Home ..Site Updates History & Mission, BOD FAQ's Accomplishments Disclaimer, Copyright, Contact Pet Chin Rescue/ Re-Homing ..International Chinchilla Rescue Network (ICRN) Quotes For Compassion Ranch Chins ..Pet Homes For Ranchies: News, Photos Petfinder Page In Defense of Positive Activism (.doc) Make A Difference ..Change by Choice Show You Care, Donate ChinCare: Educating Chinparents MATILDE'S MISSION: ICRN ICRN is not a club, it's the pet chinchilla rescue/ re-homing outreach program of MM. While this page was created primarily for use by chinchilla rescue workers, ICRN does make Rescue/ Re-Homing Contact Referrals to the public and ChinCare's "Guides to Responsible Rescue and Re-Homing" provides information and resources for chinparents. We welcome those with pet chinchilla or rescue websites to post the above logo with a link to this page. ON THIS PAGE: *ICRN Team and Objectives *Rescue/ Re-Homing Contact Referrals *ICRN Program Grants *Applause Award, Recipients *Rescue/ Re-Homing Tools and Resources (adoption materials, resource links) *Rescue/ Re-Homing Tips (submissions by chinchilla rescue workers) ICRN TEAM AND OBJECTIVES ICRN was officially launched in January, 2007 but actually began its work in July, 2006 when MM initiated projects to include benefitting pet chinchillas in need of rescue/ re-homing, as indicated by our Accomplishments. ICRN is a continuation and expansion of the work of IPCR (International Placement Coordinators for Chinchilla Rescue and Re-Homing), which had networked extensively within the international chinchilla rescue community between 2003-2006, assisting in scores of cases (in Europe and nearly all 50 U.S. states) that involved everything from routine re-homings to emergency rescue assistance. The ICRN Project Leader is Sally of ChinCare and the ICRN Team is: Carise of ForCHINate Chins Rescue (Ohio, USA) Jennifer of Wisconsin Chinchilla Rescue (Wisconsin, USA) Renee of Monty's Place Chinchilla Rescue and Refuge (New York, USA) Rowan and Jane of R&J Chinchilla Rescue (UK) Lycia of Chinchilla Club NZ and Tanzy's Chinchilla Rescue (NZ) Collectively, the ICRN Team conducts extensive hands-on rescue/ re-homing work of their own in addition to contributing to ICRN projects, which are frequently international in scope and include the following: providing chinparents with re-homing information and referrals to help prevent the tragedies associated with "Free to Good Home," dumping and kill shelters; directing adoption inquiries toward chinchilla rescue; coordinating and conducting railroading (transporting) of rescue chinchillas to assist chinparents or to prevent overcrowding at rescues; maintaining the ICRN webpage and the private master list of current international chinchilla rescue services; overseeing ICRN's rescue-benefitting projects: ICRN Program Grants, Tools and Resources, Tips, the annual ICRN Applause Award; and networking within the international chinchilla rescue community to facilitate communication and expedite cooperation so that rescues can receive the community support they need. RESCUE/ RE-HOMING CONTACT REFERRALS Contact the ICRN Team AFTER reading the bulleted points below- (No spaces in address when sending, put "Need Rescue Referral" in subject, include your state/ country in message) Sally= ICRN @ matildes mission .org (USA) Carise= for chin ate chins @Yahoo .Com (USA) Jennifer= wi chin rescue @aim .com (USA) Renee= montys place rescue @ yahoo .com (USA) Rowan and Jane= chinchilla-rescue @ hotmail .co .uk (UK) Lycia = the chinchilla club @gmail .com (New Zealand) If you are a chinparent who needs to contact a chinchilla rescue service in your state- Be aware that rescue services will not buy your chinchilla, that is what classifieds are for. The ICRN Team are happy to refer you to rescue services in your state, just email one of us and inform us of your state of residence. If you are a rescue that can't take in any more chins (at capacity, etc.)- When you get surrender requests forward them to one of the ICRN Team who will handle the situation from the start to avoid confusion. We refer from our private master list of current international chinchilla rescue services and in our referring email we provide the relinquishing chinparent with an abridged guide to responsible re-homing, which includes the warning that rescue, pet store and most re-homed chins are NFB, Not For Breeding. If you would like to assist ICRN by volunteering to be added to their private rescue listing- Contact an ICRN Project Leader (see above) and submit this Qualification Assessment, (.doc) as an email attachment. If you are interested in adopting a chinchilla currently residing at a chinchilla rescue or shelter- See the International Chinchilla Rescues/ Shelters listing. Be aware that an adoption fee and screening for competent ownership will apply. ICRN PROGRAM GRANTS Grants are made to rescue services internationally as needs arise and funds permit. Please contact us to apply for assistance but be aware that we do not give out monetary grants, we only