At one point I said that I thought Sugar Gliders were neat (although I would never try to keep one). I have changed my mind.

From SugarGliders.com:

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So, is a sugar glider a good pet for you? That is a question you certainly need to ask yourself. This article is targeted at disuading you from owning a sugar glider by simply presenting the facts. Ask any suggie owner and they will tell you these things from experience and the huge number of pets given up to rescues and adoption is testament that this is true.

Diet

Sugar gliders require a Captive Diet that is not simply bought like a dog or cat. They cannot survive on dry and/or pellet type foods. Sugar gliders are an exotic wild animal and they require an exotic diet that can get complicated. If you are squeamish around mealworms, [[grubs]], [[crickets]] and other bugs, you should not own a sugar glider.

Housing

Sugar gliders live in treetops and run and glide large distances every night to feed. Their cage requirements are far beyond what would be needed for a comparable sized domesticated pet such as a hamster, gerbil, ferret, or small birds. A typical "healthy" cage is no less than an AVIARY. Australia's Department of Sustainability and Environment has various laws regarding keeping animals. The minimum cage size they require is much larger than what is easily found for sale in other countries, is not enough room and therefore not a healthy situation for the animals. The Exel Tower Cage is a popular and acceptable cage for American sugar gliders.

Smell

Sugar gliders are very scent-driven and can be smelly animals. Much like a ferret or skunk, they have glands on their bodies to emit scent and to mark, although they don't smell as strongly as skunks or ferrets. They also mark constantly with their urine as they are active inside and outside of the cage. After a few days, any cage situation will get messy and smelly and will need attention.

Verbalizations

Sugar gliders are noisy, and worse, they are noisy all night long. Being a NocturnalAnimal, they are awake when you are sleeping and they are sleeping when you are awake. Not only is it hard that you miss most of their awake time, but their barking and crabbing and hissing and various cage noises, including clanks, bangs and constant exercise wheel's running, can keep you up at night and will ruin your day. Here's a video on what to expect.

Messy

Sugar gliders are indeed very messy animals. When they wake, they will extricate their bowels as they move around. It is common for an animal to extricate while it is eating and when out for play and running on you. Poo and pee on your clothes, skin, hair, and furniture is to be expected with these animals. While in the cage, gliders spend a lot of time on the walls or high up and thusly they will pee, poo and even throw food and waste outside of the cage.

Reproduction

Sugar gliders in captivity have the capability to breed constantly. It is common to have a litter of 1 to 3 joeys up to 3 even 4 times a year. This is a strain on the female and certainly becomes a problem for the keeper when there are too many animals to care for and when a male is in the cage with multiple females, breeding more. Overpopulation has become a very big issue with many unwanted sugar gliders living in bad conditions.

Biting

Sugar gliders are an exotic wild animal and therefore have instincts to protect. If you look around the forums you will see that many people have problems with biters and many of them give up and hand the animals over to rescues thus adding to the number of homeless animals. Some people have needed to get stitches because of how deep a sugar glider can bite. In the wild they normally peel bark off of trees, human skin is much softer and easier for them to bite into.

Longevity

In captivity, sugar gliders can live up to 15 years, plus or minus some. Considering the amount of effort one has to put into the pet for feeding, playtime, cage space in the house, pet sitting while away, a majority of sugar glider owners are not prepared for the long haul and inevitably give up their pets for adoption.

Companionship

Sugar gliders are a social animal and were not meant to be alone. Human contact is absolutely not a replacement for family of their own kind. A minimum number of animals is two, do not ever plan to have just one. Solitary animals are the ones who largely have health issues, self mutilate or bite due to depression. There is no replacement for sleeping with and interfacing with their own kind.

Health

Sugar glider health problems can be bizarre as well as emotionally and financially draining. Search the SugarGliderForums and you will see numerous issues. Finding veterinarians in your area can be difficult, as most vets have little to no experience with sugar gliders.

Abandon

A large percentage of sugar glider owners give them up within a year. They finally realize and accept that keeping the animal is not as rewarding as they had hoped for. All exotic animals require above and beyond any care that might be given for a standard domestic animal and most folks just do not accept that until they have experienced it. Consider this concept in your decision and please watch THIS VIDEO

Conclusion

These items by themselves can sometimes be enough to dissuade a prospective owner from investing into the sugar glider hobby, but please do consider them all. Owning gliders is not easy and it can be very time consuming while giving them attention in the early morning and late at night, while cleaning cages weekly or more often, while preparing meals nightly, and more. Give it some hard thought, take some time to see what it would be like in your life and above all, ask questions."

