I'm so sorry sweetheart. This was so heartbreaking to hear. As a Chinchilla owner myself, this was absolutely devastating. I am so sorry that you had to experience that.
It takes a really strong person to share a experience that was so hard on you with other people. The lessons you've learned and have taught us makes our taking care of our chins so much easier, Timmy would be proud of how far you have come and how many people you have helped. Merlin is blessed to have such a caring owner. We are blessed also by having you be so open with your experiences, we will all be better chin owners because of your honesty, caring and willingness to share the good and the not so good with us all.
*surprised cat face* dude! I’m personally talking about my Dwarf Hamster that I had, lol he lived for THREE YEARS and was happy and taken care of, but I’m sure there area things I could have done better at the start♥️ she was doing her best to improve his life and make him happy
Omg, I understand how shocking it is. My beloved dog catch up my canary; It was used to fly free in my room; but I don't notice somebody left door open. So my dog came in. I cried as I never done before. My dog died 15 years later. Animals have instincts, we need to be aware of that and do our best. Thanks for sharing and don't feel guilty. Now you're helping a lot of people like me to be a good chinchilla friend. Hugs!
Well maybe the spirit from your first Chinchila lives inside of Merlin,Merlin is a lot calmer inside his cage than my Chinchilla Luna,Luna tries to jump out any second the door id open
Hello! I am going to tell you something really important. This may be the most valuable and most life saving video you ever make. I am 66 so I have seen a LOT of things concerning stray dogs running wild attacking sweet animals and leaving the kind of evidence you described. It happened to me the first time when I was in high school and dogs got in to our back yard where my rabbit cage was. It had been safe for so many years I just never worried about such a thing happening but when I got home from school I did not find a rabbit. I found a cage with the bottom torn completely off so that everything in the cage fell to the ground. Everything was there, in pieces, ... everything except the rabbit. The dogs had eaten most of the rabbit. They left some fur and his tail. It was the most terrible and upsetting thing I can think of that happened to me at that age. It would have been much better if I had not had my rabbit's cage outside, but like your parents, mine did not want a rabbit in the house. I had to do things their way at that time or move some place else. So I didn't get another rabbit until I lived on my own and could keep rabbits inside if I felt like it. That way no dogs could come along and do such a thing again. Once a cat got inside ahead of me when I was bringing groceries home from the store and the cat ran between my feet and raced inside where I had my rabbit and my birds. Oh no! Birds. The cat jumped on top of one cage before I could grab it. It did not actually touch that bird but it frightened it so much that it's little heart stopped, it was beating so fast. After I got the cat outside I was holding the bird, trying to calm it down. I couldn't though. It let me stroke it's soft feathers and speak to it softly, but it didn't help much. The birdy died in my hand. I'd give anything if I could go back and chase that cat away from my door before I opened it. I didn't even know it was there though! I know it wasn't my fault but like you, I still feel very sad about the whole thing. I'm pretty sure some body is keeping their chinchilla in a garage or a damp basement right now. I hope they hear your list of things a person shouldn't do and move that cage some place decent. I hope no body tries to give a chin a bath with water! but they might. I really do appreciate these videos you are making! I've always wanted a chinchilla but I would like to be able to hold it. I'm glad to know they don't really like that and they can get too hot that way. I'll just be real glad I heard you talking about it before I made a terrible mistake and did things that are really bad for chinchillas. It is so interesting to watch you as you learn more and more things that you can pass along to us. Thank you so much for making these videos! They are always so interesting! I don't think they are too long at all. Good luck to you! and I'll be watching. I'm so happy you're getting that new wheel! Maybe you have it by now. I'm a little bit behind in my videos, grin. I know. Maybe a LOT behind. I was actually listening to the ones that I needed to hear first. So not in order. Stay safe and keep making these wonderful videos. Sincerely, Pam
Hey :) So I just have to say how brave I think you are for telling this story and I am so sorry that this happened :( On a lighter note, your channel has honestly helped me out so much! I recently adopted a chinchilla about a month ago and your videos have helped a lot in terms of learning about their proper care and what it’s like to own one. I think you’re an amazing chin mommy and keep doing your thing girl! Thank you for your awesome vids!
Oh my gosh! What a traumatic way to lose your chin!! I can’t even imagine. Glad you stuck with it and got Merlin. Our family just got our first chin and we love your channel.
It was indeed difficult just to hear and picture how Timmy died. But most of all, thank you for sharing. You are brave enough not only to admit the mistakes you made in your first experience but also to share them with details from first impulse to bad care in front of public eyes. I hope what you shared will inspire people to really do homework before getting a pet. It’s a life who completely depends on us. Once inviting a pet home, it’s a lifetime commitment.
Thanks for sharing your story. I think it will help others if they are thinking about getting a chinchilla. Yes they are soooo cute, but their lives are literally in our hands so we must be prepared for their needs before we bring them home. I’m sorry you lost Timmy especially in that way. We are in our first month of chinchilla ownership and your videos have been very helpful and informative.
I'm sorry for your loss. I had 2 and I lost one of my first chinchillas due to a careless mistake; she chewed on my alarm clock cord when I wasn't looking. I had only had her for a month, and I was devastated. I'm still close to my first one though, Liberty. I should have known better, and I tell you what, I keep her away from any electricity at all times. I also have my sister's dog that visits all the time that is completely obsessed with my chin. I keep them separated at all times. It would break my heart if she got a hold of my Liberty.
I've been binge watching your videos for the past 12 hours maybe? And I just got to this one and I must say you're very mature and I think that it's good you shared this so other people can learn from your experience and hopefully prevent this from happening to them. I am so sorry this happened and I'm glad you've made it a point of being better and sharing that with us so we can learn too. Merlin is so, so lucky!
Mine got out in the middle of the night. I heard my two dogs going crazy. I had to run them out and flip the sofa and their my poor baby was. Covered in dog slobber ... he was totally limp but breathing, I had read they can go into shock when frightened and that if left in a safe dark quiet place they could recover. Thank God she did. Now I have two and a cage that has two levels but low to the floor. I now encourage my dogs to interact with my two chins. They lick each other. The dogs put their heads in the cages. I hope that if they ever escaped for some reason they would now just play.
