We were so excited to find out that in 2019 our Chin Spin had been selected to be a permanent install for some amazing chinchillas on Animal Planet's Animal Cribs.
We were so excited to find out that in 2019 our Chin Spin had been selected to be a permanent install for some amazing chinchillas on Animal Planet's Animal Cribs.
Designer and animal enthusiast Antonio Ballatore has partnered with Animal Planet for the first time to bring his visionary and innovative design aesthetic to pet lovers everywhere in the all-new series, Animal Cribs. Antonio, his project manager Grace, and his right hand-dog, Chewie the bulldog, along with a team of Catsperts and Barkitects, transform drab, cramped homes and outside areas into functional, high-style spaces for both pets and the people they love. Antonio’s excitement for both design and animals drive him to go the extra mile for his clients and their four-legged, winged, and scaly friends. The newly designed spaces, renovated specifically for the homeowners and their pets, feature design elements that alter homes to become creative and purposeful spaces for all to enjoy. This season, viewers will see a cabin redesign for a family and their blind dog; a complete backyard renovation featuring a pet-safe fire-pit; a man-cave that can accommodate 20 pets; and a room design complete with a soaring sculptural cat climbing wall, among other design transformations.
The Diaz family are looking to transform their basement into the ultimate family chill out area, complete with an incredible enclosure for their 7 chinchillas.
In this episode, Antonio and his team of pet-friendly builders use a lot of great ideas for a massive chinchilla pad. It connects from one room into the next, making it easy to keep an eye on those little beauties while watching TV or enjoying company.
This is one animal crib we are in awe with.
More importantly our one and only Chin Spin is installed in this beautiful house for these chinchillas. You can see our wheel very clearly when they place the chinchillas in their enclosure for the first time since they rebuilt it. Some of the chinchillas couldn't help but want to go for a run right away!
A true story about NOLA Chinchilla Rescue about the love and care for chinchillas in the New Orleans area.
Established in 2007, NOLA Chinchilla Rescue is a foster-based organization, dedicated to helping owners provide quality homes for their chin companions, assisting in fostering and rehoming unwanted chins and providing an emergency rescue service for chinchillas in the Gulf South. They are located in the metro New Orleans area.
On February 7, 2010, more than 74,000 people packed into the Sun Life Stadium in Miami to watch the New Orleans Saints face off against the Indianapolis Colts during Superbowl XLIV. When the Saints beat the Colts 31-17, the city of New Orleans erupted into days of celebration. While the French Quarter filled with the chaos of fans, beer, beads and “who dat” signs, Rick Riedlinger, founder of NOLA Chinchilla Rescue, was navigating through another type of chaos.
“The weekend the Saints won the Superbowl, we ended up with 70 chinchillas,” said Rick. “I got a van and drove to Dallas overnight to pick them up. We had volunteers who helped us sort them and build carriers. Within three days I drove 3,300 miles across 14 states as we worked to get the chinchillas to new homes.”
The chinchillas that ended up in Rick’s possession that weekend were secured during the December 2009 bust of U.S. Global Exotics. Once the thousands of rescued animals had been triaged, authorities began looking for caretakers and volunteers, and NOLA Chinchilla Rescue fit the bill.
“We’re a small rescue that focuses solely on chinchillas because chinchillas really shouldn’t be around other animals,” said Rick.
NOLA Chinchilla Rescue began in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina when New Orleans experienced catastrophic, irreparable damage and weeks without power.
“After Katrina, we were trying our best to help neighbors’ dogs and cats by making sure they had food,” recalled Rick. “One of the neighbors came to us with a chinchilla named Speedy. We still have him.”
Speedy set the Riedlinger’s love of chinchillas into motion. More chins showed up on their doorstep and they began to adopt chinchillas from Craiglist to aide in their rehoming efforts. Since then, and Rick and his wife have rescued more than 300 chinchillas.
Their history is heartwarming, but if you’re reading this and picturing Rick, an old boat captain, holding a chinchilla in his hands and nuzzling it against his cheek, you’re wrong.
