My daughters and I picked up a rescue on February 22, 2009. The young woman and her father met us in Port Royal, Virginia. By the time we got there it was freezing and snowing. What a miserable day to take a road trip.
She had a small bag of stuff and a glider in a smelly pouch for me. Thank god I brought my travel bag. We put his pouch in my travel bag, said our fairwells and headed home. We peeked in the bag to get a look at him and to my dismay the whole top of this poor gliders head was completely bald. I mean no hair on his head whatsoever. I already knew he was overweight but this I was not prepared for. She never mentioned it in her e-mails to me and I asked a whole load of questions. I saved all of them.
I have a Vet appointment set up for him already for this comming Thursday, 02/26/09, and will see how the check-up goes. He's also getting neutered that day as well.
Right now he is in a small cage in my daughters bedroom away from my other gliders. There was nothing I could save from the things that the young woman gave me. The inside of his pouches were completely torn to pieces with loose threads in huge balls of knots. I'm surprised he still has a foot from that mess. All are in the trash. He had not one single toy to play with. I took from my others and gave him some things. They are spoiled anyway so they can share.
He's currently on a bird food diet whatever that is. The young woman gave me a bag but I'm not sure whether to continue to give it to him. I'll talk to the Vet on Thursday. I guess I'll have to give him some until then but I really hate doing it without knowing more about this stuff.
I found out his mate died about 1 and 1/2 years ago. She was found on the bottom of their cage dead and he's been alone ever since. The young woman did not pay him any attention and he's been alone a while.
I'm really scared as to whether I am up for this task. I've dealt with so much from the other two I "rescued". My Luna and Milk Dud but I have him now and will deal this hand I guess I asked to be dealt. I can't hardly stand to see and hear about these poor gliders that are alone and then the people who own them don't have time for them anymore or never did and now they are depreaaed, lonely, sick and terrified of people. What do I do and how do I start to fix this poor poor baby? I guess I know that answer, the VET's and we are headed there.
His name is Jack but my youngest daughter may want to rename him. I told her she had until Wednesday night to let me know because he has a VET appointment and I need to make sure that his name is correct at the Vet's office. I guess it's okay to name your animals if you want to just not sure whether they learn their names or just the sound of your voice and tone when you say their name.
Anyway another glider, another poor baby from a rejected home where people don't learn about the care of their pets and others end up with stressed out and sickly animals and the fear that they will fail. That's where I am right now emotionally. I'm depressed and scared of failing this poor thing.