It was so brave of you to share this and to share what you knew had gone wrong. That helps people know what they're getting into so much more than not giving background. Merlin seems like such a happy little guy. Experience with pets is so hard, but we learn from it.
Hey sweetie, I just want you to know that I feel for you. I can tell how sick you are over this situation. I once tried caring for a newborn puppy that had been rejected by his mom. Unfortunately he only lived for 48 hours, and it was only the last couple of hours of his life that I began learning how to properly care for him. I still to this day feel guilty over it. All we can do is live and learn, and from the looks of it, you're doing an amazing job at caring for Merlin.
I'm so sorry that you went through that. it's very possible that you didn't leave that door open. I've known quite a few dogs that can open door knobs, Huskies and shepherds are pretty smart and can often teach themselves to do that. it's not your fault. it's such a devastating experience, I'm so sorry that happened to you.
I am shaking right now, actually we lost ours a month ago. My kids were so devastated and decided not to have another one. They felt that he can’t be replaced, but watching this video now gave me another thought that we could have another chinchilla when we finally move on on the lost of our Chewy. I cried a lot when we lost Chewy as if it’s the end of you the world. Thank you dear for this video
Super sorry for your loss, my dad’s chinchilla got stolen thirty some years ago by his coworker. Three or four years later my dad saw his old coworker and confronted him about the whole thing, his coworker said that he LET THE CHINCHILLA GO ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD a year after chin chin (dad’s chinchillas name) was stolen.... today I have a wonderful little chinchilla named Oliver and about to get a rescue chinchilla after they are weaned from his or her mom. Thank you for sharing about your previous chinchilla and again, super sorry. Love your videos.
Sorry for your lost of Timmy! 😫💞 My Chinchilla Merlin is my first ever chinchilla. I've done a lot of mistakes with him but I'm learning my ways from veterinarians as well as you! I'm so thankful that ur channel exists! 💞 I love ur channel so much! 💜🐭
Poor little Timmy. I just got my first chinchilla nearly a year ago and I’m only 11 so I have no idea if I’m doing anything right or wrong. He’s been doing pretty well after we got him unsweetened oats as treats and better food. We play with him every day, he has a three level cage with plenty of room, and he has toys in and out of his cage. Are we doing well? Thank you if you answer.
Toasted_ Breadz That sounds very good. I’m glad you decided to improve your chinnie’s life and I promise you, you’re chin will be so much better for it😊
Wendy Apisdorf chinchillas should be on a pellet and Timothy hay diet. Things like apple sticks, kiln-dried pine ledges are really for chewing. Their teeth are always growing so those are essential to have in the cage at all times. Personally, I don’t feed my chinchilla any type of leaves, I’ve heard some herbal leaves like peppermint leaves are okay, but I haven’t looked into it a lot so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you do research. Veggies and fruits have a high amount of sugars for small animals like chinchillas; if you give them things with sugar or honey it can cause diarrhea, bloating and gastrointestinal issues that can cause death in chinchillas. If you’re looking to get chinchillas I would recommend watching a lot of videos and doing a lot of research. They’re very expensive pets!
I am so sorry for your loss! I know that is absolutely traumatizing especially at a young age. I would say on the bright side Timmy is in a better place and while it is something hard to deal with it is by no means your fault and everything happens for a reason. Even though it is very sad, but now you have Merlin so while it’s a tragic situation there is a sorta bright side but again I am so sorry for your loss.
Hi, I was wondering if I could use normal pumice from the beach as one of those pink/blue pumice mineral blocks (we live pretty close to volcanoes so we are abundant in pumice.) or if it is unsafe for a chinny?
I got my first two chinchillas when I was 7 or 8 years old and had the same kind of situation with how they were treated . But at least they had each other, and they cared for each other very much. Over the years I learned to properly care for them and they even started to be less afraid of me. I told myself I would be patient with them and I could see them liking me as the next years went by. We had them for about 8 years when one of them (the shy and timid one) started to look very sick and depressed. But before I did anything to help him (I was too ignorant to be urgent about it), he died painfully and slowly in the night. It was about six months ago. The other one became very lonely and bitter. She wouldn´t eat or come out of her hideout, she would fear me more than ever. Worried sick about her health, I promised to myself and prayed to be as patient and kind as I could be. And she started coming around. In fact, she became even more lively and confident than ever. She actually started to like me and trust me. Six months after the first chinchilla´s death (not even two weeks ago) I let her alone in my room for just a moment and was petrified to hear alarmed voices downstairs. I rushed down and saw my mum crying over a little limp fluffy ball in her arms. It turned out she had fallen all the way from the top of the stairs, broke her back on one of the lower stairs and couldn´t move her hind legs. The vet told us half of her body was paralyzed and that we had to put her to sleep. I don´t think I will ever get rid of the tremendous guilt, or the sight of her fragile little body broken and limp. I know how it felt and I´m sorry for you loss. I hope I will do better with my next chinchilla, which I hope I´ll have some day. To be fair, I´m just glad I managed to be a better caretaker for her and to be there for her when she had no one left.
My chinchilla died a few days ago and I still don’t know what’s the reason… my mom found his tooth fallen out on the ground and after 3 days later he was found dead, I don’t know if it was heart attack im very confused :( he was born in 2018
your story is inspiring cuz I'm getting a chinchilla of my own in may and I'm excited but listening to ur story showed me not what do and also I'm sorry for loss if that happened to me i would have never been ne to deal with it like you i hope u and ur chinchilla have a great future :))))
I know what mean because my cat of 12 years was killed by a Siberian husky dog here recently. I could’ve killed that dog, but my mom was a animal lover as am I. So, I’m trying to find something else to love. I’m glad you have Merlin now, and please pray I will get the chinchilla’s, sugar gliders, and other pets I need soon.