I was recently looking into some diet options for dogs and ran across some interesting information about feeding your dog vegetables.  I mean, they're great for humans, right? We know that grapes are bad for dogs (see Yeepet forums for this discussion), but I recently found out that garlic and onions were also harmful because they contain thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs. So what veggies CAN Fido eat? Well as it turns out, almost anything else. Raw or cooked vegetables are healthy for dogs, though some would argue that cooking takes away so much nutritional value it's not even worth it. My dogs get our leftover dinner veggies ranging from mushrooms (not a veggie, I know) to spinach, beans, stir fry veggies, peas, corn and carrots. If you cook with oil or butter make sure that you rinse the vegetables for 5 minutes under a running tap before giving them to your dog. Vegetables provide antioxidants, nutrients, and control obesity. In fact you can replace Milk Bones or Beggin Strips with raw celery or carrots for treats if your dog is overweight. Another good treat is bananas-most dogs adore bananas! My dogs like cooked veggies (not raw-they laugh if I try to give them carrots) and some fruits, including bananas and avocados.  I recently read, however, that avocados may also be toxic to dogs because of some fatty acid derivitive or other (persin, I think), so I'll be keeping my avocados to myself from now on.

I always love cats. I've had cats ever since I was a kid and grew up with them. They are smart, nimble and like to snuggle. It feels so warm especially in such a winter time when you curl up with your cat, what a warm feeling! I read an article telling that the cat's purr can have special healing power and good to your health.

Today I happened to read an interesting poem about the cat written by Colleen Paige.  I'd like to share it here:

 

Winter's leaves lay on the ground

fallen from golden trees,

without a sound...

 

When I pounce through grass,

I crunch and crackle,

My strategy for hunting mice,

has become quite the debacle...

 

Suppose the thought of Christmas day,

will distract me from my lost foray.

As children laugh and squeal in delight,

I will be a cozy cat on this crisp Christmas night.

 

So it's really, really cold here in Chicago, which, of course, got me thinking about St. Bernards.  (Probably because I saw one on my walk home last night - not a dog you usually see on a city street, he was just a puppy, but easily 85 pounds and getting huger.) 

I don't generally spend much time thinking about Bernards, but my walk home this afternoon was into a -25 degree headwind, and I was wearing tennis shoes.  It was just frigid, and there were no cabs going my direction.  One also thinks a lot about frostbite in these situations, and what the actual warning signs are.  One can also imagine a friendly St. Bernard bounding along the frozen street, carring a fortifying minature barrel of strong brandy around its neck, ready to lead you to shelter.

I made it home without incident, and buried myself under the cats when I got home to warm myself up.  Then I looked to see if I could find any good dog snowstorm rescue stories, and came about this one - it's got a great headline, too:

Half-Breed Wolf Dog Hero Rescues Elderly Owners From Snowstorm

Pretty cool, eh?  It's also as heartwarming story as it gets.  Check it out....!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,234599,00.html

 

 

 

For my 9th birthday I got the most wonderful present!  My parents, who were at the time still married, got me a shih-tzu puppy.  I know what you're thinking-how irresponsible it is to get a 9 year old a puppy of their own...not so!  That dog taught me more about responsibly, unconditional love, comfort and commitment than most humans learn by the age of 30. She was the one constant in my life when my parents split up when I was 12, she was the reason why I never ran away from home during tough teenage times, and as totally lame as this is going to make me sound, she was the reason I didn’t party and go out a ton during high school and college. She would miss me. Simple as that.  I cried into Natasha’s fur more than I’ve cried on anything or anyone else, and she always seemed know when I needed her.  She was laughter, mischief, support, and love.  During the last couple years, when she was blind and had pancreatitis, I tried so hard to give all of that love and support back to her. The last night, when I knew we were taking her to the vet for the last time the next morning, I slept next to her on the floor. Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I have two wonderful dogs now, years later, but they’re more “dog” than she ever was. Maybe it’s because I’m in a different chapter in my life, and my husband is my rock now, so the dogs don’t need to be.  But she was my rock for so many years, and I have so many wonderful memories of her.

