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2009 ACHIEVEMENT REPORT

2009 PROJECTS (additional and special reports) Redistributed 13 rescue and 1 ranch chin, 14 total: took six each from two Michigan rescues with overflow and transported them and a special needs case chin to a rescue from Tennessee who will rehome the twelve and who transported the special needs case, along with two donated wheels and a carrier, to a rescue in Kentucky where she will have a forever home. The fourteenth chin was paired with a same-sex friend from one of the two relinquishing MI rescues, they'll be homed out as a pair, 1/2009 Donated two cages to a chinchilla rescue in Kentucky, 1/2009 Placed 2 old female ranchies in their forever home in Illinois and brought back 2 rescues for rehoming, 2/2009 Awarded the 2008-9 Applause Award to Tennessee Chinchilla Rescue, 2/2009 Covered veterinary expenses for a chin with a medical emergency at a Kentucky chinchilla rescue, 3/2009 Donated supplies to a New Zealand chinchilla rescue, 3/2009 Covered the cost of neutering for two males, who will be rehomed by Ohio and Missouri chinchilla rescues following their recovery, 3/2009 Donated supplies to a New Zealand chinchilla rescue, 4/2009 Paid for a veterinary exam for the two males neutered last month, 4/2009 Covered the cost of neutering for one ex-ranchie male, 4/2009 Transported donated supplies and 21 chins from three rescues in Michigan and Ohio to a chinchilla rescue in Missouri that can accommodate them and find forever homes, 4/2009 Paid for a veterinary exam for a rescue chinchilla with Glaucoma, 6/2009 Bought a cage for a New Zealand chinchilla rescue experiencing a heavy influx of surrenders, 6/2009 Financed a dozen new cages as additions/ replacements for a New Zealand chinchilla rescue, 6/2009 Covered veterinary expenses for a Louisiana chinchilla rescue to treat a rescue chin with a possible bladder infection and another with fight wounds, and for a vet checkup for three others, 7/2009 Helped an Ohio rescue with an exorbitant air conditioning bill, to avoid shut-off, 7/2009 Sponsored a trip to New Zealand so that the ICRN Project Manager could assist with and report on Tanzy Chinchilla Rescue's part in Dunkley's Pet Expo, 8/2009 Covered gas expenses for a trip to Indiana to relocate 18 chins from a full Michigan chinchilla rescue to one from Tennessee with greater availability and rehoming potential, 9/2009 Paid for a veterinary exam and head x-ray for a chinchilla at a Michigan chinchilla rescue, 9/2009 Covered the cost for three chinchillas from a Michigan chinchilla rescue to get veterinary exams and also covered a prescription cost, 11/2009 Paid for transport of 11 rescue chinchillas going from Michigan to Indiana, where a chinchilla rescue in Tennessee picked them up and will be able to accommodate and rehome them, 12/2009

ADDITIONAL AND SPECIAL REPORTS This year Lycia Rice of Tanzy's Chinchilla Rescue had a booth at Dunkley's Pet Expo in Christchurch on South Island, New Zealand. Sally B., Project Manager for MM's International Chinchilla Rescue Network, was fortunate in being able to attend and report on the event as featured later in this article. The Expo was well advertised throughout Christchurch as well as on the web. From eventfinder.co.nz:   When: Sat 1 Aug, 10:00am–5:00pm and Sun 2 Aug, 10:00am–5:00pm Where: Addington Raceway, Twigger St, Christchurch   The show for pet-lovers! The Dunleys Pet Expo is the South Island’s largest and most popular pet extravaganza, back in Christchurch in '09.   Since the last Pet Expo in 2005, we have been hounded (excuse the pun) by animal breeders, the pet industry, and by the pet-mad public to hold another expo. Here’s why:   * Dunkleys Pet Expo is New Zealand's premier public promotion for all sectors of the pet industry, including all issues associated with the responsible ownership and care of companion animals.   * Pet Expo offers the public the opportunity to see, touch and appreciate the widest range of pets on offer in New Zealand.   * It also features a huge range of animal-related products and services needed to make a pet's life fuller, fitter and more fun.   * Activities include individual cat, dog, bird, rabbit and cavy displays; dog agility and canine sports demonstrations; pony and donkey rides; breed and educational talks; equestrian events; animal magic shows; prizes and give-aways (and much more) in this fun family expo. Sally B.'s report on the Expo, *photos in bold type* Lycia spent weeks in preparation for Tanzy's Chinchilla Rescue's part in the Expo: official brochure, surrounding country where Expo took place: 1, 2. Prominently displayed on one table were the informational brochures, adoption contracts, business cards (1, 2) and rescue profiles that represented the knowledge of subject matter and public relations accumulated through five years of rescue leadership experience. On the sales table were chinchilla supplies that included chew toys and hay supplied by generous friends- a part of the proceeds benefited the rescue- and TCR's homemade treats which were cut into tasty (I tried one!) chin-sized squares after baking. The walls of the entire booth were covered with pictures of wild chinchillas, examples of proper housing, and "before and after" pictures of TCR residents. Tanzy's Chinchilla Rescue in Christchurch is the only chinchilla rescue in both the North Island and South Island that comprise the country of New Zealand; it is an officially registered charity. Lycia was careful to choose chins that she knew were resilient enough to handle having crowds pass by during their sleeping hours. They were at the back of the display and had hideaways in addition to having their cages covered to feel more safe and sheltered: cages 1, 2, 3. The cages used at the Expo were large travel cages, not the size or type of cage suitable for regular use, not like the ones normally occupied by TCR residents per explanation in the nearby photos of proper housing. After setting up the booth, Lycia and Sally reluctantly sat for mug shots. The Expo took place over a weekend and both Saturday and Sunday saw incredible turnouts: crowds 1, 2, 3, 4. Lycia had arranged to have others help at the booth as well and everything ran smoothly, it was a polished performance. We educated the public on the origins of the chinchilla and the many aspects of domestic chinchilla care, Lycia spoke with potential adopters and gave them the information and forms needed to apply at TCR after the Expo, and as the chins were willing we showed them to the public and allowed limited supervised handling. Bandit (cage picture 3) was by far the best sport! I was proud to play a part in this Expo, it was a tremendous achievement for Lycia to bring chinchillas into the spotlight at a prominent public event where people had gathered expecting to see the usual household pets, some farm animals and a few delightful surprises: 1, 2, 3. As news spreads through the spoken and written information we dispensed, the people of New Zealand will come to better understand and value the gift of chinchilla companionship that began in the Andes mountains of South America and traveled to their shores half a world away.