One of the most popular booths at World of Pets Expo in Timonium over the weekend was that of “Pocket Pets,” distributors of Sugar Gliders, a tiny squirrel-like marsupial that lives in the wild in Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea and Tasmania.
They’re cute little boogers, with big brown eyes. Imagine a squirrel, crossed with a bat [...]
| Next » Lifers |
Anonymous
January 27, 2009, 9:16 am
A sugar glider is a sugar glider, they have never been called sugar bears.
Calling them a sugar bear or sugar bears is an invention of Perfect Pocket Pets, they don't want people to search for "sugar glider" and find out they are:
1. Difficult to care for
2. Smell bad
3. Require significant effort to get them to bond to you.
Basically, these folks lie to get you to buy a glider on impulse. For anyone considering buying a sugar glider, do some research first!
And don't bother searching for "sugar bears" for more info, the only site you will find describing a sugar glider as a sugar bear is owned by Perfect Pocket Pets.
Instead, try searching "Perfect Pocket Pets" and find out more about this company and their practices.
Thanks for bringing this Pet Expo event to people's attention!
Anonymous
February 7, 2009, 9:41 am
These people should be taken out and euthanized. What they do to Sugar Gliders is SO MUCH WORSE than anything you'd ever hear a dog MILL BREEDER doing! At least if you get a dog from a mill breeder, you can change it's standard of care right away. The horrible Pocket Pets educates it's customers to continue the deplorable and inhumane care.
I am NOT a "raving" animal rights activist, member of PETA, etc. I am a Sugar Glider owner who has learned what Pocket Pets really is. Please do not support their business!
Anonymous
February 7, 2009, 11:41 am
Pocket Pets gives all BAD info to their customers, and worse they are like roaches springing up everywhere selling gliders who could be too young and sick with parasites (which they advertise is NORMAL! :( ) at all the local home/garden shows ALL across the country!
Please please please do NOT buy from them, and instead to your research FIRST on these exotic pets. They are a wonderful pet for the RIGHT person! There are MANY great breeders out there who are NOT willing to sell at just any booth they can set up and impulse sell to just anyone!
From a sugar glider rescuer/owner to those who care to make a difference!
Anonymous
February 7, 2009, 1:02 pm
Please don't glamorize what that company does. The misinformation they give out should be criminal; it certainly is immoral. Sugar gliders are exotic pets; they absolutely require much more than the company tells, and much more than the average uneducated impulse-buyer is willing to give. They are wonderful little creatures, but they are not easy.
Anonymous
February 7, 2009, 5:26 pm
I also agree. What PPP does is terrible. I have 6 rescued SugarGliders that no one wanted anymore due to the high amount of care that goes into this exotic pet. They take these babies from their mothers way before they are weaned and they end up sick and with extensive illness due to this. They need so much more care then this company tells their customers they need. They continue to teach improper care for these poor little guys. Dateline or 20/20 should make them their next undercover project!
Anonymous
February 7, 2009, 6:39 pm
I believe that this last anonymous poster is right on -- Dateline or 20/20 should do an investigation. I had never heard of sugar gliders until today, when I was introduced to them at the Great Northeast Home Show. I was completely charmed and nearly sold; however, I am a highly critical/skeptical person and knew I would do research before making a decision. I understand that some people on the internet joining these discussions about sugar gliders are saying that all pet buyers should be smart enough to do research before buying, but that is simply unrealistic. These Pocket Pet people set-up shop in this environment where there are many people with families who have kids who get wildly excited over these pets. There is just something about the atmosphere there that creates this impulse to give-in and buy -- they are just so damn cute and soft and seemingly sweet. The sales pitch is impeccable and convincing. I would love for this company to be shut down. After reading posts like these and so many others on the web, I became infuriated with the practices of this company who is dealing with living creatures. It is, as one poster said, borderline criminal (as they outright lie to your face in order to sell a product) and DEFINITELY immoral!
Anonymous
February 7, 2009, 7:35 pm
First thing I noticed was the company was at a craft show! Whats up with that. And then the guy had told me he had been feeding his glider Doritos all day, okay. Doritos aren't good for us much less a small critter that has never been intoduced to these chemicals and perservatives. Right then I decided that I would not buy from them.
Anonymous
February 7, 2009, 7:47 pm
PPP should NOT beable to sell ANYTHING!
