Our story
Inspired by the Valley View and Moulton cases, developed through GCA and brought into urgent focus by the Ohio R & R case. Read our story
A future devoted
to the chinchilla.
Rescue. Lifetime sanctuary. A place to learn, remember and celebrate.
Help Global Chinchilla Alliance create an Illinois home for lifetime sanctuary care, rescue and rehabilitation, public education, and the history of this extraordinary animal.
WHERE WE ARE
Property opportunity secured.
Fundraising for acquisition and preparation.
The rescue & sanctuary is not yet open.
MORE THAN AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
The vision was always there.
The time to act is now.
GCA is committed to establishing this rescue and sanctuary regardless of the outcome for the Ohio R & R herd. Our vision reaches beyond one emergency: a permanent center for chinchilla care, education, history and community support across the United States.
THE GCA VISION
Explore the rescue & sanctuary.
Rescue
A separate place for quarantine, rehabilitation and preparation for vetted pet homes. See the rescue plan
Care
Lifetime residency, thoughtful habitats, daily care and veterinary support. Our approach to care
Global Chinchilla Alliance
The organization behind this project, bringing education, welfare and community together. About GCA
A TANGIBLE COMMITMENT
A donor helped open the door.
$20,000Earnest money provided by an anonymous donor
$575,000Negotiated property purchase price
On September 19, 2026, an anonymous donor provided $20,000 in earnest money and negotiated a 90-day hold on the Illinois property at $575,000 while GCA pursues acquisition donations.
The intent was a safe place for the Ohio chinchillas to undergo a minimum 90-day quarantine, veterinary care and rehabilitation. Our commitment continues regardless of that placement.
Read how the project is taking shapeCENTRAL ILLINOIS
A place for every part of the mission.
Building 3: planned rescue capacity of up to 1,200 chinchillas.
THE SANCTUARY JOURNAL
Be here from the beginning.
The plans, the progress, and eventually,
the everyday lives you help change.
22SEPTEMBER 2026
PROJECT NOTE
PROJECT NOTE
We are moving from planning to action.
The R & R case has sharpened our resolve to build the resource GCA has envisioned from the beginning. Our Illinois campus plan brings together lifetime sanctuary habitats, temporary rescue housing, education, history and veterinary support. We are now asking our community to help fund and carry that plan forward.
GCA has offered to receive the herd involved in the R & R case in Ohio. Receipt of these animals is not confirmed. This sanctuary initiative is a proposed resource for chinchilla welfare beyond any one placement.
Find your way to helpA HOME BASE FOR THE MISSION
Care. Discovery. Connection.
A proposed Illinois campus.
A purpose that reaches far beyond it.
A sanctuary to call home
The sanctuary building will provide lifetime residency, enriching habitats and veterinary care. Chinchillas will have space to explore, climb, hide and rest, with compatible companionship where appropriate.
A bridge to happy homes
A separate rescue building will support quarantine, rehabilitation and temporary care. Animals suitable for adoption will move to vetted pet homes through GCA’s rescue and rehoming program.
Understanding that lasts
A museum, care demonstrations and public education will explore chinchilla history and responsible care. Visitor observation will respect the animals’ privacy, rest and choice to retreat.
FOLLOW THEIR LIVES
Not just a rescue story.
The rest of their story.
The first settled-in nap. A favorite hiding place. The little habits that make each chinchilla unmistakably themselves.
Once animals enter the sanctuary’s care, this will be a place to meet them and follow their journeys through care updates, photographs and stories from the team.
Resident stories are still ahead.
No sanctuary residents are profiled yet. For now, follow the project journal as we work toward making this home possible.
Read the project journalTHERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU IN THIS STORY
Help build
their next chapter.
Financial support, practical skills and a community willing to show up can turn a developed plan into a place of care.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW
Built on transparency.
Is the rescue & sanctuary open?
Not yet. The Illinois rescue & sanctuary is in planning and community fundraising. Opening plans will be shared when funding, preparations and required approvals support them.
Are the Ohio chinchillas coming here?
GCA has offered to receive the herd, but receipt is not confirmed. Public updates will distinguish confirmed placements from proposals.
Is this part of GCA?
Yes. GCA Chinchilla Rescue & Sanctuary is a planned program of Global Chinchilla Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-2008449). GCA will lead the project through its board, with financial oversight, a program budget and the approvals needed to operate. Contributions are handled through GCA.
Who is behind this project?
Global Chinchilla Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, leads the initiative. Shahna Thomas Powell, P.E., is GCA’s founder, CEO and president. The project brings together chinchilla experience, volunteer commitments and professional project and financial management. Shahna and CFO Shannon Culbertson will oversee project finances. GCA’s broader work includes education, research and welfare advocacy.
Learn more about GCAHow can I follow future animal stories?
Return to the sanctuary journal for published updates. Individual profiles will be added when there are confirmed residents and care stories to share.
Why does GCA support ethical breeders?
GCA supports breeders who demonstrate welfare, health, thoughtful placement and responsibility beyond a sale. Domestic chinchillas already live around the world, and improving their care is part of our mission. The Illinois rescue and sanctuary will not breed animals.
Read our position on ethical breeding and animal sourcing