i think Dancing suggestions about spending time with a nearby rescue is a GREAT idea.

I said before i think its GREAT that you want to rescue, but MOST rescuers have years of experience owning a sugar glider. Owning a sugar glider for the first time is a LONG TIME learning experience. I have had mine for a YEAR and i dont feel that i would be able to handle what goes on with rescuing.

I have to admit, i wanted to start rescuing too when i first came to this community. Basically because i saw the need, and i, like you, want to help. Both of us are very similar, our passion takes over and we just want to help.

I,however, knew i did not have the room because i was living in a two room apartment.. So now, its a year later and I have a house of my own with a basement thats big enough to hosue a few cages, but you know what, i CAN NOT RESCUE. After owning my own 5 gliders for a year, i realize what really goes in to taking care of these little guys. With my 5 suggies, 4 cats, and 1 dog i have NO TIME or MONEY to take care of recued gliders.. and the MONEY is the worse part because now, even if i HAD the time, i would NOT have the money to neuter every boy that came to my home, or get vet care for a sickly malnourished glider.. let alone a basic vet check.

So really, you HAVE the passion to be a rescuer, but make sure you have the more tangible resources to be a rescuer. And go check out what suggiemom is doing. Maybe y ou can work with her and be a "foster home" for healthy gliders that come to her until you can find a permanent home. That would also free up cage space at her facility for more "urgent" cases.. Its something you should def. try to work out. Especially since there is a rescue near you

I can ALWAYS use foster homes!

as for me.. Willing? Yes. Able? Yes. Ready? NEVER!

I will only take in a rescue under dire circumstances. We have a few now and if I thought I could get a harder skin and bite the bullet, I was wrong. (meaning not to cringe and cry from anything I might see) At least I don't flat pass out anymore from the site of blood or surgery.

It's hard enough to take in a rescue with "mental" issues from being abused but it's sheer agony when they have been both mentally AND physically abused, having to constantly lose any tiny bit of trust you might have gained by having to take them into the vet for medicine and surgery.

No one that doesn't KNOW gliders has any business taking in rescues IMO.

This subject is too touchy for me. Off my soapbox..

I do appreciate everyones comments and advice. As far as the fostering of gliders, I am more interested in adding a few gliders to my family, and if it came to it, yes I would rehome them, but only if I had to. I completely understand the concerns of this, and will keep note of this if && when I start taking in gliders.

And fyi, I would love to help you suggiemomma. I think that would be a learning experience

I know I am a newbee (my first glider was purchased on 2/8) and people probably think I am nuts but the way I feel is that my Lillie that I bought from a mill unknowingly is more of a rescue than the other 3 I have taken in. Her vet bills were and still are crazy. But even through all that I learned so much! When looking for a companion I found one on hoobly who was supposed to be 4 months old and needed a little work and only liked women... which is fine he's been some of a challenge but with love he's doing great and as sweet as can be but much older and bigger than Lillie. I don't know if I consider the pair that I took in for someone who couldn't care for them anymore a rescue or a rehome but they have twins in pouch that will be out in a week or two (I am in way over my head but I am learning and eager to do it) I don't get into this to breed them and daddy is getting fixed in a few days! I just love them sooo much and I have the time and the heart but they won't be leaving my home... I get too attached (other than one of the babies who is going to a special glider mom that was in a similar situation to me with my Lillie and needs a friend and I am not charging one cent) These two gliders with twins are way more than I was expecting with behavior and with twins ip I get more nervous because I don't want them to stress so much many more baby steps. I will continue to take these little ones in until one of two things happen I either start sleeping (or don't feel they are getting enough time) or I run out of room! And even then I might foster a few if I could put my heart aside and not fall totally in love with them! I don't think of myself as a rescuer though just there to help out a few lil friends that need a little love vet care and love oh and did I mention love??

I think here is the problem. I think a lot of people, without purposeful bad intentions or the realization of the message they send, equate rescue with free, usually coupled with good intentions to help. I think it's GREAT you want to help - lord knows there's more help needed then help to be given! However, I really feel you have slipped into the same shoes as other "newbie rescuers". I've been there, too, don't feel bashed or anything, I just want to help you understand our perspective. I completely understand your intentions are pure. I just think it's really easy to get "caught up" in suggies before you're ready - they're so neat and exciting! Before you know it, you're exhausted on it all, and then what do you have?? MORE RESCUES.

