PetSmart

Chinchillas are not being treated the way they should be. In fact they are being taking care off . but the conditions are NOT proper for chinchillas. Chinchillas at this store were forced to live together in the same cage. Takes weeks for chinchillas to get used to each other, Sometimes longer.
-Here chinchillas fight each other causing them to stress and shed their hair. NOT HEALTHY

Chinchilla BIG NO's :
- PUT MORE THAN ONE CHINCHILLA TOGETHER.(chinchillas need to be introduced to new buddies- takes weeks for them to get used to each other)
-NOT PLASTIC AT ALL.
-NO PAPER
-Never grab the fur or tail.

¿¿How Can THIS PET SMART CAN FIX THE ISSUE? ?

-Have a Nesting Box(Chinchillas need a nest to hide when they feel threatened)

-It is very important that you use chinchilla safe bedding.
-Unsafe Beddings to avoid are: Cedar, mixed wood shavings, scented bedding, synthetic beddings, corn cob or cat litters. I use KD (kiln dried) pine shavings for most of our cages.

-SHOULD HAVE A DUST BATH AT LEAST 2x A WEEK

- SHOULD HAVE AT SOMETHING TO CHEW ON THAT IS NOT PLASTIC/METAL.

- Should have PUMICE BLOCKS FOR OLDER CHINCHILLAS/ Aspen Wood for small ones TO CHEW ON.
EMPLOYEES SHOULD ADVISE CUSTOMERS NOT TO GRAB CHINCHILLAS JUST TO PET THEM.
Use caution when handling pets and remember they may bite or scratch (especially when stressed).
Supervise children around pets.
-CHINCHILLAS OVERHEAT WITHIN SECONDS.

-Safe Beddings you can use are: Kiln Dried Pine shavings, Aspen or Carefresh.

-I REALLY HOPE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT It.
I have complained several times but staff just ignores any recommendations.
Staff needs more training on treating Chinchillas, they are not just like a puppy, they are very delicate compared to the rest of animals. !

This store has 3 chinchillas living in insufficient conditions. Their bedding is of a brown paper and not healthy at all. Chinchilla's will eat paper bedding which gets stuck in their intestines and can kill them. I witnessed this today with what looked to be one of the youngest chins sitting in a corner munching away on bedding and their fresh grass and pellets lay neglected in the opposite corner. To top this off their housing, wheel, and food are all made out of plastic and all have plenty of evidence of chewing. Plastic is another substance they will eat and it can just as easily get stuck in the intestinal tract and kill them.

I have complained once before to the location saying I would buy the necessary stuff just to ensure this carries on going forward but my request was ignored. Even aspen shavings which are 14 dollars versus 25 for the brown paper bedding would be a big cost savings for petsmart so I don't really see this as a loss.

They're always around 3-6 months old so I can forgive feeding them anything more than their pellets and hay but if they had proper things to chew on they might avoid chewing on plastics. Pumice Stone and aspen / willow sticks are both readily available at this location both perfect for boredom chewing.

It is my hope that someone can handle this request and see to it that such a unique creature is not wasted. The chinchilla community views petsmart among others with disdain for its absolute neglect of chin living conditions. I would think that ensuring a health chinchilla goes home to their owner healthy first would guarantee that more money comes back into their pocket over the long life span of a chin.

Staff knowledge is also something that could be readily approved. Staff pass the animals around to would be owners holding them as if they're puppies or hamsters but although they are rodents they are not ever to be held like one due to their delicate bone structures particularly in the ribs where the tiniest squeeze can break ribs.

Thank you.