“Chinchillas are cute, not cuddly,” said Rick. “Many chins don’t care to be held at all for more than a few seconds and their bones are extremely fragile, making them a pretty bad pet for children.”
Rick also adds that even though chinchillas are a favorite among teenage girls because of their adorable acrobatic movements and soft fur, those pets often end up with a poor quality of life down the road if they’re bounced from home to home once their owner leaves for college.
“Our minimum adoption age is 21 and our most successful adoptions are with people between 30-50 years old,” said Rick.
Age is only one facet of a successful adoption. Socioeconomic status can also play a role in effectively homing the chins. As Rick puts it, they aren’t a peasant’s pet.
“Our average client spends $600-$900 just to get setup,” said Rick. “Chins need a plastic-free cage with ledges and exercise opportunities like the Chin Spin Exercise Wheel that has a large diameter and wide running surface.”
On top of initial setup, proper chinchilla care includes a simple, high-quality pellet for food. Rick recommends Oxbow Essentials Chinchilla Pellets which contain alfalfa hay that provides optimal energy and the right amount of fiber needed for healthy digestion. Grass and hay are the most important parts of a chinchilla’s diet.
“The problem I typically see is people buy food with ingredients that are healthy for humans, not chinchillas,” said Rick. “We see fruits and vegetables on a label and think it must be good for our pets, but certain amounts of sugar – even the amount in a raisin – can be bad for a chin.”
In the case of an emergency like ingesting a toxin, veterinary care is vital. Whether you own a dog, cat, snake or bird, having a dedicated vet available for regular checkups is also important for a pet’s wellbeing. That goes for chinchillas, too.
“Chinchillas need to see an experienced chinchilla vet at least once a year for a wellness check,” said Rick. “You simply can’t detect things like heart murmurs or other maladies on your own and by taking them for checkups you’re helping them live a long, happy life.”
If you're in need of medical products for Chinchillas, we have it!
“The problem I typically see is people buy food with ingredients that are healthy for humans, not chinchillas,” said Rick. “We see fruits and vegetables on a label and think it must be good for our pets, but certain amounts of sugar – even the amount in a raisin – can be bad for a chin.”
— Rick, founder of NOLA Chinchilla Rescue
Rick strives to be a resource for chinchilla owners. In addition to providing recommendations of veterinarians qualified to work on chinchillas, his website is home to literature on basic care, supply recommendations and what a new chinchilla owner needs to know to get started.
“They’re pets with homework,” said Rick. “If you know everything on our website, then you’re ready to get started, but that’s just the minimum of your working knowledge. If it’s too much trouble to read a couple of pages on a site, then a chinchilla probably isn’t for you.”
To find out if a chinchilla is the right pet for you, visit NOLA Chinchilla Rescue online at https://www.nolachinchillarescue.org.
We are contributing to the greater conversation of how important it is to keep US products made in the US. We hand make all our products in Texas and ship it out from Texas and we know how important it is to keep the quality of our product by keeping manufacturing in the US.
We believe it's important to take pride in where our product is made. Being a manufacturer in Texas has enabled us to continue making the most quality qroduct while maintaining the USA-Made brand we have been for years.
In today's global economy, consumers have more purchasing and product options than they have ever had in human history. During the pandemic, it hasn’t been very reliable when ordering products from other countries and therefore a reminder for the US to bring more manufactured products and jobs back to the states. We pride ourselves in keeping everything in the US and shipping from Texas. We want to extend that pride to you, the customer, by providing insight into the importance of USA-Made and why it’s important to continue to purchase locally.
But you don’t have to be a major manufacturer or creator in the US to be included in the USA Made movement. Like us, we are a small manufacturing company that keeps things simple and small to have a greater impact with quality products. One of the most obvious reasons for supporting USA-Made companies is that buying USA products creates jobs for US factories and small businesses. But these manufacturing jobs also create other jobs in our US economy. For example, steel sourced from USA suppliers requires freight, logistics, sales, accounting, and all other functions associated with running a business to deliver steel every week. For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.81 is added to the economy. This is the highest multiplier effect of any economic area in the US. Note that these US workers are also US consumers, who use their income to purchase locally. In fact, for every 1 full-time job in manufacturing, there are 3.4 equivalent jobs in non-manufacturing. The data shows that buying US products creates more jobs in our US economy.