Anonymous
February 8, 2009, 2:46 am
This company is just that - a company. NOT a reliable source to get ANY animal, much less gliders. They are EXOTIC, therefore, they require an EXOTIC diet, which includes fruits, veggies, bugs, and the main mix, such as HPW or BML, usually. PPP instructs new owners to SHOVE THEIR THUMB into the gliders mouth as FAR as it can POSSIBLY go to discourage biting, then bend the thumb to stretch the jaw even MORE. Gliders aren't mean. There is NO such thing as a mean glider. Sugar gliders that crab and bite constantly are PETRIFIED. There are SCARED gliders, but not MEAN gliders. They also instruct new owners to basically smash their new pet to the side of the cage, but their thumb under it's jaw, and then put the index finger over the head to restrain them. That's NOT how a glider should be held. They shouldn't be restrained at all, because that initiates fear which initiates biting. Seeing the connection?
They are an AWFUL company who misinforms every person who crosses their path, and sells their suggies for an ungodly price. Not to mention they're normally SICK AND UNDERAGE. They tell you that gliders don't ever need to see a vet, which is why many of the sugar gliders that die after leaving this facility are simply dust in the wind, and their death can't help put a STOP to PPP. They also REFUSE to refund your money if your overly priced baby dies from causes that originated with them. They say that if you'd like, you give them another $100 so you can have another one, and the vicious cycle keeps on going. Also, how in the WORLD is only a SINGLE site worth doing research on? That should just be common sense right there!!!
DO YOUR RESEARCH (not on their site)!!! IT WILL BE YOUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL!!!
Anonymous
February 8, 2009, 3:03 am
I was reading a previous comment and thought to myself, "Shouldn't EVERYTHING they're saying be false advertisement?"
It's inhumane, if nothing else!
(I posted the one above this one.)
Note: NO, I didn't buy from them.
Also, don't buy them because you feel bad for them or want to save them. Yes, it's tempting, but if you buy them, then you're supporting PPP to keep doing what they're doing.
Anonymous
February 8, 2009, 8:42 am
The truth about Sugar Gliders from a someone who owns one… soon to be two. They smell. Despite almost constant cage cleaning the DO have an odor. They have scent glands and WILL mark their cages. The more you clean the scent away the more they may mark. The DO bite. Some may be more docile than others, but all are capable of biting hard and until they’re used to you, they will bite or attempt to bite… They are not “quick to bond”. This takes a lot of time and isn’t always successful. I know plenty of people who have never gotten their gliders to bond. They are not easy to feed if you want to provide a diet that is actually good for them. There are commercial glider pellets available, but these are NOT the best thing for them. They need fresh fruits, vegetables, sources of protein including insects… how cute is that? They are messy with their food. They ingest some of it, but the rest is chewed up and spit around the cage… sometimes outside of the cage. They DO require vet care more often than certain people will lead you to believe. And when they need this care you can’t just take them to any vet. The require a vet who specializes in exotics… more specifically someone who has experience with sugar gliders. Don’t believe it? Call around to the local vets in your area and see how many of them can treat a sugar glider. Some of the places I called didn’t even know what a sugar glider was. They are prone to calcium deficiency if their diet isn’t balanced with a 2:1 calcium:phosphorus ratio. This leaves them unable to use their hind legs and can kill them. They should also be kept in pairs if not colonies of 3 or more. When kept alone they will often over groom, causing bald spots. They may even self mutilate when kept alone. They are nocturnal. Not in the sense of a hamster who is out in the early evening to play, but in the sense that most gliders don’t even wake up until sometime between 10 pm and 12 am. And they require around 2 hours or more of time out of their cages every night… especially if kept alone. Their cages should be large… not as in big enough for a rat, a ferret, or a rabbit. More like at least 3 - 4 feet in height. Most of their awake time is during the hours that most people sleep. Are they cute? Absolutely. Are the easy to care for? Absolutely NOT. The require more commitment than most human relationships and can quickly get sick and even die if they don’t get everything they need.
MrsAych
Anonymous
February 9, 2009, 4:45 am
The reason that Perfect Pocket Pets uses this type of venue to sell sugar gliders is because they know that they will find large crowds uneducated impulse customers. If they chose a venue where exotics are normally sold, they might run into consumers who actually know how high maintenance sugar gliders really are. They can easily lie to these uneducated consumers about glider diet, vet care, and temperament. Then they move on to the next town leaving and the next set of uneducated customers. Those who purchase these gliders are often heart broken when they find out that their pet is sick or dying, or they are frustrated when they realize that the animals are aggressive, not child friendly, can’t be potty trained, and have an odor. Those of us who are in the Sugar Glider community have heard too many horror stories from those who were duped by these vendors. Sugar gliders can be wonderful pets for anyone who has the time to commit to them, but they should only be purchased from local small breeders who take the time to hand tame their joeys, and educate new owners. Or better yet, find a sugar glider to love at one of the many rescues organizations that step up to the plate and pick up the pieces after Perfect Pocket Pets leaves town.
