In Reply to: No... posted by Tiffany on June 04, 1999 at 17:35:39:

: Thanks Michelle, well spoken. Anyone who has followed my posts on the board knows I love my Eos. She is absolutely like a child to me. I adore her and my biggest problem is not spoiling her too much. I'm with her all my waking hours - I never imagined I could love a pet so much. Before I got her, I did months and months of research. I had trouble getting people to tell me what was BAD about owning a glider (especially people who wanted to sell me one.) The committment is HUGE and SHOULD NOT be taken lightly. My great love for my baby is what leads me to discourage people from having them. Most people are better off with cats or dogs or something a little easier to care for. I still devote a great deal of time researching because of all the new info on care and diet and stuff that vets are just learning. It is, for me, an ongoing committment. Also, before I got Eos, I looked long and hard at where my future might lead...could a glider fit into where I expected to go? With creatures that rely so heavily on the bond to one person...giving them away is cruel and even fatal. Sometimes you CAN'T predict what will happen. But you should try, within reason, to foresee these things because another life is at stake. I was willing to base my graduate school location on where gliders are legal. I wrote to each state where I was applying to find out legality. I would not have gone where she could not. I will not live in a place where she cannot. I am totally committed to her, even if it inconvieniences me at times. Now, can a 13 year old, as the person who asked for advice was, foresee the future in a reasonable way or make that kind of sound committment? I think no. A parent could, but the parent wasn't asking. I would have responded very differently to a 30 year old. It would irresponsible of me to say "Yeah, they are jim dandy great! Rush out and get one! " to ANYONE. They aren't that kind of pet. In fact, in my mind, ANY pet is a committment that should be carefully considered and researched and not taken lightly. If that offends you, well so be it. But I stand 100% behind my opinion and make no apologies for it.

: To borrow from Cynthia,
: "Go for the good of the glider" - always.

: Tiffany

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