For every 1 full-time job in manufacturing, there are 3.4 equivalent jobs in non-manufacturing
— MAPI
Not only do these companies that create products create more jobs outside of our manufacturing floor, but manufacturers also have one of the highest percentages of workers who are eligible for health benefits provided by their employer. Around 90 percent of manufacturing employees were eligible for health insurance benefits in 2015 and about 84% participated in their employer’s plans, indicating that US manufacturers are providing valuable benefits to their employees.
According to Facts about Manufacturing by The Center for Manufacturing Research of The Manufacturing Institute, “In 2018, the average manufacturing worker in the United States earned $87,185 annually, including pay and benefits. The average worker in all nonfarm industries earned $68,782. Looking specifically at wages, the average manufacturing worker earned more than $27 per hour, according to the latest figures, not including benefits.”
Supporting American-based manufacturers and products has been shown to reduce income inequality, lower the unemployment rate by creating jobs, and help balance our trade and budget deficits. According to the Made in America movement, the average wages and benefits for manufacturing jobs are approximately 21 percent higher than for non-manufacturing jobs.
By supporting USA-made products and companies you are also supporting cheaper, more reliable shipping. Buying domestically produced products reduces the travel distance of products (if the product is purchased within the US), which, in turn, reduces unnecessary fossil fuel use and emissions.
Not only are we working toward protecting intellectual property and the devaluation of the U.S. dollar, we are also helping to prevent the risks presented when we outsource production to other countries. We don’t have to deal with foreign suppliers where key instructions can be lost in translation and hinder the quality of the product when sent back to the states. It’s also important to note that supporting USA-Made companies helps to keep them accountable for practicing good business.
News stories about contaminated plastic and pet food products from China have led to recalls, illnesses, and even deaths. Products made under the scrutiny of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Departments of Commerce and Agriculture are typically held to higher quality standards than many foreign-made products. Safer materials and products give customers peace of mind that they are not exposing end-users to unsafe products and themselves to liability claims.
The U.S. also has distinct regulations against pollution, which some overseas countries have not yet been able to meet. Sending our manufacturing overseas means sending our pollution overseas and potentially heightening its impact. Other countries with less concern for the carbon footprint they are creating are only making things worse by continuing to produce products that simultaneously produce a great amount of waste.
At one time “USA-Made” did not have the same connotation it once did. With the US mandating greater requirements for quality control and safety the technology is evolving with the demand for more quality products. Here at QCC we are striving for a more automated system that ensures quality each time a product is made and reduces human error.
It goes without saying that supporting USA-Made companies such as ours also recirculates tax revenue back into the local economy, which benefits every US citizen through re-investment in education, national defense, social security, Medicare & Medicaid, transportation, and research in science & healthcare. If you want to support your local community, support local businesses.
Not only does the “USA-Made” label promote a sense of patriotism when you support the U.S. economy and create jobs for American workers. You also know those factory workers or small businesses are not subjected to unsafe conditions, low wages, or other forms of exploitation that the U.S. Department of Labor and domestic labor unions protect against. Being domestic product producers it’s easier to keep these humanitarian aspects in check, and it gives us a chance to really give back to the community by putting more resources back into our employees.
Whether you need a cage, a wheel, or another accessory for your exotic pet, we have you covered with the best quality in the industry!
A true story about a veteran breeder of chinchillas who is doing good in California as "California's Quality Chinchilla Breeder".
Sumiko De La Vega
@chinchillachateau
When you hear the word chateau, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a manor nestled in the French countryside that’s home to a richly-robed lord who drinks wine with an assortment of fragrant cheese. Or perhaps it’s a quiet senior living community where retirees play pinochle on Tuesdays. If you know a thing or two about chinchillas, however, you might conjure up the image of a converted room in Manteca, California, filled with runs and colony caging for chinchilla breeding: the Chinchilla Chateau.
