Message:
Subject: Re: Very intuitive animals....Yes, VERY
Posted by Pat Todd on January 15, 1999 at 10:38:40:
In Reply to: Very intuitive animals.... posted by Susan on January 15, 1999 at 07:12:05:
Here's another example of the intelligence and uniqueness of
gliders.
During the last couple of months I've had the opportunity to
supply gliders a/o cages to "special" (handicapped) young
people.
One, a young girl has a serious case of MS, seems to have a
magic touch with upset gliders. When ordinary people handle a
glider that is crabbing, they just keep on crabbing, but
when this extraordinary young lady holds them they immediately
stop crabbing, as if they know she is "special". When she was
at my home looking at all my gliders, and held some, they did
not crab or fuss when she held various babies.
An another example of this also took place where I wasn't
present but a customer of mine witnessed this: This young
lady's mother and a friend (both ladies are my customers)
showed her an upset glider that was very crabby. The girl
said 'let me hold him', the ladies warned her that the
glider might bite, but still she wanted to hold it. When she
did, the glider immediately stopped crabbing and was very
sweet! When given back to one of the ladies, the glider
started crabbing again.
Another incident happened with a "special" young man who
was here and wanted a glider. I was a bit reluctant to let
him hold a young baby, so I let him hold one that was a
little older and a little crabby with me and the young mans
mother. Lo and behold, the instant that "special" young man
put that crabby little guy in his hands, the glider stopped
crabbing and became the sweetest little critter ever! When I
took the glider back from him, it started to crab again!
I have 2 very special dogs that have been wonderful therapy
dogs at local nursing homes and they "just know" when a
person is "special". I'm now firmly convinced that
gliders have this unique ability too. It's as if they know
they should be sweet to "special people".
I've been a USDA licensed breeder for close to five years
and realize that I'm extremely predjudiced where gliders are
concerned. But I KNOW they really are VERY intelligent
and wonderful little critters. There are no bad gliders,
only bad situations that make them seem bad.