Chinchillas are exotic animals that need a lot more specialized care than many people assume. The conditions these animals are being kept in in certain pet stores is deplorable. They are kept in small glass tanks with nothing to climb or chew on. Chinchillas are native to mountainous areas in South America and need ledges to climb on to maintain their health. Much like hamsters and other rodents, chinchillas have teeth that are constantly growing. Because of this, they need to have something available to chew on at all times. Sticks, wood, pumice stone, and even their hay and food are great ways for them to keep their teeth healthy. However, in most pet stores, they have no access to any wood or safe product for them to chew on. The average pet store chinchilla tank will have a few plastic items in it, which is toxic for chinchillas to ingest. So either they chew on the plastic and risk getting sick, or they chew on nothing and their teeth grow to be far too long, which can cause a lot of pain and health issues for them, even including risk of death. I’ve personally seen chinchilla tanks in which the chinchilla’s waste is very soft, which indicates they aren’t receiving a balanced diet (most likely not enough hay being made available). Their cages are often dirtier than is healthy for them, and there is no way to know how much interaction they receive, as they are fairly social animals. Chinchillas are also very hygienic animals, one of their most well known traits being that they take baths in dust to clean themselves, as their fur is too dense to get wet. Given the rest of the information we have on their care in pet stores, I can’t imagine they have frequent access to this. I have a pet chinchilla of my own, and it breaks my heart to see others in such poor care. They are very personable animals, with strong, unique personalities equivalent to that of a cat or dog. They deserve to be treated with more respect and care. Of course, the question is, if pet stores stop selling chinchillas, where will potential owners be able to get them? There are actually a lot of chinchillas and other small animals that are in shelters! They often spend a lot of time there, as when people go to get one of these animals, we don’t often think of them being in shelters. However, you will be surprised at the amount of exotic pets available in places like this! And the great part about adopting them is that they are more likely to be healthier coming from a shelter than a pet store. They are also most likely cheaper than what you can find in pet stores. I adopted my chinchilla, Stanley, from a shelter. He’s 5 years old and in incredible shape and health, and a darling to be around. In conclusion, I ask that you sign this petition, in hopes of taking another step forward in animal rights and helping these adorable little guys get the care they need. And if you ever are in the market for an exotic pet, PLEASE look at shelters near you first! You might be able to give a home to someone who might not have been given the opportunity before you!