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Everyone has a reason they started rescuing, and we
are no different. It all started with an ad in a local newspaper
selling a sugar glider business. When I see things like this it makes
me wonder WHY. After my Mom and I called the lady, we made an
appointment to see these gliders. That was it, these gliders were being
kept in the most appalling, unhealthy condition, cages too small to
move in, with pillow stuffing as bedding (gliders don’t use bedding),
covered in their own waste, and with scars, scabs and cuts. Some were
missing parts of their tails and blind. It was horrible.
There were
18 gliders in 4- 10 by 10 inch cages. These gliders were for sale, and
she would not take less than $1500.00. We had a dilemma. The shelter
would euthanize all these gliders if they took them, AND if anyone else
bought the business they would continue to breed these gliders in these
tiny cages and add to the glider rescue problem. We could not stand by
and watch these gliders suffer, so we came up with the money and packed
up these gliders.
Off to the
vet where we found out all the gliders were full of parasites
(internal). Medication had to be given twice a day every day for 10
days. These gliders needed to be bathed twice and still had stuff stuck
to them. The medicine took at least an hour to give to them and thick
gloves were needed since these gliders had not been handled.
The next
step was to get them on a proven glider diet (BML) and get them into
top health so we can get the males neutered. We immediately started
calling about neutering the males since we noticed at least 2 mamas
with joeys in pouch. The Vets wanted an awful lot to neuter these 9
male gliders, and not every vet can handle such a tiny animal. After
calling around, it was suggested we call Dr Fitzgerald from Emergency
vets on Animal Planet. He said he would come out and check on the
gliders here in my home to reduce the stress to them. He asked if he
could bring a camera crew. They came in and filmed and then neutered
the gliders, all 9 of them for the cost of one and thankfully the SRR
(suggie rescue resources) was able to help pay for the neuter.
Suggie
Savers then went on to getting USDA License and became the 1st ever
501(c)3 Federal Non-Profit Sugar Glider only rescue. As of todays date
we have helped over 400 gliders and have neutered just over 200 male
gliders. As our numbers keep growing we keep learning. As they say in
the story books... The rest is history!
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