“Chinchilla Chateau is a hobby that started from me wanting to own a pet chinchilla,” said Sumiko De La Vega, owner of Chinchilla Chateau. “The more I learned about chinchillas, the more I wanted to take the steps to become a responsible breeder.”
Sumiko’s business is focused on breeding chinchillas for show, but she also has chinchillas available to purchase as pets and takes in rescues or surrenders if the chateau’s capacity allows. She’s housed between 50-60 chinchillas at a time, but there’s one special chin that started it all.
“I was working at a pet store where I got to interact with chinchillas on a daily basis for the first time,” said Sumiko. “That’s where I had the opportunity to purchase Gizmo, a white mosaic chinchilla. Gizmo passed away a few years ago and now I have core breeders, but Gizmo was the one I was really attached to.”
With Gizmo by her side, Sumiko dove head first into the world of pedigree chinchillas, constantly searching for sought-after breeding qualities. In 2006, she purchased her first breeding pair.
“My goal is always to improve the species,” said Sumiko. “I only breed chinchillas that have characteristics of a healthy, quality animal with no known maladies.”
Sumiko explains that as a responsible breeder, she focuses on chinchilla size, conformation, veiling color and tips, and fur density, strength, and texture. She emphasizes that responsible breeders are also members of breeding organizations like the Empress Chinchilla Breeders Cooperative or the Mutation Chinchilla Breeders Association.
“These organizations have educational newsletters, host educational seminars for members and put on workshops to teach new breeders how to show and what qualities to look for,” said Sumiko. “Being part of a breeder organization connects you to a lot of knowledge and experience.”
As a veteran breeder with dozens of chinchillas in her care, Sumiko encourages those considering a chinchilla as a pet to take stock of their home and ensure the environment is chinchilla-ready.
“They shouldn’t interact with other pets,” she said. “People occasionally want to have their cats, dogs or rabbits play with them, but it’s really not safe. Chinchillas are very fragile and other animals could easily and accidentally injure them.”
A chinchilla’s fragile nature extends from its thin ribs to its delicate digestive system. In fact, most toys and exercise options sold in pet stores are unsafe for chinchillas because they are an inappropriate size or made of materials that aren’t truly chew-proof.
“There are very few options out there if you want to do it right, but one of them is the Chin Spin Chinchilla Exercise Wheel,” Sumiko explains. “It’s metal and has a nice wide surface. It’s a large enough diameter that it doesn’t cause the chinchilla’s spine to become fractured. The ones I’ve owned have lasted for years and years.”
Taking Sumiko’s advice is probably in the best interest of any chinchilla owner. Afterall, this is a woman who has bred chinchillas for more than 13 years, traveled across the country to compete in shows, and has even safely transported chinchillas over 1,800 miles by car in a single trip.
Yes, chateaus are home to high-class Frenchmen and afternoon card players, but the Chinchilla Chateau is a whole new breed.
If you're in need of the best wheel for Chinchillas, we make it!
“There are very few options out there if you want to do it right, but one of them is the Chin Spin Chinchilla Exercise Wheel,” Sumiko explains. “It’s metal and has a nice wide surface. It’s a large enough diameter that it doesn’t cause the chinchilla’s spine to become fractured. The ones I’ve owned have lasted for years and years.”
— Sumiko, founder of Chinchilla Chateau
Taylor Walker is a freelance copywriter and product photographer based in Boise, Idaho. She has spent her career working in the marketing departments of state agencies, Fortune 10 companies and small businesses. Now, as a photojournalist in the public affairs department of the United States Air Force, Taylor continues to hone her craft while managing her business, What to When Media.
A true story about a humble Chinchilla breeder and their love and care for chinchillas in upstate New York.
