In Reply to: running free? posted by katglas on May 03, 1999 at 16:59:28:

Hi,
I just wanted to say that I let Eos out in our bedroom two nights a week. We glider proofed that one room, and I would not let her free anywhere else in the house. Once she got free by accident and ended up going under the dishwasher and into the printer...so there are many, many dangers to consider - it is just too hard to let them have the run of the house. I purchased a clear hamster running ball that she uses to explore the rest of the house in. If you do let yours out, be sure everyone knows when she is out and that they do not walk or sit or lay down without checking first.

It all depends on the risk you are comfortable with. Many people have cats that they let outdoors in spite of the fact that cats can get run over, stolen, hung on their collars, etc. Same with kids...they can get hurt, kidnapped, and many other things too horrible to mention. In my mind, protecting the glider has to be balanced with letting it have some freedom to have a life. When I first let her out, I watched carefully to see what areas might be a problem. Now I feel confident that I have done everything reasonably within my power to protect her, but I'm willing to take a small risk in order for her to have some time outside of her cage. It is bad enough that she has to live in captivity...should she never have any opportunity to choose for herself? I wouldn't keep a child inside the house 24-7 just because something might happen - that's just part of life. You do everything you can to protect, then you have to let go.

That's my 2 cents.

Good luck with it,
Tiffany

P. S. May I suggest that people could disagree without personally attacking someone else? Just say what you think, then let the person asking decide.

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