donate or fund something that we can directly supply and obtain a receipt for, such as chinchilla care items or veterinarian services. MM reserves the right to decline any request for any reason, without expressed cause. We do require minimal proof that those we are assisting are legitimate rescue services, this includes submitting: At least two clear, comprehensive photos of the rescue facilities Example of the adoption contract used that also indicates enforcement of a minimum (at least 50 USD per chin and charging more is strongly adviseable, both pet stores and breeders charge more and rescue/ re-homed chins aren't "less valuable") adoption fee. Adoption fees give the adoption candidate an opportunity to provide proof of their financial competence and ability to cover veterinary and routine care expenses for their future pet. Acceptance of an ICRN Grant requires recipent to post our thumbnail logo (located under "Home Page") on their site with a link to Matilde's Mission for the period of one year, because raising awareness of our cause can help replenish donations that will be used for more good work. "Our Accomplishments" documents Grant assistance and our contributions in the areas of helping both ranch and pet chinchillas in need, the list will be added to and kept in the manner of discretion that it currently exhibits. APPLAUSE AWARD, RECIPIENTS MM's International Chinchilla Rescue Network honors one rescue service annually, applauding outstanding performance in the field of chinchilla rescue work and awarding $100 USD to the deserving rescue. The 2006-7 and 2007-8 Applause Awards, the first bestowed, were determined by ICRN but subsequent awards will be determined by vote from the international chinchilla rescue community each January. 2007-8 APPLAUSE AWARD: R&J Chinchilla Rescue Note: The monetary award for 2007-8 has been increased to 250 GBP for the purpose of giving additional relief to one of the UK's hardest working rescues! by R&J R & J Chinchilla Rescue and Re-homing Centre provides a dedicated service for any chinchilla in the UK requiring rescue, rehabilitation, re-homing, and/or on-going permanent care where necessary and appropriate. We never put down a chinchilla who's got a chance at a quality life, instead we prefer to 'go the extra mile' to get the chinchilla back to full or optimum health. During 2007 we took in 137 chinchillas along with 14 degus and 8 hamsters. We successfully re-homed 87 chinchillas, 9 degus and 3 hamsters. Of the chinchillas that have come in, some were from a large rescue of 28 that had to be surrendered immediately due to the owner's illness. We had to use our living room to cater to these chins, so we put out an appeal for a new shed. Amazingly, the money was raised in just 2 weeks and volunteers arrived to erect the shed and prepare it for the rescues. During 2007 we dealt with a number of health problems, including malocclusion and teeth related cases, Glaucoma which resulted in the affected eye being removed, cancer, stroke, seizures and bladder stones which resulted in one chin having an Urethrostomy, C-sections, hand-rearing both chinchilla kits and degu, pneumonia, ear problems, leg amputations and a chin with no hip joints due to arthritis who is now receiving acupuncture. We have a strict re-homing policy and endeavour to find homes with people that do care about the chinchillas and their well-being. We also offer help and advice whenever needed. 2006-7 APPLAUSE AWARD: Wisconsin Chinchilla Rescue by MM During an exceptionally tough year for MI and OH rescue services, WCR generously offered to help accomodate MI and OH rescue overflow plus most of the ranchies from the 2006 PHFR Project, for a total of 33 chins in all! From the start we were impressed with the level of care and dedication that this rescue provides. Their very thorough adoption screening process includes a meet-and-greet style that is both educational and interactive, adoption candidates meet with WCR and the chins at their rescue and they gain a better understanding of what it is to be a chinparent. Often the chins choose who takes them home rather than the other way around. At WCR the whole family is involved and the chins get regular individual attention and out-of-cage exercise time that makes them confident and well-socialized for their future pet home. WCR also goes out of their way to help chins languishing in shelters and those that have been neglected or mistreated by previous owners, they don't hesitate to provide veterinary care when needed. A big round of applause for Wisconsin Chinchilla Rescue! RESCUE/ RE-HOMING TOOLS AND RESOURCES (adoption policy and procedures, applications; adoption contracts; care sheets; surrender forms; resource links) As those of us in rescue work know, screening and surrender materials are necessary to ensure that we handle those lives that come our way with the utmost gravity and compassion. The bare essentials of rescue/ re-homing are the administration of a thorough adoption contract and a minimum adoption fee (at