Humble Acres is a breeder of quality chinchillas for pat, show, or breeding. Founded in 2005, Humble Acres Chinchillas is a member of both the Mutation Chinchilla Breeders Association (MCBA) and the Empress Chinchilla Breeders Cooperative (ECBC). They strive to produce high-quality chinchillas that can compete on the show table, improve the lines of other breeders, and provide years of companionship for a family.
They serve the rural Upstate New York region, convenient to Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, NY, as well as Erie, PA, and Cleveland, OH.
In the spring of 2019, a family in rural Western New York was struck by tragedy when flames from a faulty gas dryer engulfed their home, forcing the family, their dogs and birds to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Near the apex of the fire, an entire chinchilla herd belonging to Humble Acres Chinchillas perished.
“They were in an attached annex and the smoke got to them,” said Dee Bunk-Hatch, owner of Humble Acres. “We’re still in the process of reestablishing everything, but the support from the chinchilla community has been amazing.”
The chinchilla community has rallied to provide new animals, encouragement, supplies and donations to Humble Acres in their time of need, but they’ve also given Dee and her husband a new found social confidence over the years.
“The chinchillas have expanded my sense of adventure,” said Dee. “My husband and I have flown to Colorado, I went to New York City and rode the train to New Jersey, and we’ve gone across the border. I don’t think we would have done those things if I hadn’t been involved with chinchillas.”
Dee was first introduced to chinchillas by her tenth grade biology teacher who kept chins in her classroom. After some persistent coaxing, Dee managed to convince her dad to buy her one chinchilla and then another. When the biology teacher was ready to give up her chinchillas, Dee adopted those too.
“My dad, of all people, thought it would be cool to put one of the female chinchillas in with a male,” said Dee. “So we did, and the kits were born and that was the start of it.”
Dee’s dad wasn’t the only contributing factor to Humble Acres’ humble beginnings.
“My husband, Mike, knew me in high school and loved my chinchillas. For our first Valentine’s Day he bought me my first pedigreed chinchillas. Of course I married him.”
Humble Acres has come a long way from the few chinchillas Dee had as a kid. Now, she breeds high-quality chins for pets, for show, and for breeding purposes. Dee is also a competition judge trainee and visits schools, nunneries and other local organizations to familiarize the public with this little-known rodent.
“I’m a breeder, but I also consider myself an educator,” said Dee. “Education is really a big part of what I do and it’s a way to get current and future owners acquainted with proper care techniques.”
Dee emphasizes that while chinchillas can live longer than many dogs or cats, they’re not like other pets. Their special habitats and unique physiques require constant attention.
“People don’t immediately realize that chinchillas need very specific environments,” Dee said. “Air conditioning is non-negotiable and things like dust baths are essential for their health.”
In addition to dust, natural allergens found in hay or pine bedding can leave chinchilla owners sniffling and sneezing.
“There’s a myth that chinchillas are hypoallergenic,” said Dee. “While they don’t release a whole lot of dander, people don’t think about how they may be allergic to the supplies chinchillas need. But there are alternative options. You can feed hay cubes instead of loose hay. You can use fleece instead of pine or aspen.”
If you're in need of the best treats for Chinchillas we have it!
I’m always here for my chinchilla owners. It can be the day after they adopt a chin or five years down the road. I’m here.
— Dee Bunk-Hatch, owner of Humble Acres
Humble Acres makes ownership simple by providing a starter kit that includes the essentials: a glass water bottle, a chew-proof food dish, pine or aspen bedding, hay cubes, bath dust and a high-quality food pellet.
These necessities are just the beginning when it comes to chinchilla ownership. Continued research is important in order to maintain the health of a chin, but initial health starts with adopting from a qualified organization.
“People tend to do a Google search and contact the first breeder they find, but we encourage them to reach out to us instead,” said Dee. “We’re willing to answer questions and even refer you to someone reputable close by. We want to find you a great match.”
With more than 15 years of experience under their belt, Humble Acres Chinchillas is home to a wealth of knowledge and they don’t plan on going anywhere.
“I’m always here for my chinchilla owners. It can be the day after they adopt a chin or five years down the road. I’m here.”