In Reply to: Re: flea market experience posted by Lea on June 27, 1999 at 18:43:03:

The whole thing really made me sad.Hopefully, with a little luck, they will check out the information I gave them.They seemed like pretty nice people, and I think they were truly shocked when my husband and I told them what goes on at feeding time at our house. The preparation, running to the store for fruit, repcal, etc. We thought we had done OUR research before we got ours. In my opinion there's never enough you can read and learn. I have 3 books on gliders now and will probably buy a different one each time I see one.Anyway, I gave her some information and I have a feeling she'll check it out. I hope so anyway.
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: I understand exactly how you feel about seeing an animal you love so much in a place where it obviously doesn't belong. I live in Arlington Tx., and we have one of the largest flea markets in the world near here. For years I have seen people there buying their children a baby iguana
: and a "leash" that clips to their belt loop, hat, etc. That's all. No cage, no food, no U.V. lights, not even a book on the care of the animal. Not that the dealer has any of these things anyway. I usually try to talk to the person the same as you did. Sadly, it doesn't usually do any good. It has only been on my last visit there that I have seen an actual sugar glider (many flying squirels) for sale. The reality is that more and more people are breeding these wonderful animals and some are more interested in a profit than a life. Even though I learned that most of the breeders at my flea market do not particularly want to listen, some of the individual buyers will. Do not give up on trying to educate people,even if they don't want to hear it at the time. You will know that you did everything in your power to help, and when you find a person who is grateful it is all worth while!

: Lea

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