greychins
NWI Chinchillas
I have been contacted by someone about boarding a chinchilla for them for about a month over the upcoming holiday season. The thing is... we have never boarded before (though I would not be opposed to doing so), so I wanted to get some people's thoughts and experiences on how they do this.
I have been looking at various websites and have found quite the variety of rates: $10/day ($300/month), $2.50/day ($75/month), $15/week ($60/month), $6 day ($180/month), and $27/week ($108/month). As these range from the low end of $60 to the high end of $300.... I was wondering what people think is reasonable. I have added these options as a poll.
Also, I'm wondering what people's stand is on vet care. In a perfect world, a boarded chinchilla would not need vet care... but if it did -- do you take the chin to your vet or to the vet the owner uses? Would this differ if the owner's vet was several hours away because the owner, themselves, is several hours away? Would that be something to discuss with the owner and to get in writing?
Which brings me to the question of, if the chinchilla did have some injury/illness pop up -- payment. I can see an owner saying "yeah take the chin to the vet and I'll pay" but then when they come to pick the chin up, not wanting to pay the large bill. Just as an aside, I saw this boarding contract -- http://www.cavycareinc.org/chinchillaboardingform.pdf -- it's not perfect in many ways, but I do like the section that shows:
IMO, this is a pretty good way to do it. How does everyone else feel about this? And say the owner did say "no limit" -- do you ask for their credit card information in the case of an emergency, or is it your responsibility to pay for everything up front and the owner to pay you back?
I guess my question basically is -- if you have boarded a chinchilla, for a monetary amount (not like doing it for a friend or as a favor -- cause I don't know this person from adam), please share your experience.
I have been looking at various websites and have found quite the variety of rates: $10/day ($300/month), $2.50/day ($75/month), $15/week ($60/month), $6 day ($180/month), and $27/week ($108/month). As these range from the low end of $60 to the high end of $300.... I was wondering what people think is reasonable. I have added these options as a poll.
Also, I'm wondering what people's stand is on vet care. In a perfect world, a boarded chinchilla would not need vet care... but if it did -- do you take the chin to your vet or to the vet the owner uses? Would this differ if the owner's vet was several hours away because the owner, themselves, is several hours away? Would that be something to discuss with the owner and to get in writing?
Which brings me to the question of, if the chinchilla did have some injury/illness pop up -- payment. I can see an owner saying "yeah take the chin to the vet and I'll pay" but then when they come to pick the chin up, not wanting to pay the large bill. Just as an aside, I saw this boarding contract -- http://www.cavycareinc.org/chinchillaboardingform.pdf -- it's not perfect in many ways, but I do like the section that shows:
THE OWNER IS FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CHARGES INCURRED AT THE VETERINARIANS. Please indicate how much you would authorize to be spent for the care of your animal while at the veterinarian: $100; $150; $200; $250; $300; No limit; I would not want them seen by a veterinarian even if it was an emergency.
IMO, this is a pretty good way to do it. How does everyone else feel about this? And say the owner did say "no limit" -- do you ask for their credit card information in the case of an emergency, or is it your responsibility to pay for everything up front and the owner to pay you back?
I guess my question basically is -- if you have boarded a chinchilla, for a monetary amount (not like doing it for a friend or as a favor -- cause I don't know this person from adam), please share your experience.