So, have you ever checked out the "pets" section on Craigslist?  It can be absolutely, gut-wrenchingly horrible to view.  It seems to be a reflection of every irresponsible pet owner in every given metropolitan area across the country who have come together to try to find homes for their unwanted animals.

I think the problem comes from the initial adoption process, or people just not realizing what a committment it is to take care of an animal.  There seems to be a really casual mindset involved, sort of a "it's Saturday and maybe I'll adopt a dog today" attitude.  These are the same people that when the dog gets sick, it's suddenly time to find them a new home.  Having a pet is sort of like getting married; it;s about the good times AND the bad times - not just the former.

I've seen adolescent males as some of the worst offenders, guys who live in small apartments that decide they want to get a dog on the drop of a hat.  The next thing you know, they have some sort of German Shepard mix locked in a 600 square foot apartment, the dog is miserable because it never gets to go out enough, it's left alone all the time, and is bored out of its skull - so it starts eating the apartment.  This is a natural response!  The next thing you know, the dog winds up at the pound or with some dodgy "friend" the guy met at a bar who really wants a dog, and the cycle continues.

It's the same story with cats, except that it's usually some lame story like "well, we've had these cats for seven years, but now our baby is allergic to them so we have to get rid of the boys."  Or, "my boyfriend really doesn't like cats, so I'm putting him up for adoption."  Yeah, an eight year old male houscat - he'll get snatched right up.  Better to kick the bofriend to the curb - chances are that the cat will make a better companion anyway.  (Yeesh - that sounded rather bitter.  One would think that I am a jilted teenage girl or something...)

I know that I am preaching to the choir here, and that this community does take very good care of their animal companions.  I also know that not everyone who posts on the Craigslist "pets" section is trying to given away an unwanted animal or looking for an outrageous "rehoming fee" for a puppy.  This may just be my weekend rant, and maybe a reason not to look at the old Craigslist listings first thing on a Saturday morning - hazardous to the pysche!

Enjoy your weekend, and walk your dog!

Okay all you dog lovers.....

Where does the line get drawn when deciding when and where you take your dog along?  I don't know whether we live in more of a dog-friendly culture now, but I seem to be seeing more and more dogs being taken into public places, and it being generally accecpted without turning any heads.

While in line at the bank last week, a woman brought her big Golden Retriever into the line with her, completely nonchalant, as if the dog were going to be making a transaction as well.  It didn't bother me any, and the dog was pretty well-behavied, but I could see potential issues arising if someone were to have serious allergies or some sort of dog phobia.  Granted, I also live in Lincoln Park in Chicago, and some of the wealthier residents here take a philosophy of "I'm going to do what I want, because I can," which was obviously the case with the woman in the bank.  She didn't think twice about bringing Kelly the dog in with her, it's HER dog, they are out for a walk, she needed some cash, and Kelly was just checking her balance.  No one questioned anything.

I have also noticed an abundance of "designer dogs" (e.g. your Yorkshire Terriers, etc) be casually taken into coffeeshops and bookstores all the time, as if they are just another accessory.  Once again, no manager rushed up, informing the person that unless it's a service dog, pets are not allowed within the establishment.  Is this a new trend?

The only other place that I have seen such casual dog allowance was the short amount of time I spent in Paris, I remember going to several cafes where the owner's dog was following him or her around the floor, a furry assistant who just might be guilty of eating the occassional bit of leftovers.

My dad loves to take his Golden Lab with him wherever he can, but generally listens to reason if her wants to take her some place that usually doesn't allow dogs, like Costco or the video store.  ("But we're going to the dog park afterward!  Everyone loves the dog!)  He's even talked the staff into letting the dog into my grandfather's assisted living facility, but I'm pretty sure he lied and told them that she was a trained therapeutic animal.

Are we living in the new age of the dog where they can go more and more places?  Growing more dog-tolerant?  Or am I just seeing dogs?