I have now only had my gliders a year, and I stand back and reflect on the short time and think WHEW!! What a big change they have brought to my life, finances, hobbies, and routines. I have only had a couple rescues cross my path, and because I was the only option for them I could not say no! For me to have ONE rescue pair to feed, clean after, work with/socialize, and (most stressful/difficult!) home screen for, was very exhausting! It was SO SO hard and stressful to take them from the rough world they knew, (be it just bad diet and no cage mate or be it abuse), and know that the REST OF THEIR LIVES/WELL BEING/HEALTH/HAPPINESS are now in YOUR and only YOUR hands. I do not see how you could possibly be a RESPONSIBLE and GOOD rescuer and make any money, let alone break even. I know it actually cost me money to help them! Anyway, I was going to continue this but just realized I'm off work in like 2 minutes and I've got to go. HTH

Oh how true!!!! The idea of rescuing can sometimes seem "glamorous" to folks when they fall in love w/their first suggie. I was guilty of that. You adopt a "rescued glider" and they steal your heart, so you want to "rescue" more gliders. It's all too easy to say "yes, I'll take them in". But you never know what it is you're getting into. Enthusiasm and good intentions can quickly turn into frustration. The hardest part for me is the emotional side of it. I get so angry when I see a glider mistreated or neglected. I worry constantly about them. You can put money aside to cover the financial burden, but how do you prepare your heart? Taking them in is hard, and letting them go is harder. I've cried after handing the glider over to its new family. I don't adopt any glider to anyone that I don't feel 100% comfortable with, and I've been pretty lucky that the new families have kept in touch w/me. I feel so honored to have played any part in getting a glider to a loving home. That makes all the hard parts worth it. I don't have any kids so my gliders are my world. I love being home w/them so I don't miss going places. But, when I do go away for a day or overnight, I have to plan for the gliders...there's no picking up and going. You have to be willing to put the gliders' wants and needs about yours. You can't just sit around and be a couch potato on a day you're feeling lazy, because there are cages that need to be cleaned and nails that need to be clipped. You have to be tough and gentle, loving and firm all at the same time. It's tough work, but, for me, I wouldn't have it any other way. I know when I first wanted to rescue, I was told all the bad stuff about it...but it didn't discourage me. The thing is, you have to want to open your heart and home to any glider at any time because you love them...not so you can call yourself a "rescuer". I really hope more folks are ready to take the plunge...just be sure you know how deep the water you're diving into it.

rescuing is so difficult emotionally, especially when the glider you have rescued wants nothing to do with you! :)I lost my very first glider after only a month of having him, so I was really really new to gliders when I got my next one. Meeko was a rescue who had been shut in a cage in the garage for almost a year and had cat food thrown in between the bars. I don't know how he made it that long. They even thought she was a SHE. How horrible is that? And he was traumatized when I got him. Crabbed the whole way home in his little carrier (everytime he jumped, the pet carrier rustled and scared him silly. He did that just about every 30 seconds and crabbed each time. Funny, but sad at the same time) He bit me an estimated 16 times before he finally let me TOUCH him...

4 years later and he is my angel. loves everyone and everything. Rescuing is rewarding if you've got what it takes!

I don't feel you can really be ready for rescues. It's just like having a baby... you can read all the books you want, but you never truely know whats in store. You just have to try to do your best.

To answer your question Brittany, I am aware of the costs. I have done massive amounts of research, and have funds set aside for vet bills and the care of my own, should something happen. I was never expecting anything to be "free".
And as I have said before, I do apologize for causing such a stir. I am still planning to add to my family, possibly w/o rescuing at all.
Thank you for the concern.

AMEN TO THAT!!!! I'll never forget last month, after leaving the hospital on cruthches and meds....I STILL had to wipe my cages.I sat in my computer that has wheels on it and ROLLED from cage to cage with a bucket of warm water and baking soda.It was hard but I sure had good feeling afterwards. I have 10 rescues.