Featured Pets: Charley, Eddie, and Yin & Yang

Earlier in 2024, Our Companions had assisted with six chinchillas from the same home through our Rehoming Program and had successfully found new homes for all six. Later in the summer, the owner reached out again for assistance with four additional chinchillas that they were having a difficult time adopting. Suzanne’s Place, our first small animal cottage at the Sanctuary, was now open and accepting small animals this second time around. Therefore, instead of entering our Rehoming Program, Charley, Eddie, Yin, and Yang were welcomed to our Sanctuary in July of 2024.

All four chinchillas were understandably nervous moving to this new space with new people. Charley and Eddie had their own habitat, while bonded pair Yin and Yang shared a space together. Charley was a year and a half old at the time and was the first chinchilla to start blossoming! He would often come to the gate to say hello when his friends would come visit and see if they had any yummy treats! He’s the most outgoing of the four and could take dust baths all day every day if he could! Given how young and active he is, Charley appreciates free time where he can have the space to run, have fun, and explore! Given his exuberant, bubbly personality, Charley will happily greet the other chinchillas and might do well with another male chinchilla in the home that can match his energy, or he would do well having his own space with his people!

Also a year and a half old when he arrived, Eddie was quite shy around people and the other chinchillas. With some patience (and yummy food), Eddie slowly started to trust his human friends and realized that they weren’t so scary after all! He needs time to warm up to new people, but he’s made such great progress during his time with us! He now even enjoys pets and loves being held like a baby! So sweet! Our team have tried introducing Charley and Eddie together, but with Charley’s strong personality and Eddie’s shyness, it wasn’t a good match. Eddie might be able to live with another laidback male chinchilla, or would prefer his own space and time to bond with his new family! A quiet home would be great to provide Eddie the nurturing environment he needs to continue to thrive and bond!

Last, but certainly not least, we have bonded brothers Yin and Yang! Both around two years old, Yin, the darker gray chinchilla, is bonded with Yang, the light silver chinchilla. Both chins share a habitat together and would need to be adopted together. Yin and Yang haven’t been socialized much and often do not like leaving their habitat to free roam in their room, even when people are not around. However, they enjoy activities inside their habitat, like running in their wheel, resting in their hideaways, and having fun with each other! They’ve been making slow progress with people, but will accept treats and have shown signs of being more relax and comfortable with people are close by. They would love a calm home where they can continue to learn how to trust people and let their personalities shine!

All four of these chinchillas are young, sweet, healthy, gentle, and kind! They have made such great progress at our Sanctuary and we can’t wait for them to continue that journey of love and trust in a home of their very own! Whether you’ve cared for chinchillas before or are interested in learning more about the care of these lovely pets and would love to explore adoption, please contact our Helpline to connect with a member of our adoption team! You can either call 860-242-9999 or email [email protected] and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have!