My friends roommates dog did this to her guinea pig and blood and guinea pig all over the living room (the cage was in her room) but I’m glad you told this story so other know what not to do. I’m so sorry this happened
My chinchilla died too it happens 3 days after I got when I first got him he was very scared and shook and I did study them I used lots of your vids and did everything right and the 3rd day I got him we left him in the morning to get him supplies because the last owner kept him in a little cage with bad toys but he was connected with the owner and when we got him toys and a new cage I checked him and he was just stiff and his heart wasn’t beating and he wasn’t breath and I just had a huge breakdown and right there on the spot I dug him
I'm sorry, my daughter's chinchilla died today. She was nearly inconsolable. We all cried today. We don't know what happened. other than my Son had a friend over and they had the chinchilla for a few minutes in which he may have fallen off the bed on his face or maybe he got ahold of halloween candy. IDK!!! but I'm so sad that he passed. It was immediate. He acted sluggish, started having hiccups, then foamed blood from his nose and mouth, and then he laid on his side and died. All within maybe 5-10 minutes. I still think something happened that someone isn't fessing up to but IDK. It's just heart breaking. He was such a sweet little guy. We all loved him. 11-1-21 RIP "Okyasu" ❤😭
Im so sorry hun that is so traumatic i have a question does it get very hot in your laundry room for your merlin wasnt sure im so glad u got merlin now he is so precious
Hi my name is Devyn and Iv'e been in love with chinchillas since I saw one on Go Diego Go when I was 7. I am now 14 and it looks like I may finally get one!! Im looking at getting one that is a baby (preferably female), do you have any advise ( such as cage size food restrictions, toy material restrcitions, room temp etc. Iv'e been in love with animals since I could remember and may be working with animals as a career. I have two geckos and 14 birds currently and I take care of them with my absolute attention and love. They are literally my children and I do the best I can possibly do to take care of them and ensure their happiness. Getting a chinchilla is a dream come true and I am very excited
I have a simple question, my mom she has a garage and she wants to turn it into a hangout place for my brother which means shes gonna add carpets an AC and electronics and stuff.. Should I still not put my chinchilla in the "garage"?
My little baby chinchilla passed away last night from prolapse rectum the vet recommended euthanasia she didn't think she would live thru surgery does anyone know what causes this i only had her for 2 weeks
Omg I’m so sorry! I need to show my mom this so she will make sure the dog doesn’t get downstairs (she cants go downstairs but my mom doesn’t really get why.
My dog killed my old hamster mochi (the one on my profile picture) it was the saddest day of my life and we buried him in my front porch but we bought another hamster named pumpkin :). Im sorry for your loss. I know how it feels to lose an animal.
My chinchilla died today :( idk what killed him thought but I think he overheated because he never moves and always on the slab. I woke up and he’s just dead
Megan Ruther Depends on the size. Chinchillas need lots of space but mostly height because they jump and run up and down a lot. As long as you can find one about 5 if not 4 feet tall, you’d be good😊
This story was heartbreaking. Your first Chinchilla died of a freak accident. You made mistakes like any other pet owners. You were trying to get Timmy a new cage but the dogs got to him first. No judgment. When I got Jazzy’s cage (used) I didn’t put the ramp cover on the wire ramp (I wanted to wash it first) and she ended up breaking her leg. She was only 3-4 months at the time. It broke my heart.
Glad the dog owners took responsibility for their mistake and offered you reparations. You videos are very helpful to the chinchilla and chinchilla owners community!!! Happy Holidays!!!
Oh wow...im sorry for your loss. Idk what i would do if i lost my Chinchilla (Shadow). I legit love this furball. I even made him an Instagram profile haha.
I also always chose runts when choosing pets. They are the cutest. My dog was a runt. Had a lot of health issues. Died of brain tumor had to geg put down in january. Gave me a life time of love that will carry me through life a long time. Timmy knew you loved him dear, u where a baby and ur parents didnt know either. Mistakes is how we learn. You have become a great chin mama.
i’m sos sorry , so i was told chinchillas would get lonely if alone so we bought 2 chins! after about two years with a exceptional life i woke up at 3 am in the morning to their bark/screamy noise and i went to see what was happening in there cage and saw one of them ( chub chubs ) on the flood dead, he has just died when i saw him and we think he passed from a heart attack which i thing is a common chinchilla death. It was a really sad day but i think my chinchilla (elliot who is still alive) is okay he was a big of a cage hog and quite mean actually. yeah so that’s my dad story
I am so sorry this happened to you and your chin baby. None of this was your fault. I can kind of understand what you went through. When I was little I watched as my kitty died in front of me. Someone had poisoned her and I had just gotten home from school and was the only one home. I couldn't leave her there dying by herself so I stayed with her until the end.
Oh my god your story is making me super emotional because in have two chinchillas and one night i forgot to close the cage and they jumped out from the second floor and something very bad could had happen to them. Im so glad there ok
And I was I want to say 15, I got a chinchilla I loved it so much! his name was Sage.. unfortunately there was so much bad information I was given from the start. I didn't really research I just trusted what the pet store told me... I had him for probably 4 months got him when he was about 6 months. I had him in a wire cage way too small😢. I live in California and we had a record-breaking Heat Wave he got heat stroke, and died I was devastated and just recently now at almost 30 and thinking about possibly getting another one. We all make mistakes I'm so happy you learned from everything and are providing to happy healthy safe environment and teaching others.
Brittany Evans Thanks for sharing your story, and yes that is heart breaking and I’m so sad that pet stores sell them without giving out proper information on care. If you get another chinnie, I’m sure you will take very good care of them💕
What I learned is love doesn't die. It multiple. You are a sweet soul and didn't meant for that to happen. Now, your new adorable fluffy of joy get to have a better life.
My chinchilla died today 😥. Her name was Daisy and she was 12 years old. She only felt grass on her paws once, she would get so excited when she heard me filling her dust baths. She only like the oxbow pellets in the red bag, never the green. She didnt like cold fruits and would beg for scratches. She chirpped when she wanted attention but would nip you if you get too handy. I would do anything to love her one last time.
I just lost one of my baby chinchillas today due to an accident which led to it having a seizure and dying. It’s sister is now all alone and she’s a baby can someone give me some tips to keep her happy? I have 2 other boy chinchillas too.
KyuubiSensei Aww that is so sad, I’m very sorry for your loss. What you can do is make sure you spend lots of time with the chinnie left and give them lots of attention and love until they get used to not having their buddy anymore💕
I had a chinchilla that died. It was running on his wheel one day the wheel broke and the baby chinchilla flew across the cage and hit itself so hard it just died.So I understand it absolutely stinks.
