April 18, 2025: Kyle Contexts: Chinchillas

[Thisweek, my amazing younger son Kyle turns 18! So I wanted to dedicate the week’sblog series to AmericanStudying some Kyle Contexts, leading up to a repeat ofhis excellent Guest Post on the OJ Simpson trial.]

Three waysto contextualize my son’s favorite animal (and one of the cutest out there, justobjectively, you know it’s true).

1)     Exoticpets: I wrote a good bit in that post on ostrich racing on both exotic petsoverall and my sons’ interest in them in particular (focusing there on alpacas,another favorite of the boys’ and one featured at mywedding!). I certainly get critiques of exotic animal fads, such as the pot-belliedpigs a few decades back who ended up being left at shelters or justabandoned altogether far too often. But in truth, chinchillas are notradically different from many other rodents frequently kept as pets, fromguinea pigs to hamsters to gerbils and more. Yes, they require a bit ofspecialized care, but every animal is unique in its needs. And the benefits more thanspeak for themselves.

2)     Fur is murder: Most of the chinchillas in theworld these days are indeed kept as pets, as both of the chinchilla species inthe wild have becomeextremely endangered. There are a few reasons, but by far the most significantis huntingfor their fur, which has been prized for items like coats for a long time. (EvenJay-Z references chinchilla fur as the gold standard in his rap verse on his wifeBeyoncé’s “Crazy in Love.”)I’d like to think that we’ve all realized here in 2025 that fur is indeedmurder, but just in case not: the only place chinchilla fur should be found ison chinchillas.

3)     AnimalAdventures: Young Kyle had been a fan of chinchillas for a while before hehad the chance to meet one in person, but when he did it took things to a whole‘nother level. That was thanks to the folks at this local animal rescuebusiness, and specifically to their featured exhibit at the awesome Kimball Farms in Westford, MA.When they let Kyle take part in a performance and hold a chinchilla on his head(as well as in his arms, natch), my younger son’s fondness for not just thisparticular animal, but all cute animals, was truly cemented—and despite his thoroughlymature 18 year old self, that fondness remains, one of so many things I loveabout him.

Guest Postthis weekend,

Ben

PS. Lemmeknow any bday wishes I can pass along to my not-so-young man!