10/08/2026
The welfare of the chinchillas should always come first! This is why we joined Global Chinchilla Alliance (GCA). Resharing GCA’s and Let's Love Chinchillas & More posts below:
This is a long, but very important post. I encourage all to read to get a full picture of the R&R Chinchilla Rescue. We are sharing this because behind every report, every phone call and every number being discussed are living, breathing chinchillas.
And we love these animals. Deeply.
That is why Global Chinchilla Alliance exists.
Weeks ago, GCA provided a written plan offering our facility, experience, resources and support as one option for keeping these animals together, quarantining them, addressing their health concerns and providing veterinary oversight before placement.
That option was not chosen, and the decisions surrounding these animals were ultimately PETA’s to make.
But we are deeply concerned by what has happened since.
Animals have now been dispersed, and we have learned that at least one rescue was not provided critical information regarding the potential infectious disease risk before receiving 27 chinchillas.
These aren't boxes being transferred from one facility to another. They are animals. And the people receiving them are real people with families, volunteers and other animals depending on them to make safe decisions.
Information about a potentially contagious and zoonotic disease matters before the animals arrive, not after. It affects quarantine, veterinary care, biosecurity and the safety of everyone who may come into contact with them.
We are also deeply troubled that PETA reportedly asked this rescue to remove its original public post. When legitimate questions involving animal health and safety arise, we believe the answer should be more transparency, not less.
GCA has contacted federal authorities requesting accountability and a full reconciliation of these animals: how many have been removed, where they have gone, what health information accompanied them, what testing and treatment has occurred, and what safeguards are being used as animals continue to be relocated.
We want answers, not because we want a fight or need to be proven right.
We want answers because we need to know these animals are safe.
We need to know the rescues receiving them have the information they need. We need to know sick animals are receiving appropriate veterinary care. And we need to know decisions being made today are not creating another crisis tomorrow.
This situation is also exactly why GCA has been working so hard to establish a permanent chinchilla rescue and sanctuary.
We are fundraising to create a place specifically equipped for situations like this: a place where large numbers of chinchillas can be brought to safety, properly quarantined, evaluated, treated and given the time they need before decisions about their futures have to be made.
A rescue and sanctuary isn't simply about giving chinchillas a permanent home.
It is about making sure there is somewhere prepared to take them when suddenly dozens, hundreds, or even more chinchillas need help.
This is why it matters.
And while we believe PETA must answer legitimate questions about how these animals have been handled and dispersed, our focus remains where it has always been: on the chinchillas and their welfare.
When these 27 chinchillas needed help, people throughout the chinchilla community showed up with knowledge, donations, supplies and support.
Nobody stopped to ask whose chinchillas they were.
They were chinchillas who needed help.
That was enough.
We will continue asking for accountability. We will continue helping the rescues caring for these animals. And we will continue working toward a future where, when something like this happens again, there is a rescue and sanctuary ready for them.
Every single one matters.
We love them too much to do anything else.