Small Paws Animal Support
Anonymous
February 10, 2009, 8:16 am
the glider they show you is a rare exception and the one you purchase will probably bite and will not be tamed, it takes a lot of time and patience to get them to bond to you, as an owner of 6 (all gotten at different times and places) I know from experience, they are expensive to feed as they need a special diet not to get hind leg paralases and require a vet that handles exotics.
Anonymous
June 26, 2009, 7:26 pm
I was told that these little guys do not smell or bite or run away or make noises so I bought six males from them. These people are liars because they bite hard and make bad noises and smell and now I found out they are illegal in my state and do not know what to do so my daughter is very upset and my husband and I are furious. I was trying to get them a new house and found another family who left their sugar pets out on the porch and gave up on them. Our regular cat vet checked our little guys and said their privates were severed off with something dull and were infected and we can't pay any pet bills and were told by the people that we would never have to. These people should get thrown in jail and now our little guys are sick and dying and we lost big money for something i thought would make my daughter happy
Anonymous
July 1, 2009, 6:35 am
They are not the only Company that practices poor animal husbandry. I beg you to pass it on , NEVER BUY FROM FAIRS, EXPOS, PET STORES, FLEA MARKETS, TRADING VILLAGES. They are sold like they are jewelry, kept in pouches all day long with no access to water, or cramped in cages all day long. Did you know the cages in Florida are to be 4ft by 4ft by 4ft, law? Most of these joeys are pulled from mommy and daddy at 5 weeks of age out of Pouche, ( they are still nursing at this time) How cruel is that? GLiders are expensive- it caosts way more than 10.00 a month to feed. They MUST have an exotic diet, NOT just pellet food. DO YOU EAT THE SAME THING EVERYDAY? GLiders should'nt either. I would love to see all these type dealers stopped, I'm saying , they need to be monitored cloley to ensure the health of each glider. COME ON DATELINE OR 20/20, i dare you too try and expose these monsters.
Anonymous
July 1, 2009, 9:02 am
First I’d like to say that sugar gliders CAN make wonderful pets that will bring you years of enjoyment. However; when you see these animals being sold at fairs, flea markets, trade shows, street fairs, etc., these animals are usually from a mill breeding environment. These vendors rely on impulse buyers to purchase one of their cute and tiny little joeys. I mean, who can resist such an adorable, pint sized creature?!?!?!
If you’ve ever heard of a puppy mill then you’re well aware of the conditions in which those animals usually live. Mills are notorious for housing hundreds of sick and tortured puppies. Glider mills are no different. Some of these breeders are known for performing “pocket knife neuters” on site for their customers. Well, multiply that by THOUSANDS of sugar glider joeys and you can well imagine the conditions in which these animals live.
Be aware of ANY vendor at one of these venues that claims they are “experts” and that you should not research elsewhere before purchasing from them. That should raise red flags to anyone interested in purchasing one of these animals! Log onto the internet and go to www.glidercentral.net or http://www.spin4suggies.com/ and you will have great information available to you for research purposes. Why would anyone not want you to learn more about an animal that may live up to 15 years in your home? Researching is the RESPONSIBLE thing to do before bringing ANY animal into your home.
Be wary of any vendor telling you that these animals do not bite! In the wild, sugar gliders use their VERY sharp teeth to strip the bark off of trees so they can extract the sweet sap from the bark. This is where they get their name. Even tiny joeys have teeth and can and WILL use them. Small joeys can be extremely aggressive out of fear. They’ve been taken from mom and you are a big, scary, creature to them and they WILL defend themselves. They are NOT suitable pets for young children!!
Yes, gliders DO have an odor! The joeys that are being sold at these venues do not have an odor simply because they are too young to have their scent glands. When male sugar gliders reach sexual maturity at 3 – 6 months of age their scent glands will begin to appear. They have one on their chests and one on the top of their head that is very distinguishable as a “bald” spot. These joeys have no odor simply because they are not old enough to begin marking their territory!! If you see ANY of these vendors tube or bottle feeding joeys, that is a clear sign that they have been removed from their mothers before weaning and it is an inhumane and DEPLORABLE practice!
The most harmful information that is relayed at these venues is that sugar gliders do not require a visit to the veterinarian! This is UNTRUE! Sugar gliders require the care of an EXOTICS veterinarian who SPECIFICALLY understands sugar gliders. Many a glider owner has spent frantic moments searching for a vet in the middle of the night. After all, that is when your glider will be its most active and when you’re more likely to notice that something is wrong. Sugar gliders are notorious for hiding illness. In the wild, they would remove themselves from the colony so as not to draw predators to the nest. By the time you notice symptoms of illness you have precious little time to get your glider the help it needs. If you do not already have a veterinarian in your speed dial, you may very well lose your animal!!
