In Reply to: After reading a post I exploded!regarding rescues and SOSG posted by Bourbon on April 29, 1999 at 04:16:20:

I think everyone is forgeting some really important issues. There are many on this board who are young and can fully take care of their gliders, and some who cannot. Just where there are some adults who take care of their gliders better than others or not well at all. The point is education. I am one of those owners, who just happened to see these 2 cute little animals and wanted them. I knew absolutely nothing about them, but they were cute. When hubby purchased a cage set up for me at Christmas, It just popped into my head that maybe if my 13 year old son could find out about tigers on the net, there just might be something about SG's. I took a chance and found some great info and this board. All of you who know me, know the history of my gliders. If not for a little research, I would never have known that they were fed wrong and set out to change it. I wasn't fast enough, Romeo came down with hind leg paralysis, just about one month after I purchased them. It was a small fortune in vet bills to save his life and EVERY penny was worth it. But the point is, none of us can really afford it when our animals or our kids get sick. But we find a way to handle the situation. So to say that someone is too old or too young is a mute point. I believe that as a rescuer, just as a breeder, who cares about these wonderful animals, does educate the new owners, and makes them fully aware of the pleasures and difficulties of owning a glider. It is the only sensible thing to do. It is the only right thing to do. Just as all of us have different ideas about diet. The point of the rescue is to save these animals from neglected homes and place them with responsible owners. The only way to have a responsible owner is to educate them before they are allowed to take the glider home, and to understand that they will need alot of love and patience to bring them around. You as the rescuer/breeder have the right to turn anyone away who would not make a good owner, as I do.

If a kid is running SOSG, MORE POWER TO YOU! Its not who is running it, its why its here. That kid may be our next president, who knows. To once again, slam something with out looking at all the positive and negative attributes is unfortunate. To make this work, it must be a team effort, not just one person.

As for time, who has time, I have a completely seperate business that is a full time investment and a family, and many different animals. If something is important to you, you can find the time. Bourban, I think you should have taken this to Flyte instead of broadcasting your displeasure for all to see. Nothing can be fixed by making things worse. It hurts to once again see, people being maligned, on this board. Its time we all take a good look at ourselves, before we set out to hurt other people.

Keep up the good work Flyte! At least you have the will to make this happen.

JO

: A young girl, (I figure cause she didn't have any money and couldn't spell sugar glider)If I am wrong I apologize.. wrote into ACME pet exotic message base that she wanted a sugarglider or flying squirrel cheap or that she wanted to trade something for one.. Flyte suggested that she get a rescue instead.. Now this is where I went off. Here is someone that should be looking out for the best for the gliders and what I saw was her trying to give a rescue yet another inexperienced home to deal with.. here is what I wrote. If I offend anyone I am sorry. But if you know anything about me then you know my love for the species. I have a problem with the SOSG at this time for many reasons but this by far is one of them.. My post...

: I too am in total awe that an "experienced glider owner" would even suggest such a thing. Many people
: who think they can handle even a baby , many times abandons it. Hence the reason for some sort of
: rescue program for gliders. I must say and this is only my opinion that a child should not be running
: something as important as a rescue program. No, before it is said, I haven't the time to run it either. But
: who ever does should have their facts together regarding rescues. I have taken and helped people with
: pit bull biting gliders, contacted many a vet across the states regarding ill healths and injuries due to
: abuse and neglect. The vet bills many times are phenominal. Gliders and Flying Squirrels are NOT
: disposable pets. Flyte, as a rescue operator or whatever, should be looking out for the best interest of
: the glider instead of just trying to find a fast home for them. DO I sound Bitter? maybe so. But I have
: had to deal with a lot of sick and injured gliders as other "EXPERIENCED glider owners have" No
: One That I know would even suggest a rescue for anyone but an experienced owner that can afford to
: get it the medical attention that many times is required, or has the patience to get bit hard enough to
: draw blood mutiple times. People who would expect the glider , maybe to never bond due to the
: traumatization that it had recieved by a fad pet buyer or someone that knows nothing about them.
: SOSG at this time is a joke, if this is what we can expect to happen to gliders that really NEED a
: proper home. I persoanlly no longer want any part of it.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Well said! n/m Shianne 10:07:49 4/30/99 (0)
• nods in approval n/m candiMI 22:42:47 4/29/99 (0)