least 50 USD per chin and charging more is strongly adviseable, both pet stores and breeders charge more and rescue/ re-homed chins aren't "less valuable"). Adoption fees aren't for profit of course, it's a way of proving financial competence on the part of the adopter and people should realize that most rescues operate at a loss after vet and routine care costs are factored in. The following examples of adoption materials are not necessarily chin-specific, they're intended for the edification of chinchilla rescue workers who wish to educate themselves for the betterment of their own rescue/ re-homing operations. Per our site disclaimer, MM claims no association with, endorsement or guarantee of the information, opinions or products of the sites we link to (or they to us). We strongly caution against plagiarism and advise our site users to comply with internet copyright law at all times. This section is primarily intended for the benefit of the international chinchilla rescue community. To submit a contribution to this section, contact us. ADOPTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES, APPLICATIONS C&C Chinchilla Rescue and Rehabilitation: Adoption Application (.doc) CA Chin's Rescue Policy and Process/ Second Chance Chin's Chinchilla Rescue Adoption Procedure Forever Feisty Chinchilla Rescue: Adoptions & Surrenders/ RRR Chinchillas: Preliminary Questions Monty's Place Chinchilla Rescue & Refuge: Adoption Procedures/ The Animal Spirit's Home Check Evaluation Form North Bay Canine Rescue and Placement: Guidelines/ Rude Ranch Animal Rescue: Adopting, Legal Disclaimers The Rabbit Habit: Adoption Application/ CLAWS: Policy, Vet Form/ Southern CA Rabbit & Pocket Pet Adoption: Policies ADOPTION CONTRACTS (Always make a copy of the contract, one for the applicant, one for your records!) All Breed Rescue and Referral, Inc/ AlterPet, Inc/ Animal Rescue Foundation/ C&C Rescue and Rehabilitation (.doc) ChinCare's Adoption Contract or Qualification Assessment (.doc)/ Chinchildren's/ Cocker Spaniel Rescue of East Texas Colville Pet Rescue/ Feral Cat Friends, Inc/ Leesburg Chinchillas/ Second Chance Chin's Chinchilla Rescue Siberian Husky Rescue Site/ Wisconsin Chinchilla Rescue CARE SHEETS C&C Chinchilla Rescue and Rehabilitation (.doc)/ ChinCare (.doc) SURRENDER/ RELEASE FORMS Lab Retriever Rescue of Florida, Inc: Surrender Form Monty's Place Chinchilla Rescue & Refuge: Surrender Procedures/ Sinful Chin's Surrender Form Second Chance Chin's Chinchilla Rescue: Pre-Surrender Questionnaire and Release Form Twisted Oaks Animal Rescue: Relinquishment Form www version/ .doc RESOURCE LINKS Oxbow Cares Rescue Rewards Program: "Oxbow can support your rescue organization with substantial product discounts and educational resources to help meet the needs of your rescue program." There is also the "Oxbow Pet Products Animal Rescue Grant" Raise awareness that "good homes" for chinchillas are at a premium and inform the public of the work of chinchilla rescue by contributing a story to "The Rescue Report." Xenu is a link-checking tool for websites, it's invaluable (free, easy) in keeping your site links current RescueGroups.org: "RescueGroups.org offers free and low-cost services, including the Pet Adoption Portal, web site and voicemail services to non-profit animal rescue and shelter organizations." Consider getting signed up with Petfinder, Petboro and RescueGroups.org, check out the benefits! Also, get your charity signed up with GoodSearch and make everyone you know aware that if they use that search engine and input your name in the charity field, then GoodSearch's advertisers will donate to your rescue. Although it is commonly acknowledged that rescues need to be prepared financially for emergencies before declaring themselves capable of conducting rescue, the following organizations may offer assistance for veterinary costs: IMOM: "We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged." AAHA: "Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship." Angels 4 Animals: "Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need." Care Credit: A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. "With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget." God's Creatures Ministry: "This fund helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help." Help-A-Pet http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html "Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor." The Pet Fund: "The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care." United Animal Nations: "The mission of LifeLine is to help homeless or recently rescued animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. We strive to serve Good Samaritans and rescue groups who take in sick or injured animals. In certain cases, LifeLine can also assist senior citizens and low-income families pay for immediate emergency veterinary care." UK Assistance (petloversonline.co.uk): "Most of us can cope with the financial commitment involved in the day to day care of our pets. However, how many of us come out in a cold sweat when our pet is ill or injured and we know we have to take it to the vet? Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford it but, some of us who love our animals dearly cannot. Unfortunately we do not have a PDSA or a RSPCA Centre within our area, but there are a few charities who may be able to help." The topics below derive from these ChinCare pages: Let's Home Those In NEED Before We Breed, The Rescue Report, Rescue, Re-Homing & Classifieds, Setting Standards for Responsible Pet Chinchilla Breeding, Ownership and Neutering Adoption Fees and Dangers of FTGH, "Free to Good Home" (Information on Bunchers and Hoarders) Chinchilla Hotel/ Temporary Lodging Defining Overpopulation and "Good Home" Guides to Responsible Rescue and Re-Homing International Chinchilla Rescues/ Shelters Links to Rescue/ Re-Homing Stories Lost Pet Resources Rescue Programs for Chins and Other Exotics Standards for Responsible Pet Chinchilla Breeding: Our Philosphy and NFB: "Not For Breeding" Factors We CAN curb chinchilla neglect, abuse and homelessness! RESCUE/ RE-HOMING TIPS The following tips pertain to the process of chinchilla rescue/ re-homing, as told by pet chinchilla rescue workers and they do not necessarily reflect the exact views and opinions of MM. These tips are presented as a way to educate and inspire fellow rescue workers, to share ideas and not to promote plagiarism; we advise our site users to comply with internet copyright law at all times. Per our site disclaimer, MM claims no association with, endorsement or guarantee of the information, opinions or products of the sites we link to (or they to us). This section is primarily intended for the benefit of the international chinchilla rescue community. To submit a contribution to this section, contact us and specify whether or not you'd like to be credited, as not everyone chooses to. Bach's Rescue Remedy (bachcentre.com, bachflower.com) is helpful for calming chinchillas that are seriously stressed, anxious or traumatized from an injury. This is an herbal, all-natural treatment that is safe for use by all animals and humans. Do a search for best price, it varies greatly between suppliers. In addition to fundraising the typical way, by soliciting donations, why not follow the excellent example of NZ Chinchilla Rescue in New Zealand or R&J Chinchilla Rescue in the UK and make it possible for people to sponsor one of your permanent rescue residents? Check out their programs for how-to, and it's adviseable to set up a paypal account or some similar type of payment method so that sponsoring is available to people worldwide. See this link on "Why People Do Rescue," it's an straight look at what it takes to do rescue honestly, and this link also contains some essential considerations, "Starting a Successful Rescue." (Not chinchilla-specific links, but noteworthy) Never turn away anyone who needs to relinquish a chin, instead, send them to ICRN for a rescue/ re-homing contact referral if they're out-of-state/ region/ country or your rescue is at capacity. It is strongly adviseable to post a legal disclaimer when listing rescue services, so that chinparents know we can't vouch for the character or legitimacy of rescue volunteers that only they will get to screen and meet in person. See example. To dramatically decrease time-wasting spam, space out your website's contact email and do not hyperlink it because that's what the email harvesters look for. Try this approach instead: "Contact myrescue.org at: me @ my rescue .org (no spaces when sending, put "chinchillas not spam" in subject)" Always cc, "carbon copy" everyone directly involved when coordinating a re-homing and encourage them to communicate directly but keep you in the loop, it expedites results. Don't judge an adoption candidate by their first email, most people make poor first impressions, especially by email. Ask, ask, ask before assuming. These two asterisked points derive from the pages of Second Chance Chins: **We do not charge to take in chinchillas for rehoming, but we do require that you supply us with all of the chinchilla's belongings. This means the chin's cage and all its contents, food, toys, leftover litter and any other supplies that you may have. First, this keeps familiar things with your chin, so that they are not as traumatized by the change in location. Secondly, if you're giving up your chinchilla, you shouldn't have any need for these items anyway. Items that are in good, usable condition that are deemed unneeded here at Second Chance Chins are donated to other small animal rescues (rabbit, guinea pig, rat, ferret, etc.) or sold and the profits are used to help support the rescue. We do not pass along items with a chinchilla when they go to their new home. Their new family is responsible for providing for their needs. **Things to keep in mind during the application process: Please do not be offended if you are asked for more clarification on the answers you provide. We must be absolutely sure we understand your answers, in order to provide