Ti-Timmy...? *crys* WHY TIMMY WHY DID YOU DIE ON HER SHE LOVED YOU AND CARED FOR YOU *sigh*I’m sorry Timmy’s spirit love you even though I never met you I still love you💕💞
I’m sorry about Timmy. That’s a terrible thing to witness and you are still pretty young and it sounds like you feel guilty. I just hope you know that none of this was your fault and it was all very unfair to happen to you! I’m a mom and my kids are young and I don’t put that much responsibility on a kid! We did heavy research first and I tested her to make sure it wasn’t just something she’d lose interest in. I make her take care of the chinchilla (and dust bust the poops!! Oh god the poops) but I always keep an eye and help out in the background. I’m sure that you did your best with Timmy and if nothing else, he was loved. You can’t buy that kind of love and you nailed it from day one. DFTBA
About a year ago, I had a hamster named Panda. She was mean, bit anyone she could, and escaped her cage at least 5 times but she was mine and any kid who has a pet just wants to love it. Well, my dog, a medium sized, old, friendly dog, decides to BiTe my hamster when she got out. He’s literally never killed anything in his life 😐 RIP Panda 🖤🤍🖤🤍 point is, it’s very difficult to lose a pet and I’m sorry this happened
My mom had come to pick me up from college one weekend in her car. When driving home with her (I was driving), the car that was in front of us hit a cat that had ran out on the road. It was graphic. And stupid me, I pulled over immediately to see if that cat was okay. It wasn’t. It was probably worse than dead because it was having a seizure and had a lot of trauma. I got so upset and was breathing so hard from crying hysterically while my mom was trying to calm me down (I was lucky she was with me) if mom hadn’t have been there to calm me down I seriously would have passed out on or at the side of the road. While my mom tried to get me to snap back into reality another vehicle pulled over behind us on the road. A truck. A farmer got out and talked to my mom to see if everything was okay...he then proceeded to get a shovel out of his truck. I don’t even know what happened at that point because the next thing I remember is that mom and I were back in the car (she drove this time) and continuing on our way home. I was traumatized by that for a looong time. :( I am also very very sorry that happened to Timmy and yourself.
Laci Roomes No, that’s a rock that I cleaned and disinfected and put in his cage. He loves it and I like it because it gives his cage a more natural touch😊
I almost passed out cause I thought it said how Merlin died 😨
Megan Kleine Oh dear, I would not be okay if that happened!😱💕💕💕
Same
Random Girl NO
same omg
I thought it was How my comment died
I'm so sorry sweetheart. This was so heartbreaking to hear. As a Chinchilla owner myself, this was absolutely devastating. I am so sorry that you had to experience that.
Thank you💕💕
Both of my chinchillas had to go one died and the other had been taken to a vet due to ringworm.. so sad
@@Restart_Animator I'm so sorry
I am so sorry for your loss. It couldn’t have been easy and I’m sorry about the way he died. 😞
Windy Sky Thank you, that means a lot to me💕
Windy Sky You are the nicest person alive on earth and I love you💕💞
You are a very good person
@@TheChinchillaNotebook so sorry I fell so bad
It takes a really strong person to share a experience that was so hard on you with other people. The lessons you've learned and have taught us makes our taking care of our chins so much easier, Timmy would be proud of how far you have come and how many people you have helped. Merlin is blessed to have such a caring owner. We are blessed also by having you be so open with your experiences, we will all be better chin owners because of your honesty, caring and willingness to share the good and the not so good with us all.
Aww, thank you so much for this comment and all your support. It really means a lot to me💕💕
Bit of an over-exaggeration
😢so sad!!😢Poor Timmy😢
Jennifer Oliveira I know you might not being corrected but it’s Tinny
Nani how do u know it sounds like n subtitles say Timmy
I have had the same experience when my rabbit got killed by our neighbors pitbull. I was devastated and I saw him in the backyard. Lots of love ❤️
Lively Pets Thank you so much for your support💕💕
Pitbulla r smart
It's so hard to look back on pets when i was young and inexperienced, but we did everything we could and we've learned!!!
Yep, all it cost was the lives of some poor unfortunate creatures
*surprised cat face* dude! I’m personally talking about my Dwarf Hamster that I had, lol he lived for THREE YEARS and was happy and taken care of, but I’m sure there area things I could have done better at the start♥️ she was doing her best to improve his life and make him happy
Jesus loves you pray to god!
eacarriere and I thought hamsters only live for 1 and a half year-
Can u did
OMG this is so SAD I’m so sorry about this! I would have actually died if a dog ate my chinchilla 😭
I dont know what i would do if i saw my gods with my dead chinchila
ben filek2 Gods?
Magical things Of unknown シ they meant dogs obviously, you can understand that
Miss silly batミスシリーバット Ok ✌️
I’m chinchilla died today… he got sick and I was there when he died and I watched him take his last breath.
May he rest in peace….💕
😞 now he is being fluffy in heaven. But yes Merlin is living like a rich Chinchilla ! :D , That is why I call him : his royal fluffiness
Punny
I know this is a sad topic but i love when you said “now he is being fluffy in heaven.” It made me laugh
Omg, I understand how shocking it is. My beloved dog catch up my canary; It was used to fly free in my room; but I don't notice somebody left door open. So my dog came in. I cried as I never done before. My dog died 15 years later. Animals have instincts, we need to be aware of that and do our best. Thanks for sharing and don't feel guilty. Now you're helping a lot of people like me to be a good chinchilla friend. Hugs!
Well maybe the spirit from your first Chinchila lives inside of Merlin,Merlin is a lot calmer inside his cage than my Chinchilla Luna,Luna tries to jump out any second the door id open
Jim Baker my chinchilla is named Luna. And Neptune
That’s like my sugar gliders as soon as I open up the cage they try to run up my arm
Same with mine
Hello! I am going to tell you something really important. This may be the most valuable and most life saving video you ever make. I am 66 so I have seen a LOT of things concerning stray dogs running wild attacking sweet animals and leaving the kind of evidence you described. It happened to me the first time when I was in high school and dogs got in to our back yard where my rabbit cage was. It had been safe for so many years I just never worried about such a thing happening but when I got home from school I did not find a rabbit. I found a cage with the bottom torn completely off so that everything in the cage fell to the ground. Everything was there, in pieces, ... everything except the rabbit. The dogs had eaten most of the rabbit. They left some fur and his tail.
