Author Topic: Update: Ash is no longer with us - R.I.P. little buddy (Read 14531 times)

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #120 on:** May 18, 2008, 04:50:28 PM »

Quote from: demi on May 18, 2008, 04:36:49 PM

Maybe you should just live alone for the next few years. This is what happens when you rely on companionship. Being a hermit isn't so bad now, is it.

Not all of us are bitter, socially inept jackasses Thomas. Even I have a dog.

Condolences, Willco.

demi · « **Reply #121 on:** May 18, 2008, 04:52:06 PM »

This whole first name basis thing is kinda uncomfortable.

xnikki118x · « **Reply #122 on:** May 18, 2008, 04:53:00 PM »

I'm so sorry, Willco.

You did the best you could for him, and euthanasia is the kindest option at this point. You're doing the right thing.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #123 on:** May 18, 2008, 04:53:25 PM »

Quote from: demi on May 18, 2008, 04:52:06 PM

This whole first name basis thing is kinda uncomfortable.

I'm sorry. How about I call you Rudolfo from now on?

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #124 on:** May 18, 2008, 04:53:57 PM »

Sorry, Will.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #125 on:** May 18, 2008, 04:56:06 PM »

Just returned from the emergency clinic. I got to spend some time with him before we put him down. He wasn't in pain, but he looked horrible - like a completely different chinchilla. They had him hooked up to tubes and monitoring equipment. He didn't move; he'd squirm every now and then and he perked up a little bit when I held him upright. But he was just deteriorating before my eyes. I was there with him 'till the end. I never saw an animal put down before. It was very gutwrenching.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #126 on:** May 18, 2008, 05:02:26 PM »

He was the best. He'd hop on my lap and watch TV with me every night. I just got him to recently dance for raisins. Then he'd get a sugar high and bounce off the walls.

Mupepe · « **Reply #127 on:** May 18, 2008, 05:07:33 PM »

Wow, dude. I'm really sorry. I could only imagine how I'd feel if I came home and Jub Jub was gone or sick. I love him to death and he's not even that interactive of a pet.

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #128 on:** May 18, 2008, 05:13:53 PM »

Quote from: Borys on May 18, 2008, 05:13:08 PM

Was that a dog, Willco?

I love dogs (I owned one), he looks so cute in that cage.

Is that what dogs look like in Poland?

CurseoftheGods · « **Reply #129 on:** May 18, 2008, 05:21:05 PM »

Quote from: CajoleJuice on May 18, 2008, 05:13:53 PM

Quote from: Borys on May 18, 2008, 05:13:08 PM
Was that a dog, Willco?

I love dogs (I owned one), he looks so cute in that cage.

Is that what dogs look like in Poland?

Beezy · « **Reply #130 on:** May 18, 2008, 06:23:11 PM »

:'(

Quote from: CajoleJuice on May 18, 2008, 05:13:53 PM

Quote from: Borys on May 18, 2008, 05:13:08 PM
Was that a dog, Willco?

I love dogs (I owned one), he looks so cute in that cage.

Is that what dogs look like in Poland?

demi · « **Reply #131 on:** May 18, 2008, 06:32:00 PM »

It was an exotic rat.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #132 on:** May 18, 2008, 06:38:44 PM »

He's a rodent. People have killed the species for its fur.

They're remarkably social and clean for rodents. They can be trained to go in a litter box, for instance. They are small and agile and love to play. Ash would spend hours kick jumping off of walls. They have distinct personalities too. They're a lot more like rabbits than mice or fancy rats. But they're a lot more social and playful than rabbits. They also can live upwards of eighteen years. That's comparable to like, a cat.

I'll miss him.

Flannel Boy · « **Reply #133 on:** May 18, 2008, 06:39:22 PM »

Sorry Willco.

Borys thanks Borys

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #134 on:** May 18, 2008, 06:40:48 PM »

They also bark. Like a dog. No joke.

They communicate through barks. If Ash want to be let out of his cage, he'd bark and whine. Totally cool animals.

Powerslave · « **Reply #135 on:** May 18, 2008, 06:43:50 PM »

Whenever I hear 'chinchilla' I think of rapmusic.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #136 on:** May 18, 2008, 06:47:17 PM »

He's a chinchilla. And a cross between a rabbit and a mouse and a squirrel is probably the best way to describe one, but with amazing soft fur. Like I said, some variations of chinchillas have been nearly wiped out for their fur. It's so dense and soft because they live in mountain climates and take baths in volcanic ash (that's why they take "dust" baths instead of traditional baths). I wanted a pet that would live a good amount of time and clocking upwards of seventeen to eighteen years, the chinchilla takes the cake! Plus, unlike rabbits, you can litterbox train them and their incredibly social and playful (rabbits are social/playful on occasions THEY want to).

