Wanted: Help for rescued chinchillas

Twenty-five chinchillas in desperate need of care were rescued over the weekend in the Kansas City area and now need donations of cages, bedding and food.

“We’re looking for foster care and donations,” said Tori Fugate, development director at KC Pet Project. “They were in a condition of horrible neglect.”

Fugate said one chinchilla was found dead and the rest require veterinary care. They had been raised by a breeder who no longer was able to care for them. A KC Pet Project supporter was alerted to the situation and called for the animals’ seizure, Fugate said.

“They had water and food but were otherwise neglected,” Fugate said. “They need a lot of care.”

When healthy, the animals will be available for adoption. Meanwhile, they need foster families. Fugate said the females need to be fostered for 120 days to learn if they’re pregnant.

Meanwhile, some of the chinchillas are housed at the Kansas City Animal Shelter, where the call is out for donations of cages, timothy or alfalfa hay, food (preferably chinchilla food made by Oxbow or Mazuri), pine or aspen bedding material, and cage accessories. Guinea pig cages are an acceptable size, the shelter said.

Items may be purchased at pet stores or through the shelter’s Amazon Wish List and may be dropped off at the shelter, 4400 Raytown Road. Monetary donations may be made to the KC Pet Project’s Roadrunner Medical Fund.

Go to www.kcpetproject.org for information about adoptable animals.

This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Wanted: Help for rescued chinchillas."