It was the most terrible and upsetting thing I can think of that happened to me at that age. It would have been much better if I had not had my rabbit's cage outside, but like your parents, mine did not want a rabbit in the house. I had to do things their way at that time or move some place else. So I didn't get another rabbit until I lived on my own and could keep rabbits inside if I felt like it. That way no dogs could come along and do such a thing again. Once a cat got inside ahead of me when I was bringing groceries home from the store and the cat ran between my feet and raced inside where I had my rabbit and my birds. Oh no! Birds. The cat jumped on top of one cage before I could grab it. It did not actually touch that bird but it frightened it so much that it's little heart stopped, it was beating so fast.
After I got the cat outside I was holding the bird, trying to calm it down. I couldn't though. It let me stroke it's soft feathers and speak to it softly, but it didn't help much. The birdy died in my hand.
I'd give anything if I could go back and chase that cat away from my door before I opened it.
I didn't even know it was there though!
I know it wasn't my fault but like you, I still feel very sad about the whole thing. I'm pretty sure some body is keeping their chinchilla in a garage or a damp basement right now. I hope they hear your list of things a person shouldn't do and move that cage some place decent. I hope no body tries to give a chin a bath with water! but they might.
I really do appreciate these videos you are making!
I've always wanted a chinchilla but I would like to be able to hold it. I'm glad to know they don't really like that and they can get too hot that way. I'll just be real glad I heard you talking about it before I made a terrible mistake and did things that are really bad for chinchillas.
It is so interesting to watch you as you learn more and more things that you can pass along to us.
Thank you so much for making these videos! They are always so interesting! I don't think they are too long at all.
Good luck to you! and I'll be watching. I'm so happy you're getting that new wheel! Maybe you have it by now. I'm a little bit behind in my videos, grin. I know. Maybe a LOT behind. I was actually listening to the ones that I needed to hear first. So not in order. Stay safe and keep making these wonderful videos. Sincerely, Pam
Hey :) So I just have to say how brave I think you are for telling this story and I am so sorry that this happened :( On a lighter note, your channel has honestly helped me out so much! I recently adopted a chinchilla about a month ago and your videos have helped a lot in terms of learning about their proper care and what it’s like to own one. I think you’re an amazing chin mommy and keep doing your thing girl! Thank you for your awesome vids!
Jen Christi Aww, thank you for this comment, it encourages me a lot😉♥️♥️
Oh my gosh! What a traumatic way to lose your chin!! I can’t even imagine. Glad you stuck with it and got Merlin. Our family just got our first chin and we love your channel.
My first chinchilla died yesterday, (4th of July), he died from a blockage in a tube that helped him pee
Amara Lotus Aww that is so sad! I’m sorry to hear that😢
My first chinchilla died too... AND SHE LOOKED LIKE YOUR FIRST CHINCHILLA... ;-;
I'm sorry ;-;
It was indeed difficult just to hear and picture how Timmy died. But most of all, thank you for sharing. You are brave enough not only to admit the mistakes you made in your first experience but also to share them with details from first impulse to bad care in front of public eyes. I hope what you shared will inspire people to really do homework before getting a pet. It’s a life who completely depends on us. Once inviting a pet home, it’s a lifetime commitment.
Lucky lil Merlin to have you as his mom
Thank you so much for the support!💕
Actually, it is her fault for not doing research not getting a proper cage. Everything was her fault.
Thanks for sharing your story. I think it will help others if they are thinking about getting a chinchilla. Yes they are soooo cute, but their lives are literally in our hands so we must be prepared for their needs before we bring them home. I’m sorry you lost Timmy especially in that way. We are in our first month of chinchilla ownership and your videos have been very helpful and informative.
Merlin listening to your story of how your dog killed the last one like "holy shit, dude...."
Wasn't her dogs but a neighbors dogs
I'm sorry for your loss. I had 2 and I lost one of my first chinchillas due to a careless mistake; she chewed on my alarm clock cord when I wasn't looking. I had only had her for a month, and I was devastated. I'm still close to my first one though, Liberty. I should have known better, and I tell you what, I keep her away from any electricity at all times. I also have my sister's dog that visits all the time that is completely obsessed with my chin. I keep them separated at all times. It would break my heart if she got a hold of my Liberty.
I've been binge watching your videos for the past 12 hours maybe? And I just got to this one and I must say you're very mature and I think that it's good you shared this so other people can learn from your experience and hopefully prevent this from happening to them. I am so sorry this happened and I'm glad you've made it a point of being better and sharing that with us so we can learn too. Merlin is so, so lucky!
aliSeis GE Thank you! This comment just made my day😉💕
Mine got out in the middle of the night. I heard my two dogs going crazy. I had to run them out and flip the sofa and their my poor baby was. Covered in dog slobber ... he was totally limp but breathing, I had read they can go into shock when frightened and that if left in a safe dark quiet place they could recover. Thank God she did. Now I have two and a cage that has two levels but low to the floor. I now encourage my dogs to interact with my two chins. They lick each other. The dogs put their heads in the cages. I hope that if they ever escaped for some reason they would now just play.
It was so brave of you to share this and to share what you knew had gone wrong. That helps people know what they're getting into so much more than not giving background. Merlin seems like such a happy little guy. Experience with pets is so hard, but we learn from it.
Tanner L. Thank you!
Hey sweetie, I just want you to know that I feel for you. I can tell how sick you are over this situation. I once tried caring for a newborn puppy that had been rejected by his mom. Unfortunately he only lived for 48 hours, and it was only the last couple of hours of his life that I began learning how to properly care for him. I still to this day feel guilty over it. All we can do is live and learn, and from the looks of it, you're doing an amazing job at caring for Merlin.
