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

So I have to jump in here. This is going to be a long one so get ready - I've got alot to get off my chest.

First, thank you Bourbon, for recognizing the fact that I am the one who started this whole rescue thing last fall. I've been rescuing gliders here in the MD area for years. Some have come to me healthy, some I've kept, some I placed. Some have come to me sick, some I've nursed back to health and some were so sick they didn't make it. When I first got internet access last September, I came straight to this message board and questioned why we didn't have a nationwide rescue effort, and since nobody could give me a good answer, I offered to take on the task.

I soon met Flyte (as she's now called) online since she is in the MD area and couldn't find any breeders here. She didn't have a glider at the time, had never had one, but she DID have the know-how to put up a web page. So I allowed her to put my name up on her page and advertise a glider rescue effort. Well, she added her name and named it SOSG on her own. Pretty soon, she was changing things around, and taking more of the responsibility and offering things that I did not approve of. Such as posting email addresses of the rescuers/foster homes on her page. These kind hearted people have given me their email addresses and telephone numbers in CONFIDENCE - remember, some are in illegal states - so I had no intentions of turning this list over to someone who wanted to post it for all the world to see. If someone wanted to give up a glider or knew of one in need of rescue, all I wanted to do is contact a rescuer and put them in touch with the contact. That way, no one has their privacy invaded.

As far as who is operating SOSG, I guess it is Flyte - she took it and ran with it. I am still maintaining a list of about 100 names and email addresses across the US and Canada (and adding more everyday), and I have helped to place several gliders in new, loving, and more importantly, RESPONSIBLE pet homes. But I do not consider myself a part of SOSG. I have my reservations about the whole thing because of the age/maturity issue. Don't forget, I met Flyte in person - I am the one she got her first glider from back in the end of October. But I was assured by her father that the glider would be taken care of so I consented to releasing it to her based on his statement. I could go into the exact reasons of why my first impression of her gave me reservations, but I won't. That would be a personal flaming, and that is something that I am not into. So we will just leave it at that.

As for a young person getting a rescued glider, I am not entirely against it. But I do insist on speaking to the parents IN PERSON before releasing a glider. Before I will ask someone to rescue a glider, I first must know the potential rescuers age, I must talk to them IN PERSON. If they are under the age of 18 or still living with their parents or in someone else's home, I must talk to the homeowner IN PERSON. I will also get a contract signed saying that the glider will be properly cared for OR IT WILL BE RETURNED TO ME. Before I will release a glider, the potential owner (or in the case of putting a rescuer in touch with someone who is giving up a glider) I will conduct an interview to sort of "test" a person on their knowledge of gliders. You don't have to be an experienced owner (although that is definately PREFERRED), but you must be well informed through reading and research. You must also have a suitable home ready BEFORE I will release a glider. Also, there IS an adoption fee, depending on how long I've had the glider, and how much time and effort and vet care the glider has received. It is not much and believe me, I don't make a dime on the gliders I place. In fact, I lose money. But I don't even consider someone if they are looking for a trade or a "cheap glider". I feel that if the potential owner is willing to make a small investment in their new pet, then they will look at it with alittle respect and treat it the way it should be treated. And I will make periodic checks to make sure it is in the right environment, and not just surviving, but THRIVING. If it is not, I reserve the right to take it back. So far, I have not had to do such a thing, so I must be doing something right.

Well, I don't know how many gliders Flyte has placed, and I don't know how she runs the operation that she has assumed as "HERS", but this is how I run mine. I can appreciate the fact that she would want to help gliders, and I credit her for that. But I do not feel that someone of her age is mature enough or responsible enough to OPERATE a rescue organization. But that is JMHO, not necessarily the right one.

Anyway, thanks for listening and I hope I've cleared things up for you guys alittle bit. Just to let you know, I will be working on setting up my OWN web page with my OWN rescue. It might take a while, because I'm just learning all this.aspL stuff, but I'll get it up eventually. I'll post it when its up. Until then, email me if you need me.

KK

Follow Ups:

• Thanks for setting the record straight. n/m Maria 00:25:42 4/30/99 (0)