Please be a responsible pet owner and research any pet before bringing it into your home. Please do not purchase any animal on impulse and if you do and later decide it’s not the pet for you, please locate a rescue group close to you that will find your pet a qualified forever home. Please do not feed them to other animals, put them out with the trash or set them free outside. Sugar gliders are non indigenous animals. Our climates and lack of natural habitat and sustainable diet makes it impossible for them to survive in the wild. Starvation is a horrible, painful death. Don’t make THEM pay for YOUR mistake!!!
Anonymous
July 1, 2009, 9:03 am
TOP 20 REASONS NOT TO BUY A SUGAR GLIDER FROM PERFECT POCKET PETS OR OTHER VENDORS AT FAIRS & FESTIVALS
1. They lie about where their gliders come from
2. Their gliders are often sick with giardia and/or coccydia which can kill the gliders and is transferrable to your other pets and even to people
3. They lie about proper sugar glider care and nutrition
4. The gliders they sell are often underweight
5. The gliders they sell have often been taken from their parents too young and are not ready to be on their own
6. Their cages are too small to be suitable for gliders
7. Their products, including the cages, diet components, pouches, and the gliders themselves are extremely over priced
8. Their gliders often come from mill breeding facilities where gliders are kept in over crowed, unsanitary conditions
9. They advocate the use of heat rocks which are both unnecessary and dangerous for gliders
10. They took it upon themselves to change the name of an entire species from sugar glider to “sugar bear” just to keep you from finding good care, information, and advice when you look up the animal on the internet
11. They tell you that these are easy animals to care for when they actually have special needs
12. They tell you not to listen to anyone but them out of fear that you will find out they are lying to you about these animals
13. They will not allow you to tour their facility or see in person where their gliders are born and raised
14. Their gliders have often been severely inbred leading to deformities and genetic issues like HLP (Hind Leg Paralysis)
15. They tell you these animals never need vet care when they actually DO need vet care and can ONLY be seen by glider knowledgeable exotic vets
16. They tell you sugar gliders will get along with your other pets, when in reality, it is dangerous to let your other pets near a sugar glider as the glider might be injured or even eaten
17. They tell you sugar gliders can survive on nothing but glide-r-chow, glide-a-mins, bread, and apples… in reality, they need a specific calcium to phosphorous ratio and a specific amount of protein in their diet.
18. They tell you gliders do not smell if you do not feed them meat… first of all, they are NOT vegetarians, they are OMNIVORES and they REQUIRE a protein (meat) source in their diet and second of all, the MALES all have SCENT GLANDS on their heads and their chests… they will always have SOME scent once they hit puberty, and the ONLY way to lessen the odor at all is to have them neutered.
19. They don’t tell you important glider facts like how some are prone to a problem called SM (Self-Mutilation) where if they feel pain they are capable to EATING holes in their own bodies to “dig in to find the pain” and they can KILL THEMSELVES by doing so.
20. They claim the products they sell are manufactured by them… but they are actually PURCHASED by them and then repackaged with a new label, so they are taking credit for someone else’s work.
WANT MORE INFORMATION ON PROPER SUGAR GLIDER CARE AND DIETS AND ACCESS TO GREAT BREEDERS, TOYS, CAGES, AND ACCESSORIES? PLEASE VISIT US ON THE WEB AT
http://spin4suggies.com
Anonymous
July 8, 2009, 6:51 pm
All th above is true, so, who is going to expose them? Why are they still able to treat these animals like this, and treat the said buyer, like they are stupid, just for 300 or more dollars. Perfect Pocket Pets uses lies to sway you, to their side. Telling you never buy a glider from online, and gliders should never be priced below three hundred dollars. If you buy one below that price, then they are sick, or something is wrong. They will say anyting to get you to buy their gliders.
clive.barker
August 29, 2009, 4:03 pm
so does ppp only sell at fairs? do they have other products? how can i avoid having anything to do with them?
ket358
October 17, 2009, 4:14 pm
ket358 __October 17, 2009____Thanks for all of the good info. Just saw these little critters for the first time today at a local mall kiosk. It was very sad - they were selling 8 week old "Pocket Pets". They looked much younger than that. Now I know that the reason they sell them so young is because at that age they don't yet emit th odor. They wanted $500 for each Glider. And they encouraged people to let it loose with other pets. Sorry I have a West Highland White Terror :) and that little Glider would be history in about two seconds with my dog. These people that are involved with selling the poor animals are pure greed. Just like the Petland / Puppy Mill organization.