Alena Cade Thank you❤️❤️
I'm so sorry that you went through that. it's very possible that you didn't leave that door open. I've known quite a few dogs that can open door knobs, Huskies and shepherds are pretty smart and can often teach themselves to do that. it's not your fault. it's such a devastating experience, I'm so sorry that happened to you.
I am shaking right now, actually we lost ours a month ago. My kids were so devastated and decided not to have another one. They felt that he can’t be replaced, but watching this video now gave me another thought that we could have another chinchilla when we finally move on on the lost of our Chewy. I cried a lot when we lost Chewy as if it’s the end of you the world. Thank you dear for this video
Super sorry for your loss, my dad’s chinchilla got stolen thirty some years ago by his coworker. Three or four years later my dad saw his old coworker and confronted him about the whole thing, his coworker said that he LET THE CHINCHILLA GO ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD a year after chin chin (dad’s chinchillas name) was stolen.... today I have a wonderful little chinchilla named Oliver and about to get a rescue chinchilla after they are weaned from his or her mom. Thank you for sharing about your previous chinchilla and again, super sorry. Love your videos.
Sorry for your lost of Timmy! 😫💞
My Chinchilla Merlin is my first ever chinchilla. I've done a lot of mistakes with him but I'm learning my ways from veterinarians as well as you! I'm so thankful that ur channel exists! 💞 I love ur channel so much! 💜🐭
It's_Alyssa13 !!!!!!!!! I’m so glad to hear that! Yes, we all make mistakes but that’s okay. Chinchillas happen to be very forgiving😊💕💕
Poor little Timmy. I just got my first chinchilla nearly a year ago and I’m only 11 so I have no idea if I’m doing anything right or wrong. He’s been doing pretty well after we got him unsweetened oats as treats and better food. We play with him every day, he has a three level cage with plenty of room, and he has toys in and out of his cage. Are we doing well? Thank you if you answer.
Toasted_ Breadz That sounds very good. I’m glad you decided to improve your chinnie’s life and I promise you, you’re chin will be so much better for it😊
what do you feed your chinchillas? their diet is pretty complicated cuz they mostly twigs, and leaves right? like not veggies or fruits.
Wendy Apisdorf chinchillas should be on a pellet and Timothy hay diet. Things like apple sticks, kiln-dried pine ledges are really for chewing. Their teeth are always growing so those are essential to have in the cage at all times. Personally, I don’t feed my chinchilla any type of leaves, I’ve heard some herbal leaves like peppermint leaves are okay, but I haven’t looked into it a lot so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you do research. Veggies and fruits have a high amount of sugars for small animals like chinchillas; if you give them things with sugar or honey it can cause diarrhea, bloating and gastrointestinal issues that can cause death in chinchillas. If you’re looking to get chinchillas I would recommend watching a lot of videos and doing a lot of research. They’re very expensive pets!
I am so sorry for your loss! I know that is absolutely traumatizing especially at a young age. I would say on the bright side Timmy is in a better place and while it is something hard to deal with it is by no means your fault and everything happens for a reason. Even though it is very sad, but now you have Merlin so while it’s a tragic situation there is a sorta bright side but again I am so sorry for your loss.
Queen of Horror Thank you so much for your support and love, I really appreciate it!♥️
Hi, I was wondering if I could use normal pumice from the beach as one of those pink/blue pumice mineral blocks (we live pretty close to volcanoes so we are abundant in pumice.) or if it is unsafe for a chinny?
As long as you very thoroughly wash and disinfect the pumice by baking it in the oven too, it would be okay 😉
I’m so sorry for your loss and thanks for sharing this story, it must have been hard.
Suga Bts :] Thank you♥️♥️
Sorry for your lost... and my cousins chinchilla gave birth!!!!!! I’m so happy I will be getting a chinchilla soon!!!!!!!!!!
Vivianadiva That’s so cool!
I got really scared for a second 😅
I got my first two chinchillas when I was 7 or 8 years old and had the same kind of situation with how they were treated . But at least they had each other, and they cared for each other very much. Over the years I learned to properly care for them and they even started to be less afraid of me. I told myself I would be patient with them and I could see them liking me as the next years went by. We had them for about 8 years when one of them (the shy and timid one) started to look very sick and depressed. But before I did anything to help him (I was too ignorant to be urgent about it), he died painfully and slowly in the night. It was about six months ago. The other one became very lonely and bitter. She wouldn´t eat or come out of her hideout, she would fear me more than ever. Worried sick about her health, I promised to myself and prayed to be as patient and kind as I could be. And she started coming around. In fact, she became even more lively and confident than ever. She actually started to like me and trust me.
Six months after the first chinchilla´s death (not even two weeks ago) I let her alone in my room for just a moment and was petrified to hear alarmed voices downstairs. I rushed down and saw my mum crying over a little limp fluffy ball in her arms. It turned out she had fallen all the way from the top of the stairs, broke her back on one of the lower stairs and couldn´t move her hind legs. The vet told us half of her body was paralyzed and that we had to put her to sleep. I don´t think I will ever get rid of the tremendous guilt, or the sight of her fragile little body broken and limp.
I know how it felt and I´m sorry for you loss. I hope I will do better with my next chinchilla, which I hope I´ll have some day. To be fair, I´m just glad I managed to be a better caretaker for her and to be there for her when she had no one left.
You are so brave to share your story. I am so grateful for all your videos . being a new Chinchilla family owner, makes it so much easier for us.
nadine nixon I’m glad to hear that 😊
I am so sorry, I had a turtle die almost the same way. I know how to feel. Sorry for your loss.
sorry for your loss.
if I may ask, whats the best type of food you would recommend for chinchillas?
SimplyLaurie Oxbow Chinchilla pellets 👌
My chinchilla died a few days ago and I still don’t know what’s the reason… my mom found his tooth fallen out on the ground and after 3 days later he was found dead, I don’t know if it was heart attack im very confused :( he was born in 2018
your story is inspiring cuz I'm getting a chinchilla of my own in may and I'm excited but listening to ur story showed me not what do and also I'm sorry for loss if that happened to me i would have never been ne to deal with it like you i hope u and ur chinchilla have a great future :))))
I know what mean because my cat of 12 years was killed by a Siberian husky dog here recently. I could’ve killed that dog, but my mom was a animal lover as am I. So, I’m trying to find something else to love. I’m glad you have Merlin now, and please pray I will get the chinchilla’s, sugar gliders, and other pets I need soon.