for the continued well-being and safety of all of our rescues. Please answer our emails at your earliest convenience. Delay in responding on your part just delays our decision, and sometimes causes more work on our part to follow up with you, delaying other applicants as well. Please only submit an application if you are serious about bringing a chin (or chins) into your life at the time you are applying. We cannot hold applications for later processing or hold chins for extended periods of time while you decide when the time is right. If you have a change of heart about adopting, PLEASE help us serve others more efficiently by letting us know and don't leave us hanging! It's just courtesy to say "I think I have changed my mind...please remove my application". We spend a lot of time trying to follow up with people who never bother to write back after they submit their application. All of our communications are via email, for clarity and the sake of having everything in writing for review. Please do not ask us to call you. Remember, we are sometimes working with several applicants at once. We don't want to end up confusing what you've said with something someone else may have said and end up not approving a great candidate because of that.   Be wary of disclosing any personal information (phone number, address, etc.) besides a contact email. When owners want to drop off their pet, meet them in public place halfway. This prevents the possibility of being stalked by an unstable person after they have second thoughts about the pet they gave up. It also prevents people from dropping off chinchillas at your doorstep any time of year, in any weather. If someone asks health care questions, try to get them all answered on your first response rather than posing more questions, often the first exchange is all you get before they go off the radar. When you get an adoption request and then don't hear back after your reply, do at least two follow-ups just in case the person's email was down or they had a family emergency, etc. As rescuers our number one concern should be the chinchillas and what is best for them. This means at times we may have to work with another rescue that we normally would not correspond with. Networking and lending a helping hand beyond normal comfort zones is critical in achieving a better life for our rescued chinchillas. Automate by form letter as much as you can, and turn on the auto-reply on your email to let people know that their email was received and what your approximate response time (24 or 48 hours, etc.) is. Chinchillas can be very territorial, especially those that have come from abuse or bad cagemate situations in the past. If a chin is getting edgy with their bonded cagemate, or if they're urine-spraying or biting you or urinating (marking territory, females do this too) all over their cage perameter, then put a sheet (ref) around their cage, this often resolves those issues immediately. Don't take in more rescues if it will detrimentally compromise the level of care and attention of those you already have, find and cooperate with others who do rescue in your state and support each other by transferring overflow when necessary. Quality of care must come first, that's what separates us from hoarders, folks! "I AM AN ANIMAL RESCUER" Author Unknown My job is to assist God's creatures. I was born with the drive to fulfill their needs. I take in helpless, unwanted, homeless creatures without planning or selection. I have bought dog food with my last dime. I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand. I have hugged someone vicious and afraid. I have fallen in love a thousand times. And I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body too many times to count. I have Animal Friends and friends who have animal friends. I don't often use the word "pet". I notice those lost at the road side and my heart aches. I will hand raise a field mouse and make friends with a vulture. I know of no creature unworthy of my time. I want to live forever if there aren't animals in Heaven, but I believe there are. Why would God make something so perfect and leave it behind? Some may think we are masters of the animals, but the animals have mastered themselves... something people still haven't learned. War and abuse make me hurt for the world, but a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for mankind. We are a quiet but determined army and we are making a difference every day. There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan, nothing more rewarding than saving a life, no higher recognition than watching them thrive. There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play who, only days ago, was too weak to eat. By the love of those who I've been privileged to rescue, I have been rescued. I know what true unconditional love really is, for I've seen it shining in the eyes of so many, grateful for so little. I am an Animal Rescuer. My work is never done. My home is never quiet. My wallet is always empty, but my heart is always full.