Fur-babies VIII

[draggonlaady]

So a couple years back, kresentia brought me in a little fluff-ball that had injured her leg. We stitched her up, and then kresentia asked me if I wanted her; due to her attitude she wasn't a good option for placing in a pet home, and she was reluctant to keep her as a breeder. (Correct me if I get any details wrong, k?) For once, I did not have to pay the bill on a beastie I took home, kresentia picked up that tab! (yay!)
As an honorary to her recently deceased brother, Happy Pants, and because of her... irascible nature, the little chinchilla was dubbed Grumpy Pants.

She was joined shortly thereafter by an equally fluffy boy chinchilla courtesy of a retired school-teacher. Dust Mouse had been a classroom pet for several years, but the newly retired teacher wasn't sure what to do with him anymore.

Since I do not wish to be a breeder, Dust Mouse got "tutored" quickly, and then they were introduced to each other. They've quite hit it off, and can cram both fluffy bodies together into the small house intended for one; usually there is some random body part left dangling out the door--an ear or tail, or an arm and some whiskers. Trust me, it's cute.

With lots of bribery, and Dust Mouse's good influence, Grumpy will now come up and take treats from my hand, but still hides from most strangers and does not appreciate being picked up. Dusty, being a bit more outgoing, will climb straight out the door and into the treat bin if given the opportunity.

Comments

[evil-egg.livejournal.com]

Aww, cute little thing. How big is she?

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

500 grams? I haven't weighed her recently.

[evil-egg.livejournal.com]

Actually, I meant size-wise. I've never been good gauging weight.

So... breadbox-sized?

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

oh, she's about 6 inches long plus a 4-5 inch tail.

[evil-egg.livejournal.com]

Aaah, cool. She must be good to pet.

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

Yes. Very soft. They were originally bred for their fur.

[evil-egg.livejournal.com]

Like Stephen Fry and his squirrel-fur piano...

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

ya lost me

[evil-egg.livejournal.com]

There's a fantastic comedy quiz show on TV over here in Ol' Blighty called QI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QI), and in one episode regular panellist Alan Davies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Davies) tells the host Stephen Fry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Fry) that red squirrels and grey squirrels can't happily live together in the same area, and Stephen Fry replies to this with "Ebony and ivory are together on my piano keyboard, so why can't they be?". Alan jokingly interprets this as an implication of a squirrel-fur keyboard, which Stephen Fry does nothing to correct, prompting Rob Brydon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Brydon) to say "That's barbaric! Are you saying you want pianos clad in the pelt of a squirrel? Because if that's what you're saying, Fry, you should be stopped!"

If you ever see this show listed as being on TV on your end of the Atlantic, watch it. You'll laugh yourself hoarse.

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

highly unlikely, as I don't watch TV. But if I do happen across it, I'll keep it in mind :)

[evil-egg.livejournal.com]

I think bits of it are available in Youtube, if that's more convenient.

[herdarkmistress.livejournal.com]

Norrrrrrrrr cute

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

So she is. I'll try to add another pic (of both fuzzies) tonight; I thought I had it uploaded, but turns out I don't.

[herdarkmistress.livejournal.com]

WAY CUTE.

[kresentia.livejournal.com]

I do feel like I have to say that I would have kept her happily (I didn't really care about her temperament issues as far as just living here. I do enough rescue that I don't really require a good temperament in anything anymore! Lol!) but you seemed to like her so it was less a needed placement and more an offer. I also, just in my own defense, want to say that her brother died with another home in a freak accident having nothing to do with me. (Though I do have to admit that was a very odd and strangely - Touching? Beautiful? Certainly ironic - situation.) And, funny enough her full brother (different litter) has become on of my favorites - he loves to hop over for fruit and veggies!

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

oi. I wrote that too quickly I guess, and in retrospect, that could have been more clear. It's clear in my head, of course, because I was there--but since none of my readers were, that was bad of me.
Yeah--neither Grumpy Pants nor Happy Pants was an abuse or neglect thing; for that matter, neither was Dusty--just examples of the random things that follow me home. As for Happy Pants, he was totally a sweetie, with absolutely dedicated humans. Didn't they come get another from you after that?

[kresentia.livejournal.com]

No problem - just didn't want to sound like one of those breeders/owners who none of us like. I do so much more rescue than anything else that that is really my main focus! The animals having good homes or a safe place here is my most important thing and I will never breed anything that I can't or won't keep all the babies from (if I have a person wanting a baby, great, but I consider that a nice addition, not a "they must find a home NOW!") and I will never breed anything I won't also rescue. I consider both to be big rules for any breeder.
Ok, and now done defending myself.
Yes, the family actually ended up getting 2 more chins from me and recently added a human baby to the family. They are really great people and we keep in touch often. That is the sort of situation I always try to place my babies into (bred or rescued!). It' so much more fun for all of us!

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

oh! I didn't know they had a baby. Tell them congrats from me if you see them :)

[kresentia.livejournal.com]

It's a pretty recent development - maybe 6 mo ago? She came out and helped me at the fair VERY pregnant. I'll pass the congrats on! A boy named Paxton. He's kind of cute for a baby. Lol!