In Reply to: What is this obsession with breeding......msg... posted by Nikki on June 20, 2000 at 10:09:23:

Ok, I'm here to defend anyone that has RESPONSIBLY bred gliders. Sure, everyone has their own reasons for breeding, but mine are for the love of the animal and preservation of the species. This is not meant to flame anyone, its basically an explanation. I'm sure alot of breeders can back me up on this. If there are any disagreements with what I'm about to say, please email me privately, or respond to the list - but if you choose the latter, lets keep it at a dull roar.

I breed selectively, choosing only the best gliders for my program. I have 3 pairs that are what I believe to be excellent examples of what a glider is supposed to be (i.e. good health, good temperament, etc...). I let them breed now and again, but they are first and foremost MY PETS. However, pets have a natural instinct to breed and raise young. I don't know that they have a NEED perse', or if they sing to their babies, but it is an instinct born into them.

I give my females a break between litters and I normally have a waiting list for glider babies, all of whom I've checked out and approved, so finding them homes is not an issue. I am in touch with all the new owners and I encourage them to get in touch with me - day or night - if there is a problem or if they have any questions. A lot of them do just that, and I am happy to oblige.

The babies also leave me under the condition that if the new owners can no longer keep or care for their pet for ANY reason, he or she is to come back to ME - no one else - no questions asked. I believe that if I bring that life into the world, then I am responsible for it until the day it dies, whether it lives with me during that time or not. I also breed chinchillas, birds and hedgehogs - these same conditions apply to all my babies, regardless of the species.

On the other hand, I also work for rescue - through my national breed club for dogs, and privately for birds and small critters. I have done this for years, and even formed a network of sorts nationwide. Alot of gliders have been here over the past 5 years, some healthy and tame, some meaner than a two-headed snake or on deaths doorstep. I have seen first hand what happens to fad pets with uninformed owners. I have rehabilitated many gliders, and sad to say, I've lost some also. But when I take my time and effort (which invariably includes quite literally alot of blood, sweat and tears) to rehabilitate a glider, I am just as choosey about who adopts them as I am about who gets my babies. If I can't find a suitable home, they stay with me - simple as that. Fortunately, I have the space, the time, and the money to take care of them - I also have a great vet, and an incredibly tolerant, animal- loving "significant other", which helps a great deal. Until recently, I even had a page up on my website that dealt with rescue - I was BOMBARDED with emails from people looking for something for nothing. You wouldn't believe the sob stories I've heard. But if someone can't make the initial investment in a pet, how ON EARTH can I be sure that they'll get the care that they need?

What I'm getting at here is this - NOBODY that breeds RESPONSIBLY or rescues ANY type of animal on a regular basis makes money on them!!! When I work for my national breed club with dogs, any adoption fee I accept goes directly to the treasury of the club to help with other rescues - I keep nothing. I donate my time and expenses I incur for vet care and travel and I do not get reimbursed. When working privately with the little critters, I charge an adoption fee which is almost as much as the cost of one of my babies. This money helps me to feed, house and rehab animals that come to me needing medical care. This is how rescue works.

As for the fees I charge for my babies, this all goes back into the care of my own gliders, breeders and unadoptable ones alike. I work full time, and a lot of the time, I even have to contribute my OWN money to care for my animals. This is why I consider myself a HOBBYIST. Fortunately, I have chosen a hobby that has the potential to support itself for the most part, but thats ALL it is - A HOBBY, NOT AN OBSESSION. Unless you have hundreds of breeding animals as some commercial breeders do, no money is made. But then again, you have to consider that commercial breeders also have overheads to pay - employees, utilities, insurance, rent/mortgage, etc..., so the little bit that is left over generally goes back into the care of the animals in the facility. I don't think its an obsession with them either - its a business.

I'm sure some of you have heard me preaching about this very subject on email lists recently, because this very same subject has come up. Its a subject that is near and dear to my heart, and one that I take very seriously. Perhaps if some of the less responsible breeders (commercial and/or private) felt the same way, I wouldn't have as many rescues to deal with.

I'm not saying that its ok for ANYONE to breed - some people prefer not to, and some people do so and shouldn't. Surgically altering a glider may be a good choice for some - I just choose not to. And I do not believe that altered gliders are necessarily "happier" than ones that aren't - altering only takes away the ABILITY to reproduce, not the URGE.

Ok, off my soapbox now. Sorry this was so long, but I just wanted to clear up any misconceptions people had about responsible breeders and rescuers making money when placing animals. Thanks for listening.

KK

: I don't see what this obsession with breeding your gliders is about. You can always stop by nuetering your male, unless your only in it for the money. They are the hardest animals to find "GOOD" homes for. All the people that sale them to friends and family members, and strangers. Have you ever though, and I mean really though that maybe they aren't glider people, or just because their friends or family that they should get one. I just lied to my best friends mom of 13 year that my gliders have NEVER had any babies, cause I don't think her son is responiable enough or their mom and dad. I don't EVER lie to people. I did it to protect my gliders and their babies. I'm not a breeder and NEVER intended to be. But my gliders did have babies, and I'm finding them GOOD homes. My male is nuetered and he's so much happier. Think about it. Everytime your gliders have joey's, then think about all those people that "don't have enough time for it, but did all the research", or " are going to college and can't take them", or parent making them get ride of them. Plus the glider breeders that sale thier gliders to pet stores and brokers. Their isn't a name for you. All these people that want to breed their glider, but your not thinking about all the other gliders that need homes. I've had my gliders for a long time, and I've NEVER had ANY of the problems with mine, that people have with theirs. My male and female have only been sick once in their lives, and that was cause of a bactira in the water. My joey's only go to homes where they WILL NOT BE BREED. Their are to many gliders out thier that need homes. So what is this big thing with all the " I wanted to breed my gliders, and all that stuff. my first set went to my vet, and I've found a home for one of the newest joey's.

• Chesapeake Exotics

Follow Ups:

• Re: What is this obsession with breeding......reply (LONG!) T.J. 23:14:00 06/21/2000 (1)
  • My Sacer did that once too Kim 00:18:25 06/22/2000 (0)
• ..... Nikki 07:57:17 06/21/2000 (0)