The first time I heard this I was scarred... And I only heard it..... Poor you 😭
I know, my white chinchilla died! I was crying for 3 days! We named her snow ball
Aww thats sad. I am actaully trying to find a female white chinchilla and I was planning to name her Snowball when i get it. 💖😭😊
Bryann Peñaloza i have a white one named winter ❄️
Dogs are one of the most underestimated neighborhood predators. This is so sad :(
My friends roommates dog did this to her guinea pig and blood and guinea pig all over the living room (the cage was in her room) but I’m glad you told this story so other know what not to do. I’m so sorry this happened
This is so sad
My chinchilla died too it happens 3 days after I got when I first got him he was very scared and shook and I did study them I used lots of your vids and did everything right and the 3rd day I got him we left him in the morning to get him supplies because the last owner kept him in a little cage with bad toys but he was connected with the owner and when we got him toys and a new cage I checked him and he was just stiff and his heart wasn’t beating and he wasn’t breath and I just had a huge breakdown and right there on the spot I dug him
I'm sorry, my daughter's chinchilla died today. She was nearly inconsolable. We all cried today. We don't know what happened. other than my Son had a friend over and they had the chinchilla for a few minutes in which he may have fallen off the bed on his face or maybe he got ahold of halloween candy. IDK!!! but I'm so sad that he passed. It was immediate. He acted sluggish, started having hiccups, then foamed blood from his nose and mouth, and then he laid on his side and died. All within maybe 5-10 minutes. I still think something happened that someone isn't fessing up to but IDK. It's just heart breaking. He was such a sweet little guy. We all loved him. 11-1-21 RIP "Okyasu" ❤😭
I’m so sorry for your loss. May Timmy Rest In Peace ❤️
Im so sorry hun that is so traumatic i have a question does it get very hot in your laundry room for your merlin wasnt sure im so glad u got merlin now he is so precious
Hi my name is Devyn and Iv'e been in love with chinchillas since I saw one on Go Diego Go when I was 7. I am now 14 and it looks like I may finally get one!! Im looking at getting one that is a baby (preferably female), do you have any advise ( such as cage size food restrictions, toy material restrcitions, room temp etc. Iv'e been in love with animals since I could remember and may be working with animals as a career. I have two geckos and 14 birds currently and I take care of them with my absolute attention and love. They are literally my children and I do the best I can possibly do to take care of them and ensure their happiness. Getting a chinchilla is a dream come true and I am very excited
All the questions you have asked are alredy in the youtube channel.
Just look for the videos..
I am so sorry for your lost rip timmy forever in ur heart 💓
I’m quite curious how old she was when she started researching lol
I have a simple question, my mom she has a garage and she wants to turn it into a hangout place for my brother which means shes gonna add carpets an AC and electronics and stuff.. Should I still not put my chinchilla in the "garage"?
Emily Cassanova It totally works if you have AC in there and you can control the temperature and draftiness😉
Timmy and Merlin
I’ve experienced that shock before x not with my chubbies though (that I don’t have anymore)
I am so sorry for your loss.
My little baby chinchilla passed away last night from prolapse rectum the vet recommended euthanasia she didn't think she would live thru surgery does anyone know what causes this i only had her for 2 weeks
Omg I’m so sorry! I need to show my mom this so she will make sure the dog doesn’t get downstairs (she cants go downstairs but my mom doesn’t really get why.
Yeah that's a good idea because some dogs are friendly toward rodents but some you never know. It's better to be safe than sorry😉💕
Aww I’m so sorry at least you have Merlin now
Yes, I am very thankful for him ☺️💕
My dog killed my old hamster mochi (the one on my profile picture) it was the saddest day of my life and we buried him in my front porch but we bought another hamster named pumpkin :). Im sorry for your loss. I know how it feels to lose an animal.
I'm so sorry that you had to see that I'm gonna start crying
Oh my gosh that is horrible I am sorry that is so painful I can’t even imagine how you felt at that dark time
Are you saying that I should not put my chinchilla down stairs with a bulldog and sit next to him in a corner so to make sure he never gets near him
Life with a chinchilla Jackson Yeah
My chinchilla died today :( idk what killed him thought but I think he overheated because he never moves and always on the slab. I woke up and he’s just dead
Would a large dog crate work as a cage? Obviously I would add ledges and such.
Megan Ruther Depends on the size. Chinchillas need lots of space but mostly height because they jump and run up and down a lot. As long as you can find one about 5 if not 4 feet tall, you’d be good😊
Im so sorry about that! My hamster died yesterday and now i wanna get a chinchilla so im doing my info phase:)
This story was heartbreaking. Your first Chinchilla died of a freak accident. You made mistakes like any other pet owners. You were trying to get Timmy a new cage but the dogs got to him first. No judgment. When I got Jazzy’s cage (used) I didn’t put the ramp cover on the wire ramp (I wanted to wash it first) and she ended up breaking her leg. She was only 3-4 months at the time. It broke my heart.
oh no that is super sad :(
julia is your profile pic wildfire?
Is it okay to put a small fan on the outside of his cage or is that dangerous?
I'm so srry I have three chinchillas now and I have been watching your videos for soooooo long.
Glad the dog owners took responsibility for their mistake and offered you reparations. You videos are very helpful to the chinchilla and chinchilla owners community!!! Happy Holidays!!!
WTHell??? me too, I’m also glad I got Merlin to😊💕
What is so weird is that my hamster recently pasted and his name was Timmy also I am so sorry for your loss.
Oh wow...im sorry for your loss. Idk what i would do if i lost my Chinchilla (Shadow). I legit love this furball. I even made him an Instagram profile haha.