Beezy · « **Reply #137 on:** May 18, 2008, 06:55:55 PM »

Willco, how much do they cost and how big do they get? Do they have long, rat-like tails? I hate rat tails.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #138 on:** May 18, 2008, 07:02:27 PM »

Depends on where you get them. Some animal shelters have them from time-to-time. There's a rescue shelter in Menlo Park that specializes in chinchillas. You can buy one at Petco, where they're anywhere from $90 to $130. The problem there is you really need to befriend the daily cage clean guy and be observant, because you can get a chinchilla that is unfriendly from abuse or unhealthy.

They can get as big as dwarf rabbits. So anywhere from 18 to 35 ounces. Their tails are like squirrel tails, but a little rougher. Here's a video of Ash jumping and stuff back when my room was a complete mess:

[youtube=425,350]z0syEMLV5kQ[/youtube]

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #139 on:** May 18, 2008, 07:10:26 PM »

The new guy, Rocky, is really cute. Much smaller and more playful than Ash. But I will probably return him and the new cage I got for both of them. I guess I'm not really cut out to care for exotic pets. I feel like a terrible person. :'(

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #140 on:** May 18, 2008, 07:30:03 PM »

Don't return the new one, just make sure you keep him at the right temperature.

Powerslave · « **Reply #141 on:** May 18, 2008, 07:38:00 PM »

You got a new one?......

AdmiralViscen · « **Reply #142 on:** May 18, 2008, 08:13:36 PM »

Can chinchillas get along with cats?

edit: Don't get rid of this one, dont' be so hard on yourself dude.

etiolate · « **Reply #143 on:** May 18, 2008, 08:25:47 PM »

=/

Well just keep Rocky in a cool place. It didn't sound like the pet store you got him from was doing their best.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #144 on:** May 18, 2008, 08:30:57 PM »

Quote from: Powerslave on May 18, 2008, 07:38:00 PM

You got a new one?......

I got one as a companion for Ash after he was released from the local vet with a clean bill of health the first time. I got him a huge cage too! And treats! I didn't expect him to deteriorate afterwards. $:-\$

Yeah, I kind of would feel bad about returning Rocky because he was stuck in an aquarium-like tank with a colony of chins and no air conditioning or proper air circulation. If the windows are open here, it doesn't get too hot during the day, plus I'm leaving the chins with frozen water bottles to cuddle next when I leave the house during the middle of the day. They seemed to like it. Rocky leans his head on it.

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #145 on:** May 18, 2008, 08:37:28 PM »

you've learned from your mistake (of sorts), and rocky will be all the better for it. don't throw the chinchilla out with the bathwater, etc etc et al

pilonv1 · « **Reply #146 on:** May 18, 2008, 09:19:48 PM »

sorry to hear wilco

Crushed · « **Reply #147 on:** May 18, 2008, 09:23:50 PM »

(wikis chinchillas)

holy mother of god

omg those look so wonderful

it must be awful to lose one like that

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #148 on:** May 18, 2008, 09:30:05 PM »

OMG thats cute.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #149 on:** May 18, 2008, 09:42:29 PM »

This is the new cage next to the old cage, for comparison's sake. And everyone knows that the old cage was pretty big:

At the bottom is Rocky, in his timber home sleeping:

Now he has woke up:

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #150 on:** May 18, 2008, 09:51:30 PM »

how much was the cage?

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #151 on:** May 18, 2008, 10:24:12 PM »

The big one or the little one?

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #152 on:** May 18, 2008, 10:32:52 PM »

Big one, actually both. How much is food per month about?

Akala · « **Reply #153 on:** May 18, 2008, 10:40:53 PM »

sorry dude.

AdmiralViscen · « **Reply #154 on:** May 18, 2008, 11:53:09 PM »

Quote from: Father_Mike on May 18, 2008, 10:32:52 PM

Big one, actually both. How much is food per month about?

Yea, give us infos.

And how hard is it to litter train them?

And can they get along wtih cats?

brawndolicious · « **Reply #155 on:** May 19, 2008, 12:10:55 AM »

well at least you did all you could. it does suck that the pet's so sensitive to temperature.

Robo · « **Reply #156 on:** May 19, 2008, 12:33:50 AM »

So sad. Sorry, Will. :'(

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #157 on:** May 19, 2008, 01:22:34 AM »

My condolences, Willco. I know the searing pain of pet death.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #158 on:** May 19, 2008, 02:12:59 AM »

The big one was on sale for $149 - normally it's like $200+. The smaller one can be nabbed for $95.

Litter training is easy. You get a litter box pan and put their bedding in it. If they pee or poop outside the pan, scoop out the urine or poop and put it inside the pan. Eventually, out of habit, they only go into the pan. It makes it easier to clean out their cages, you use less bedding and it's awesome!

Food is cheap. They require some pellet food and timothy hay. I spent like $13 on timothy hay in January and I'm still using it. I have to buy a bag of pellet food like once every couple of months - it's like $17.99.

The cage and the pet are the most expensive.

You will buy bedding more than anything. $20 worth should cover you for a month or so.

