Message:

Subject: Well said, Bourbon.
Posted by Xay on June 25, 1998 at 00:13:52:

In Reply to: TO ANYONE LOOKING TO GET THEIR 1st GLIDER.. PLEASE READ THIS ... posted by Bourbon on June 25, 1998 at 00:04:25:

: Please take the time to research first. Read as much about them as you can find on the internet. Take the time to talk to people about the problems they have had with theirs. I made a post awhile back regarding honesty about the bonding, time, and downfalls. There were some great responses. here is a copy of the post again so you get a general idea of a few of the problems. Not intending to rehash old problems, but gliders are adorable, and most of you looking for one has probably already seen one or heard about one after all the bonding has taken place. If you don't have the time it takes to research them, then you probably don't have the time to take care of one. I cannot stress this enough PLEASE, PLEASE, research. most questions you will have after getting a glider (if you still decide to) the answers can be found. You will find many good suggestions and ideas as well as great links to bookmark for future references.
: I am not trying to talk you out of getting a glider but trying to make you aware of what you may be expecting. Many times the gliders people get are not nice, sweet, cuddley, and ready to stay with you right off the bat. It requires a lot of time, patience, perserverance, understanding and love.

: here is a piece of a letter a woman sent to me after researching, she wanted a glider BADDLY, but I told her to research it first : I'll just bet you are so thrilled and excited. I would put in a bid for a
: baby, however, from everything I've read on these darlings, I don't feel
: that I could devote enough good time to their care. I would adore having
: one, but it seems a bit restrictive for me and I'm afraid the baby would
: suffer for it.

: Here is a copy of the post from a while back... at the bottom is a link to a warning page letting you know about the possible downfalls of owning a glider. When you are done please read as much as you can and really listen to what people are saying. They have already been there and done that.

: When someone writes in and asks about Gliders, it is always nice to tell how
: great they are and and how great they can be, but we all should be very
: honest with the person asking and let them know everything. Not all of us
: have had an easy time at the bonding process and some of us has had really
: easy times bonding. The things that new glider owners or people looking for
: new gliders should be aware of is all the DOWNFALLS as well. When
: Brenda had asked for opinions as to how difficult Gliders were to care for,
: NOONE said ANYTHING about biting, or barking. Someone had said
: something about nips, and a couple said something about crabbing, but what
: about how long it has taken to get to where everyone is now? The trials,
: tribulations, and the frustrations of not being able to get near the gliders
: sometimes. This whole board is full of ..My GLIDER IS BITING..and other
: things that new people are not yet aware of. We shouldn't sugar coat what
: some of us had to go through to bond. Some after months still don't feel
: bonded. Some after Years hasn't bonded. Not all gliders will bond, some will
: more than others. These are facts..we should prsent those facts when asked.
: None of us have all the answers, but some people that are asking for our
: opinions, are only asking because they see one and think they would be great.
: Most new owners I have seen on here EXPECT their gliders to love them
: immediatly and start bonding with no problems. We should stress the
: downsides as well as the good to keep yet another glider from falling prey to
: the fad owners. We can't stop them all but we can TRY to make them
: research them further. How would you like to sell your Baby to someone
: who has mostly heard good only to find out that person couldn't deal with the
: biting, barking, crabbing, rejection, and the time it takes to bond. So you go
: check on your baby only to find it in a cage with no human interaction
: because the owner is afraid of it. Some of you are saying to yourselves "if
: they got it from me I would have checked them out closer" or "I would have
: explained more". Well sometimes this is the only place where some gets info,
: shouldn't we also let them know the truth? Go back and read all the anwers
: to Brendas post BEFORE she got her glider. She was asking if they were
: difficult to take care of. That itself should have sent up flags that she needed
: to hear the truth. Not that she won't make a great glider owner, but she
: should have been made aware of what she was possibly in for. Is bonding
: difficult? SOMETIMES. Is raising Gliders difficult? YES SOMETIMES.
: WHY? Some bite, and sometimes they bite so hard to draw blood.
: SOMETIMES they bark loud enough to wake you in the middle of the night.
: What if she doesn't want that? What if she lives in a place where gliders are
: not allowed. GLIDERS are great pets.. However; sometimes, the time, isn't
: the only problems. I am pretty spoiled I have one of each 1 is docile and
: sweet the other WAS a glider from HECK (It took us 4 months to bond with
: him with all the problems many here have gone through. I just think we
: should be as honest as possible with the bad too. Think of your worst times
: during the bonding, let the new people know they are not alone, or let them
: know these things are possible. There are too many unwanted gliders that
: don't meet their owners expectations. Many times the owners expected their
: gliders to be sweet cuddlely and playful. Bonding takes time..They need to
: know this. I don't mean to come off high and mighty, there were soooo many
: inconsistantcies(sp) with the reponses for Brenda question and the actual
: facts of the problems most of you had encountered when you first got your
: gliders, through the bonding and even to date.

: If after reading all you can as many places as you can, and you decide you still want one.. I personally along with many others here thank you and wish you Lots of good luck with your new addition..

Follow Ups:

• Re: Well said, Bourbon. Sherry 02:17:10 6/25/98 (0)