I also always chose runts when choosing pets. They are the cutest. My dog was a runt. Had a lot of health issues. Died of brain tumor had to geg put down in january. Gave me a life time of love that will carry me through life a long time. Timmy knew you loved him dear, u where a baby and ur parents didnt know either. Mistakes is how we learn. You have become a great chin mama.
i’m sos sorry , so i was told chinchillas would get lonely if alone so we bought 2 chins! after about two years with a exceptional life i woke up at 3 am in the morning to their bark/screamy noise and i went to see what was happening in there cage and saw one of them ( chub chubs ) on the flood dead, he has just died when i saw him and we think he passed from a heart attack which i thing is a common chinchilla death. It was a really sad day but i think my chinchilla (elliot who is still alive) is okay he was a big of a cage hog and quite mean actually. yeah so that’s my dad story
I am so sorry this happened to you and your chin baby. None of this was your fault. I can kind of understand what you went through. When I was little I watched as my kitty died in front of me. Someone had poisoned her and I had just gotten home from school and was the only one home. I couldn't leave her there dying by herself so I stayed with her until the end.
One of two of my chinchilla died this morning i watched this to cope with the loss [yeah I know weird] this made me feel a bit better :)
Sooo sad! 😔 My friend her pet died on Christmas
Oh my god your story is making me super emotional because in have two chinchillas and one night i forgot to close the cage and they jumped out from the second floor and something very bad could had happen to them. Im so glad there ok
Nicole Iecampo Me too. That kind of stuff always worries me and I hate to think I could accidentally leave the cage door open and he’d get lost💕💕
And I was I want to say 15, I got a chinchilla I loved it so much! his name was Sage.. unfortunately there was so much bad information I was given from the start. I didn't really research I just trusted what the pet store told me... I had him for probably 4 months got him when he was about 6 months. I had him in a wire cage way too small😢. I live in California and we had a record-breaking Heat Wave he got heat stroke, and died I was devastated and just recently now at almost 30 and thinking about possibly getting another one. We all make mistakes I'm so happy you learned from everything and are providing to happy healthy safe environment and teaching others.
Brittany Evans Thanks for sharing your story, and yes that is heart breaking and I’m so sad that pet stores sell them without giving out proper information on care. If you get another chinnie, I’m sure you will take very good care of them💕
where did you get the cage?
What I learned is love doesn't die. It multiple. You are a sweet soul and didn't meant for that to happen. Now, your new adorable fluffy of joy get to have a better life.
My chinchilla died today 😥. Her name was Daisy and she was 12 years old. She only felt grass on her paws once, she would get so excited when she heard me filling her dust baths. She only like the oxbow pellets in the red bag, never the green. She didnt like cold fruits and would beg for scratches. She chirpped when she wanted attention but would nip you if you get too handy. I would do anything to love her one last time.
I just lost one of my baby chinchillas today due to an accident which led to it having a seizure and dying. It’s sister is now all alone and she’s a baby can someone give me some tips to keep her happy? I have 2 other boy chinchillas too.
KyuubiSensei Aww that is so sad, I’m very sorry for your loss. What you can do is make sure you spend lots of time with the chinnie left and give them lots of attention and love until they get used to not having their buddy anymore💕
HE WINKED AT YOU? OMG MINE DOES THAT AND I LOVE IT.... Do you celebrate Merlin's birthday?
desi swazey Yes, I do and this year I totally forgot to film a video on it, lol. Next year though😉
Poor Timmy :( so standart grey is your favorite mutation ?
Fehrplay Yeah, I love them😊
I had a chinchilla that died. It was running on his wheel one day the wheel broke and the baby chinchilla
flew across the cage and hit itself so hard it just died.So I understand it absolutely stinks.
Ti-Timmy...? *crys* WHY TIMMY WHY DID YOU DIE ON HER SHE LOVED YOU AND CARED FOR YOU *sigh*I’m sorry Timmy’s spirit love you even though I never met you I still love you💕💞
Im so sorry this story is so heartbreaking. It actually makes me so sick im so sorry.
My first chinchilla died yesterday but her sister is still alive.
Aw. Poor Timmy. He did die in the most natural way for a prey animal but he couldn't escape from his captivity. Sad
V. Hansen Yeah, that’s the sad part. He was cornered. But I just hope it happened quickly💕💕
I’m sorry about Timmy. That’s a terrible thing to witness and you are still pretty young and it sounds like you feel guilty. I just hope you know that none of this was your fault and it was all very unfair to happen to you! I’m a mom and my kids are young and I don’t put that much responsibility on a kid! We did heavy research first and I tested her to make sure it wasn’t just something she’d lose interest in. I make her take care of the chinchilla (and dust bust the poops!! Oh god the poops) but I always keep an eye and help out in the background. I’m sure that you did your best with Timmy and if nothing else, he was loved. You can’t buy that kind of love and you nailed it from day one. DFTBA
watchmeimflying Aw thank you for the support so much💕💕
About a year ago, I had a hamster named Panda. She was mean, bit anyone she could, and escaped her cage at least 5 times but she was mine and any kid who has a pet just wants to love it. Well, my dog, a medium sized, old, friendly dog, decides to BiTe my hamster when she got out. He’s literally never killed anything in his life 😐 RIP Panda 🖤🤍🖤🤍 point is, it’s very difficult to lose a pet and I’m sorry this happened
My mom had come to pick me up from college one weekend in her car. When driving home with her (I was driving), the car that was in front of us hit a cat that had ran out on the road. It was graphic.
And stupid me, I pulled over immediately to see if that cat was okay. It wasn’t. It was probably worse than dead because it was having a seizure and had a lot of trauma. I got so upset and was breathing so hard from crying hysterically while my mom was trying to calm me down (I was lucky she was with me) if mom hadn’t have been there to calm me down I seriously would have passed out on or at the side of the road. While my mom tried to get me to snap back into reality another vehicle pulled over behind us on the road. A truck. A farmer got out and talked to my mom to see if everything was okay...he then proceeded to get a shovel out of his truck. I don’t even know what happened at that point because the next thing I remember is that mom and I were back in the car (she drove this time) and continuing on our way home.
I was traumatized by that for a looong time. :( I am also very very sorry that happened to Timmy and yourself.
Ok i just gotta ask i've seen it in his cage before...is that a potato in his cage?
P.s Your one of my fav TH-camrs!💕
Laci Roomes No, that’s a rock that I cleaned and disinfected and put in his cage. He loves it and I like it because it gives his cage a more natural touch😊
Why in the world would she have a potato in the cage!!! 🙄🤦