I lied, one more post before we go.
The Matilde Mission, our chinchilla charity, is undertaking a number of major projects. Through painstaking negotiation, we’re very close to “shutting down” one of the biggest chinchilla pelters in the upper Midwest, and were — just in the last few days — able to bring a significant sized herd off the ranch and into a safe house. Read the latest update here. Here are two babies, for example, enjoying soft bedding and hiding enclosures for the first time. Instead of ending up in a fur salon (it takes 100 chins to make a full-length coat), these little guys will watch cartoons (a chinchilla’s favorite pastime) and eat hay and play for the rest of their days.
Here’s “Nubs”, who survived having his ears chewed off when he was a kit. And here’s ‘96, just before she died; some chins come off the pelting ranches so traumatized that they aren’t long for the world. But when the Matilde Mission rescues, we make sure that the chins that can’t be saved die either at home in their adoptive parents’ arms or in an animal hospital, gently euthanized while loving fingers stroke their fur. On the ranches, they die alone and frightened — if not by having their necks broken (standard procedure for making a pelt), then of neglect.
I’ve cried a lot this week. My wife and I serve as president and treasurer of the Mission, and we are coordinating with rescuers in Arkansas and Michigan at the moment. We’ve saved dozens of lives this week; dozens of little happy, intelligent, kind, soft creatures will know joy and comfort they’ve never known before. But we’ve lost a few and had to put a few down, and though I’d love to authorize unlimited vet procedures to save the sick ones, vet money comes from the same fund that pays for acquiring, transporting, and rehoming the ones who can have long and happy lives. There’s been a lot of hard decision-making these past few days.
We’re going to ramp up for a major fundraising campaign this summer as we seek to take the Mission nationwide. In the meantime, I know money’s tight for most of my readers. But any donation, no matter how small, will do so much good. These girls are playing today instead of being turned into coats or dying of neglect, and you, our donors are the reason.
You can donate securely via credit card here. The Matilde Mission is an IRS-recognized, 501(c)3 tax-exempt charity. Checks and chinnie fan mail can be sent to:
“The Matilde Mission: Pet Homes for Ranch Chinchillas, Inc.”
PO Box 94521
Pasadena, CA 91109
The late Matilde Schwyzer thanks you.
I suspect that you feel about chinchillas, Hugo, about the same way I feel about cats. You’re such a bleeding heart; keep it up.
Ditto, NBarnes! I heart cats!
The article you link to points out the chins were acquired legally from the farm. All was done “above board.”
In reading your post, I was wondering if this rescue was some sort of “midnight raid” on a chinchilla farm by a Chinchilla Rights group. It wasn’t. Your post was a little vague and the more paranoid (or world-weary) among us might get the wrong impression if they don’t follow the link.
Yours is a legitimate charity, not a bunch of loonies that “liberate” animals into the wild where they are unequipped to survive and die horrible deaths.
Rob, we have nothing whatsoever to do with Animal Liberation Front. Matilde Mission takes no stance on the activities of other animal rights groups, save to decry all tactics that threaten either human or animal lives.
And you should take a position.
If you don’t condemn the terrorism of ALF, it is perfectly legitimate to conclude that you support it.
I condemn all acts of violence that cause harm to human beings or animals; to the extent that the ALF engages in that sort of activity, I repudiate it completely and unequivocally.
save to decry all tactics that threaten either human or animal lives.
If you don’t condemn the terrorism of ALF, it is perfectly legitimate to conclude that you support it.
Shit Stirring - 1, Reading Comprehension - 0. More scores after the break.
I don’t think that goes far enough.
For example, I am on the pro-life side of the fence. Randall Terry and Operation Rescue give silent assent - and rumored help - to terrorism, and do not condemn it, or do so half-heartedly.
Therefore, I reject them totally. Even in cases where they do good, it is a case of a broken clock being right twice a day. The evil they do makes any good fruit from a poisonous tree, and I will not call them brother. I will not “break bread” (Metaphorically speaking) with them. I have been very instrumental in insuring that my own parish’s pro-life activities keep these people away from us.
I do not merely condemn them to the extent that they engage in that sort of activity, I repudiate THEM completely and unequivocally, and totally.
TO do any less would be - to turn a phrase - “Praising them with faint damning.”
Gonz, my repudation of all forms of violence will have to suffice. And that categorical denunciation of illegal and violent tactics seems to suffice for all of our donors.
That’s your privilege; it’s one of the reasons, though, that I never donate to any environmental causes - when I find people who equivocate on terrorist groups, they aren’t getting any of my money.
ALF and ELF are terrorist groups. They commit terrorism. No matter how noble their cause, once they cross that line they become one of the bad guys. Same thing goes for people like Operation Rescue whose support for those who commit terrorism - by a refusal to condemn them - makes them not part of the solution, but part of the problem.
Sins of omission. When you call criminals “brother” or “sister” you wind up losing a lot of moral credibility.
Grr!! I just found out that the breeder I bought my chinny from is a member of MCBA (and what MCBA is) and I am *so very, very, very* angry. How could someone name and love them and then be involved with crap like that. Very, very angry.
Anyhoo… I wish I could donate (but alas, I am a poor student). I live in Madison, WI– I have an extra cage that would be ok for a baby chin for a little while if someone wants it. When I have a house, I would be happy to be a foster mom (so if that’s part of your thing… let me know).
There’s a rescue in Peawaukee, WI. Is it on the up and up?
Erica, email me off line and I can give you more info. and put you in touch with some folks to work with.