Buy them raisins and dried banana chips - they love both. They also require stuff to chew on, but even a used cardboard paper roll will suffice if on a budget.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #159 on:** May 19, 2008, 02:14:22 AM »

Oh, they require routine dust baths. You can buy plastic houses for like $9 or just use a plastic container. The "dust" itself is like $18 and will last you half a year.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #160 on:** May 19, 2008, 02:16:33 AM »

And yes, they can co-exist with cats. This relies more on the cat than the chin. I've heard a wide range of stories (including horror stories) that it's best to use an adult cat because kittens are more likely to maul them playfully. As long as your cat knows that the cage is off limits (spray 'em when near) or you physically put a cage off limits, the chin will be fine. There are tons of videos of chins and cats and dogs interacting. Chins are very cautious creatures, but you can earn their trust. If they see a cat is behaving, they'll be more friendly.

xnikki118x · « **Reply #161 on:** May 19, 2008, 02:23:01 AM »

Physically put a cage off limits? To a cat?

Do you have a cat, Willco? Nothing's off limits to cats, lol.

I'm so sorry about Ash. I don't think you should get rid of Rocky just because of what happened to Ash, though. You learned from your mistake. That's just part of being a pet parent.

Bildi · « **Reply #162 on:** May 19, 2008, 03:45:34 AM »

Oh damn, sorry to hear that.

I don't think you should take Rocky back though. You made a mistake, but everyone does, and you learned from it. You seem to be a caring and responsible pet owner which is much more than what a lot of unfortunate pets get.

Ichirou · « **Reply #163 on:** May 19, 2008, 07:30:44 AM »

I don't think I'd ever own an exotic pet, just the whole idea of it dying because you forgot to leave a door open is scary to me. :/

cloudwalking · « **Reply #164 on:** May 19, 2008, 07:41:38 AM »

Quote from: Bildi on May 19, 2008, 03:45:34 AM

Oh damn, sorry to hear that.

I don't think you should take Rocky back though. You made a mistake, but everyone does, and you learned from it. You seem to be a caring and responsible pet owner which is much more than what a lot of unfortunate pets get.

yeah, you should be happy that you gave ash the best life that he could have ever wished for. he was certainly happier with you than if someone neglectful or irresponsible had him.

Brehvolution · « **Reply #165 on:** May 19, 2008, 01:29:08 PM »

Sorry for your loss Willco. :'(

Tauntaun · « **Reply #166 on:** May 19, 2008, 03:14:44 PM »

:'( Sorry g.

TVC15 · « **Reply #167 on:** May 19, 2008, 06:54:38 PM »

Quote from: Ichirou on May 19, 2008, 07:30:44 AM

I don't think I'd ever own an exotic pet, just the whole idea of it dying because you forgot to leave a door open is scary to me. :/

Same here. Plus I am violent and I know I can throw things at my cat without much harm if I get pissed off.

muckhole · « **Reply #168 on:** May 20, 2008, 01:33:26 AM »

So sorry, Willco.

That video was great. For some reason I'd always thought chinchillas were smaller.

T234 · « **Reply #169 on:** May 20, 2008, 01:49:07 AM »

Sorry, Willco.

As an aside, I think we should chip in and get Willco an air conditioner.

demi · « **Reply #170 on:** May 20, 2008, 02:27:17 AM »

Weren't you begging for PC parts, and now you want to suddenly donate?

T234 · « **Reply #171 on:** May 20, 2008, 02:49:23 AM »

I don't recall begging for PC parts, demi.

Hollywood · « **Reply #172 on:** May 20, 2008, 04:18:53 AM »

Sorry about your loss chief :: pours a 40::

How long did you have him?

crimsondynamics · « **Reply #173 on:** May 20, 2008, 10:40:26 AM »

Too bad, the poor fella. My condolences.

Did you bury or cremate him, or did you not have to go through that ordeal? I buried one of my cats close to the beach (dug real deep - dogs, you know) but then I found out it was illegal; the next cat that passed away I took to a cremation service. Both sucked big time, but the cremation seemed so much more brutal for some reason.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #174 on:** May 20, 2008, 12:49:07 PM »

I paid for the emergency clinic to dispose of the body. I don't have any place to bury him, nor do I really want an urn. That seems creepy.

Mupepe · « **Reply #175 on:** May 20, 2008, 12:58:44 PM »

Quote from: Mupepe on May 16, 2008, 08:31:39 PM

Willco

Glad to hear it, dude.

let's start a paypal fund to get Ash an A/C!!!

Quote from: T234 on May 20, 2008, 01:49:07 AM

Sorry, Willco.

As an aside, I think we should chip in and get Willco an air conditioner.

a little late boo

no one cared on page 2 :'(

xnikki118x · « **Reply #176 on:** May 20, 2008, 03:59:48 PM »

Quote from: Willco on May 20, 2008, 12:49:07 PM

I paid for the emergency clinic to dispose of the body. I don't have any place to bury him, nor do I really want an urn. That seems creepy.

I'm going to have my cat Melanie cremated when her time comes, and I'll scatter her ashes somewhere sunny. She loves to lay in the sun.

News:

Author Topic: Update: Ash is no longer with us - R.I.P. little buddy (Read 14531 times)