[CAChinsRescue] Newsletter - November 2007

[Lori Cope]

CALIFORNIA CHINS and ChinchillaRescue.Org
 
Newsletter
 
November 2007
 
 
NEWS
====
 
We are pleased to announce the arrival of Hunter and Hercules Ritchey.  They
are two handsome golden retriever male youngsters, age 10 months and 19
months old.  Not only have they become a part of the Ritchey family, but
they are a wonderful new addition to the extended California Chins family.
 
 
EVENTS
======
 
- We are talking about having CA Chins Holiday party sometime next month,
but it is still up in the air.  We¹ll keep you posted as more information
becomes available
 
- Chinchilla Health Day 2008 is moving from Presidents¹ Day in February
until Memorial Day.  ³Chin Doc² will be attending a conference in February
so we needed to reschedule.  The date will be Monday, May 26th (Memorial
Day).
 
 
RESCUES
=======
 
New Rescues in October: 6
Chins Adopted last month: 1
Deceased Chins: 1
Chins Available for Adoption: about 16
Total # of Chins in Foster Care: 38
Number of Chins waiting to come to Foster Care: about 14
 
We have a number of rescues that are not yet available for adoption for one
or more of the following reasons:
 
- Need a check-up or recheck with our vet.
- Being treated for Giardia
- Need to gain weight
- Too young to be adopted (less than 4 months old)
- Possibly pregnant
- Being watched for possible dental problems.
- Broken leg
 
 
Available for Adoption
----------------------
 
Check our website to see the chinchillas that are currently available for
adoption. www.chinchillarescue.org/rescues.html
 
 
TIPS, INFORMATION, REMINDERS
============================
 
Pet Disaster Plan
 
Do you have an emergency plan in place for your pets?  We all think it won¹t
happen to us, but it is always a good idea to have a plan in place.
 
Situations to consider:
 
1)  Something happens while your pets are home alone and you are unable to
return home. This includes natural disasters as well as events such as a car
accidents or sudden illness.  Do you have family, neighbors or friends that
know your animals and can care for them if you are unable to?  Do you have a
set of instructions and information written so the someone else can identify
your pets and can find their food, medication, etc?
 
2)  A disaster occurs which requires you to evacuate your home.
 
Suggestion For Before a Disaster Happens:
========================================

1)  Identify your pet.  For caged animals, consider putting a sign on the
cage with the name of the pet.  Dogs and cats can be microchipped easily and
wear a collar with ID information.  Make a list of all the pets in your
household and post it in a prominent location.
 
2)  Crate train your pet.  Train your pet to enter a carrier or crate at
your command.  Okay, so this isn¹t likely to happen with chinchillas, but
many chin owners also have other companion animals. J  However we do know of
chins that are trained to return to their cages after playtime.
 
3)  You should have a carrier for every pet in your family. If you only have
a few minutes to evacuate and you can only take what fits in your car,
having small carriers will make it easier and they make it safer for your
animal to travel. It will also be easier for you to find emergency shelter
for you and your animals if the animals are all crated.  Put your name,
phone numbers, and your pet¹s name on each carrier.
 
4)  Prepare a pet disaster kit for each animal
o      ID tags and collars.
o      leashes
o      food and water (a 7 day supply for each animal is recommended)
o      water bottles, food and water dishes
o      litter box and litter for cats
o      bedding, newspaper, or towels for chins
o      medication, if needed
 
5)  Prepare a first aid kit for you and your animals
 
6)  Develop a neighborhood plan.  Get to know your neighbors and their pets.
Keep an updated list of their home and work phone numbers and select a
neighborhood coordinator who will be ready to assist should a disaster occur
when you are not at home.
 
In Case of Evacuation:
=====================

It is recommended that you take your pets with you during evacuation.  But
if you must leave your pets behind, follow these guidelines to help ensure
their safety:
 
1)  Let rescue workers know that you had to leave your pets at home.
Consider posting a sign, with the information about the number and type of
pets, on your front door or a prominent window.
2)  Leave plenty of water in a large, open container that cannot be tipped
over.
3)  Leave plenty of food, in timed feeders if needed,
which will prevent your pet from overeating.
4)  Do not tie or cage your dogs and cats in your home because their chances
of survival are greater if they can escape easily if needed.
 
Note: some of these suggestions were taken from a handout written by San
Francisco Animal Care and Control.

CONTACT INFORMATION
===================
 
Lani Ritchey - calchins at aol.com
Lori Cope - lori at chinchillarescue.org