Van Isle Chillas

08/29/2026

How long do you think this animal had an irritated eye? It was fully crusted over and needed to be soaked to remove. Do you believe he was neglected or abused?

I'm asking because, while we did share the information above R&R Chinchilla ranch and we're as anxious to hear about the outcome of all the allegations, we also realize pet owners are very disconnected from where their pets actually come from, what ethical and humane breeding practices actually look like, and how quickly a animal can get sick or take a turn for the worst. If you don't have that experience, it can feel wrong.

When you have 1300+ animals it's only statistically fair that some will get sick, but it's still no excuse for neglect or abuse if that's occurring on the property.

So how long do you think this animal's eye was icky?

I found him in my chin room this morning when a friend and I went inside to care for and love on the chins. I didn't go in last night because my husband was finally home, and we spent the day & evening together. I cleaned the cages, refilled the bottles, food, and hay the day before. So I felt like it was okay to leave them to themselves for the evening, and that should be FINE. People have lives, but look. This chance I took resulted in Peter poking his eye on his hay I gave him and over the course of the evening he got a crusty irritated eye.

I came in, I clocked it, cleaned it, and I'll treat him with the antibiotic drops we keep on hand for Posie because she does this regularly.

Was he abused? No.
Neglected? For that night if you're looking for a good stretch but not really.

But I'm sure someone could take that picture and write a good story about him, and break your hearts.

Context really does matter which is why I'm reserving any sort of firm judgement with the case. I'm not defending abuse and neglect, but I'm not going to attack an 80 year old man either.

06/25/2026

🪵

Every few years the small pet community rediscovers kiln-dried pine and acts like we've uncovered some shocking new danger. The irony is that the studies people usually cite aren't even about kiln-dried pine in the first place.

The concern about pine comes from older research on softwood bedding. Studies by Vesell and others found that rodents housed on RAW pine and cedar bedding showed changes in liver enzyme activity due to naturally occurring compounds. Those findings highlighted the risks associated with raw softwoods. What they did not do was evaluate modern KILN-DRIED pine products manufactured specifically for animal use.

Kiln drying uses high heat to remove the volatile compounds responsible for the strong pine odor and the concerns raised in those early studies. That's why a kiln-dried pine shelf, toy, or bag of bedding doesn't smell too strongly like freshly cut pine lumber.

The other claim that gets repeated constantly is that urine somehow "reactivates" pine and creates toxic fumes. I've yet to see anyone provide evidence showing that urine can magically regenerate compounds that were already removed during the kiln-drying process. The claim gets repeated online far more often than it's supported and it's scaring pet owners for no reason.

What gets overlooked in these discussions is decades of real-world use. Chinchillas have been housed on kiln-dried pine bedding for generations. Kiln-dried pine is one of the most common materials used for ledges, shelves, castles, hideouts, chew blocks, and toys. If kiln-dried pine were the serious health hazard as some people now claim it is, we'd expect to see widespread evidence of that by now.

Breeders certainly would. Many reputable breeders have thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of dollars invested in their herds. Individual animals can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. These are people whose livelihoods and breeding programs depend on maintaining healthy, long-lived animals. The idea that breeders across multiple countries have been knowingly poisoning valuable breeding stock for decades with cage accessories made from kiln-dried pine simply doesn't align with reality. Rescues even use kiln dried pine, why would we spend hundreds or thousands saving the life of an animal just to put it in danger later? We don't.

Meanwhile, laboratories have some of the strictest environmental standards in the world because even minor variables can affect research outcomes. They continue to use KILN-DRIED pine products. If there were factual evidence that properly processed kiln-dried pine was causing respiratory disease, liver damage, or other health problems, it would have been phased out long ago by breeders, rescues, and laboratories.

None of this means every pine product is automatically safe. Raw pine and cedar are not the same thing as kiln-dried pine. Dusty bedding can irritate the respiratory tract regardless of whether it's pine, aspen, paper, or hay. Product quality still matters.

What frustrates me most about this recurring debate is that it doesn't just confuse pet owners. It also hurts small businesses that make chinchilla-safe ledges, tunnels, castles, hideouts, and toys from kiln-dried pine. These businesses are following the same standards that breeders and owners have relied on for decades, yet every few years they have to defend their products against claims that usually trace back to one or two groups online siting studies on raw softwoods rather than the kiln-dried materials actually being used.

If someone prefers aspen or fleece, that's completely fine. Bedding choices involve personal preference, cage design, and how well you can maintain it. Each bedding has pros and cons, but claiming that kiln-dried pine is inherently unsafe requires evidence that goes beyond repeating decades-old concerns about raw pine and cedar and bullying your group members into believing you.

04/17/2026

🚨

❤️❤️CAPER IS HOME SAFE❤️❤️

6 PM Thursday, April 16
Bear Mountain Langford
Top of the hill at Bear Mountain Parkway on the chip trails. This is all the information we have at the moment. We will update when we have more.
A small black-and-white poodle wearing a harness and trailing a flex lead. The flex lead was dropped and chased the dog. Caper* is frightened right now. He could be tangled up on the trails or trying to run home. If you see him or have seen him, please let us know.
He is wearing a harness with his identification inside a pocket
778-977-6260
778-977-6265

**

LOST AT 06:00 PM ON 04/16/2026

Actual location lost: Bear Mountain Golf Club, Country Club Way, Langford
Last seen: may have headed towards home 1300 Blk Bear Mtn Parkway
Other sightings: Got spooked and ran during walk on trails alongside Bear Mountain Golf Course
Collar? Yes
Tags? Yes
Tag details: Tag contains owners number
Breed, colours, description: Miniature Poodle, black and white parti, approximately 15lbs, maybe wearing an aqua blue harness
Gender: Male
Age: 2
Number of years with owner: 2
Spayed / Neutered? No
General Health: Good
Chip? Yes
Chip details:
Tattoo? No
Tattoo details:
Likes, fears, temperament: Likes most other dogs, friendly, playful. Can be unsure of people.
Contact ROAM:
778-977-6260 or 778-977-6265
[email protected]

04/14/2026

FYI

A new case report documents the first known S. canis pneumonia and pyothorax in a pet chinchilla. Here's what it means and what to watch for.

04/02/2026

In Ontario, there are a hundred chinchillas in need! 🚨 If you can take one in or make a donation, then it'd be extremely helpful for them!

Recently a shelter in the GTA has taken in over 100 chinchillas. We are a small rescue and not able to take in many chins but would be fine with chin experienced people becoming fosters in the Greater Toronto area only. Please message me if you are within the GTA and have chinchilla experience. The shelter has done an amazing job and we hope to help out by taking in some chins. Many are young. All vetting will be covered by the rescue.

We are hoping to get some donations to help the shelter and make it possible to get fosters set up with chinchilla safe supplies.
We need ferret nation cages or critter nation cages. We do not want any other type at this time.
We could also use shavings, oxbow essentials pellets, hay, glass water bottles and toys.
We have an Amazon wish list:
https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/3MJV7E3N3ASK9?ref_=wl_share

Zoey and Lilo’s Wish List: https://www.zoeyandlilostoybox.com/apps/iwish?share=2953059958853 Use code DONATE2CCR for free shipping to the rescue.

And pay pal or emt to [email protected]