Helping Heidi To Walk Again

This is Heidi.

A three year old chinchilla that I am fostering till a suitable home could be found for her.

The family that owned her was growing increasingly frustrated with allergies to either the animal itself or the bedding. She was being ignored mostly and the family was close to just 'releasing her to the wilds of Ontario'. I was told she was healthy, no bad habits and not aggressive at all. Heidi needed somewhere to stay temporarily till new housing was secured. 

Since losing my cat (of eighteen years) in February 2015, I was not ready for a new pet and not willing to adopt or take on the costs of a new pet, particularly an exotic, but I did want to help and since fostering seemed the best way and I had the space available, I agreed.

She was delivered in the dead of night, her items quickly dropped off and the previous owners, citing they were in a rush to get back home (they lived an hour and half away) left within minutes of dropping her off.

I was advised before getting her to have her area set up and to leave her be for the most part for at least a few days while she adjusts. I put her little carrier in the area I had for her and waited for her to hop on out. While she was adjusting I was going through everything brought for her. I noticed they had a wire bottomed cage, one chew toy, a pumice stone, more treats than pellets, dust and some hay.

After a hour or so I started to suspect something was wrong when she still refused to come out of the now open topped carrier. Gently I picked her up and put her back on the ground, it was then that I seen she was not using her right hind leg at all. She had it pulled upwards and when she tried to walk, it was more of a hop and sometimes it dragged a bit behind her.

I started to inspect her and found all sorts of signs of neglect, matted hair in the back end near the tail and underneath her haunches, she was soaked with urine on her underbelly. She kept trying to walk using three legs. Her leg was not swelled nor hot to the touch, it was not deformed appearing and no blood.

The next morning she appeared bright eyed, ate the hay I placed in front of her as well as pellets. She didn't move around much, but was eating and drinking. I contacted the previous owners and after three hours he finally responded “I never owned a chinchilla, you have the wrong number".


I know now that he knew about her injury and I am fully aware that he dumped her on me.

She went to the vet that morning, he said her leg is fractured and it is likely a week or so already old. He said that even though she is quiet, she is in much pain. 

The quote to fix her leg is between 1100.00 and 1200.00 dollars (Canadian).

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Note: The amount I am trying to raise has changed (from when I first started) as I learned that restructuring her leg (the original goal) is actually much more expensive than quoted (with follow ups and there are usually issues too), it has a relatively low success rate and would likely prolong her painful state. Often restructuring ends in amputation. 

Heidi is getting the leg amputated rather than restructured since chinchillas do very well as tri-pods. I have been able to come up with nearly 600 dollars to contribute to the bill. 
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I was prepared to spend the money on building a more suitable cage (if it was necessary), on food, dust and other needed supplies till a suitable home was found. I am not financially prepared for this medical emergency. I wanted to help Heidi while a proper home was found, but now that she is in my care, no one is responding back to me nor offering any help.

Besides a growing feeling that fostering is more of a pet dump scam and being wracked with guilt at my inability to pay for this surgery not to mention knowing she is in pain, I am turning to the community for assistance. I am just trying to do right for a neglected and unwanted pet who has many, many years left in her.

My goal is to raise enough money to get her the surgery she needs, so her chances of adoption are increased. This is not Heidi's fault and she should not be made to suffer unduly, she should not have to be put to sleep because it is the cheaper option.



Every penny raised will go towards her medical bills only, her day to day needs I can meet. If you can not donate money then Heidi and I ask that you share her page to help get her more exposure, perhaps the attention of those who can donate or offer services at either reduced cost or pro bono.

I realize that many may want to help, and can help, but are mistrustful of 'these types of campaigns' with no assurance that the money will go where I say it will.

For those who prefer direct donations to the vet (I tend to prefer this method myself), you can call the Anderson Veterinarian Clinic (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) at
905-666-4004.
Their hours of operation:
Monday to Friday 8am till 7pm and Saturdays 9am till 12pm

Donations via credit card only - Visa and Mastercard. I do ask that you do not leave a message asking them to call you back, they are a busy clinic. You are also free to ask questions regarding Heidi's condition. And no, I will have no clue who donated what. 

Please, help me fight for Heidi.

Photo of estimate for leg restructuring; amputation estimate coming soon, was only given the estimate over the phone. 

Veterinarian care in Canada is considerably more expensive than those in the US. I was told by many Amereican chinchilla keepers and owners that amputation is only a few hundred dollars. I called 5 other vets in the area for small mammals for comparison and 4 or them gave me the same quote or a little more. 



Thank you for the help, the share or the donations, it is greatly appreciated.