Movies and pop culture have made it seem like opening up a pretty box to find a puppy inside is the most wonderful, heartwarming gift.  The truth is, a lot of consideration needs to be given before you decide to give someone a pet for the holidays.  If it's a family gift, then the whole family should have the opportunity to agree on it and pick it out, that way the new addition is more likely to be welcomed as one of the family and less likely to be treated like a possession or a new toy, which are often forgotten or neglected with the new year.  If you're considering a pet for your significant other, think about how well you *really* know that person first.  Would s/he make a good, responsible pet owner?  Does s/he have the drive, committment, and time to walk or tend to a pet every single day?  Does s/he have the financial resources at hand to care properly for a pet by buying the right food and maintaining vaccinations and preventatives, like heartworm and/or flea medications?  It's also important to remember, if you're going to give a pet to someone that you're dating, that you may eventually have to take responsibility for that animal.  What happens if the relationship goes south and your other half decides they don't want anything you've given them anymore, including Fluffy?  Are you ready to take care of Fluffy is something happened? 

Consider, instead, giving someone a book about the care of dogs, cats, horses, iguanas, whatever the case may be, or about the particular breed if the recipient already seems to know what they want.  That way you can learn about your prospective new friend together, shop around, and on Valentine's day (after you and the prospective pet owner have plenty of time to think about it) make a date out of going to pick out the new pet together.  It's romantic, memorable, and you haven't sprung a possibly unwanted surprise on anyone that you care about (i.e.-have you seen "Knocked Up?"  It worked out okay for them, but it's a lot easier for some people to neglect a pet than a baby...)

Here's a little "wish I could do this" story..

A friend of mine recently quit her job in the Public Relations world to pursue not only her passion for animals, but also start her own business as well.  Her company, Rex In The City Chicago, is an operation specializing in dog walking and pet sitting in the Chicago area.  This is an excellent example of one animal lover appealing to others, and providing a much-needed service, especially for busy professionals who may not have as much time as they might like for their furry buddies.

Plus, if you're going to hire a pet service, I think a potential client would much rather hire a fellow pet owner and lover rather than some faceless person on Craigslist who claims to have "great experience" with animals.  Very cool, and I have to say I'm more than a little jealous of what she gets to do now....

Give her website a look-see if you have a moment...

www.rexinthecitychicago.com

 

When I left for college the second time around, I decided to leave my dogs with my parents.  Hey, they did a pretty good job raising me, so I figured they would do an equally good job with my dogs as well. 

So off I went, I said good-bye to my Emilio and my Ginger and set off to earn another degree that I would most likely never use.  And that's when the phone calls began...

"Adia, are you awake?" It was seven something in the morning, of course I wasn't awake..until she called me.  "Yes, Mom..sort of kind of..I mean, I'm awake now...what's up?"

"It's your Ginger.." she practically growled into the phone.

"What? What's the matter with Ginger?" Now I considered Ginger my angel.  My sweet little Gingie pie, as I called her.  She could do no wrong in my eyes.  She was the opposite of the vain, "entitled", problem-causing Emilio (who I love dearly by the way).   She was the perfect dog, except for her random bouts of craziness, of which my parents were now becoming victims.

"She won't come into the house! Every morning the same thing! We call her into the house and she takes off running around the entire house and then we have to chase her back around the house like it's some sort of game..." And on and on my Mom went.

I must admit, Ginger did display the stubborn, I-won't-listen-to-you, attitude before. Take for example when we lived in the Dominican Republic.  She would refuse to come into the house, especially when she was in trouble.  She would toss her body on the ground, belly facing the floor, spread her legs out and refuse to move.  I would have to drag her inside or carry her, much to the amusement of my neighbors who loved to watch the American's "dog-rearing skills" in action.

So much to my embarrassment, my "angel" was at it again.  Every morning my parents would let Ginger out of the house to do her duty while they got dressed.  Every morning Ginger would decide to ignore my parents' calls and hide from them.  If they looked for her at the backdoor she would run to the front.  If they looked for her at the front door, she would run to the back.  It was her favorite game. 

I could picture my Ginger getting so excited when they called her.  Ducking behind bushes and dashing around the house so pleased that she had eluded them once more.  She was fast and I swear she looked like a deer when she raced off here and there.  And I'm sure she did the same thing every morning when my parents caught up with her...toss herself on her back, belly-facing up, ears sticking up like a bunny's, head-tossed back in complete surrender, until they reached for her...when I'm sure she leaped back up with a hahaha you can't catch me look, and raced around the house yet again.

Such a good girl, my Ginger...