
Fortunately I’m a pretty rational person, or else those guys would have been in my bedroom by nightfall. I headed home and went online to find out all I could about chinchilla care. Much to my surprise there was tons of information and a lot of people owned chins. Things were looking good but following the advice of many sites, I decided not to rush.
For six months I read, studied and planned for the day that I would bring my first chinchilla home. I started saving all my money to get the best I could find. I had about $400 saved when I found my first chin at a small pet store.
Dafty, as she came to be known, was sitting in her cage which had been taken off the shelves to be cleaned. Since one of the employees was there, they let me pet her and since she was so friendly, I was even able to pick her up. She was the sweetest thing, but she was already 6 months old. Having lived in the pet store and the employees home for the past 4 months, I’d read that it’s always best to get babies. Reluctantly I put her back down and left. My resolve didn’t last long though and ½ an hour later I was back at the store, asking them to hold her until Wednesday, when I bought her and all of her things.
I thought I’d take thing slow with my chins. Wait at least 6 months before getting another and at least a year before breeding. I think I had Dafty a month before I got my second chin Sammy. I now have four pairs, and my first baby was born in October, 8 months after I got Dafty.
I am still as fascinated by chinchillas today, as I was that day at the zoo. I love them, and the experiences and friends they’ve brought me. I’ve never been able to thank my teacher or that zoo keeper for giving me this incredible gift, so I hope to repay them with the love and care I give my animals. I’ve given up that dream of being a vet, because now I want to be a breeder, so that I can bring the same gift to others.
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