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In our lifetime, we are visited by very special angels, and even if we do not realize it at the time, these angels touch our lives, our hearts and our souls. Their time with us is usually short, but the precious gifts they leave behind will stay with us forever.
Sydney, our standard gray female, came into this world on December 2, 2001 at Circle M Ranch. She would find a new home at Luv’ N Chins a few months later, where I would eventually meet her in January 2003. At the time, we had three male chinchillas and we thought our household was complete, but that was before I met Sydney. Jo Ann, of Luv’ N Chins introduced Sydney to me and when I held her for the first time, I was in love. I had read about female chinchillas who sprayed and had “bad attitudes” and I expected for some reason, all females to have the same disposition. But Sydney quickly dissolved that myth. She was so calm and relaxed that she let me cuddle with her and kiss her furry head repeatedly. She took my breath away with her beauty; I was in awe over her dark standard coat and her bright white belly. I didn’t even have to think twice about wanting her and as soon as I discussed it with my fiancé, Darren, she was destined for a new home with us. We couldn’t take her home immediately because her future mate, Roo was still recovering from a toe injury, so we decided to wait and pick up Sydney when Roo was healthy again. The two week wait was difficult, but she would be worth the all the time anticipating her arrival. I wrote daily emails to Jo Ann to see how she was doing and to pass on a hug and kiss for me. The day finally arrived that Roo was healthy and the cage for Sydney was complete. I didn’t care that it was evening when I got the call from Jo Ann, I ran around the house, picking up car keys and getting ready as fast as I could. Sydney would finally come home with me and I couldn’t wait another minute to get in the car and pick her up. I felt like I was getting a chinchilla for the first time, butterflies in my stomach and my heart racing. I held her for about an hour while I visited with Jo Ann. She was so gentle and it was as if she knew that I would be her “new mommy”. I had no idea how much this furry little creature would change my life in the coming months. Sydney’s first playtimes in the chin-proofed hallway were so memorable. I was so used to the boys running around crazy and jumping off every wall. We took Sydney out in a large tube and she just sat in the tube, trying to figure “playtime” out. She smelled the carpet occasionally but would not venture out onto the carpet. The second night, she explored a little farther onto the carpet, but kept running back into the tube for “protection”. Each night she gained more courage and finally she realized how great it was to run and jump around like the boys. It took her a few tries to figure out how to use the walls as spring boards, but she learned quickly and before we knew it, she had settled in very nicely to her new home. We introduced her to Roo; the first meeting didn’t go that smoothly, Sydney came away with a scratch on her toe, but it wasn’t long before she had Roo wrapped around her paw. The first night they were “together”, they carried on a constant conversation with each other and didn’t stop grooming. Sydney delivered her first set of kits in July 2003. When she gave birth, she made sure Wally was all cleaned up and dry before she delivered Maggie, two hours later. She was a doting mother and very protective of her kits. But she also enjoyed getting into the playpen and letting me watch the kits for a few minutes. As the kits got older, she still doted on them but I will never forget the look on her face in the evenings…she would sit in the corner, her belly pressed up against the wires, nose sticking out through the wires and her face said it all, “Mom, please get me out of here!” She loved to run around with the kits in the playpen when they got older and taught them how to take dust baths. We were ecstatic to learn Sydney became pregnant at the end of August and we eagerly awaited the newest arrival in December. Sydney was a passive chin, never begging for attention and always waiting her turn. She never had to do wheel tricks or race around the cage to get my attention. She always patiently waited at the cage door, staring at me until it was her time to come out. She was tough on the outside, never being bothered by anything, but soft on the inside. She loved to give me kisses on my lips after I fed her in the morning and during playtime, she would jump up on my chest and kiss me constantly. She also loved when I opened the cage door and just let her poke her head out. She always behaved herself and never attempted an escape, unlike her mate Roo. I will never forget the way she used to look at me with her tilted head and a look of, “aren’t I cute?” Sydney became ill on the evening of October 30, 2003 and despite everything we did for her, she passed away on November 3, 2003. During her last few days, she fought so hard for us. She knew how much it meant to us to see signs of improvement and she put her best effort forward to give us that. We spent her last nights cuddled together for hours for feedings and conversation. I will cherish that time I spent with her forever. Sydney left this world as quickly as she came into our lives and hearts. Though her time with us was short, she made a very special paw print on my heart which I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Sydney always showed us unconditional love and she left us with so many wonderful memories that we will keep tucked away in our thoughts and hearts. But the greatest gift that she left with me was a part of herself, in her son, Wally. Everyday that I look at Wally, I see so much of Sydney, especially when he tilts his head and looks to me as if to say, “Aren’t I cute?” I will be forever grateful to Sydney for all the precious gifts she has given to us, that will remain with us forever. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our family, friends and the chinchilla community for helping Sydney while she was sick and supporting us during our difficult time. We can never express how incredibly blessed we felt to have such an outpouring of love for Sydney. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! Amanda and Darren |