A big part of glider ownership is protecting your gliders.. Placing them in a room that an animal can get to them is downright careless (among other things). I don't mean to be harsh, but... I don't really find it cute. Just scary.

Ok. I will say right now that I was getting very upset because I felt like you guys are saying I am a very bad glider mommy and that I don't love my little babies. I still do think this. But I have read all the storys and replys on here about five times. Even if I don't believe that Ginger would hurt my siggies cause I won't let her. I went out and got a gate and put it in front of my door so my dogs can't get into my room. Just cause I don't want my suggies hurt.

Brittney, I believe that you are taking good care of your gliders. And I understand that maybe your dog isn't the kind to bite through the bars to get at your gliders, and I'm happy to hear it. But I think what's getting everyone in a tizzy is the fact that there have been a LOT of gliders killed by dogs and, as Ed said, nobody here wants anyone new to gliders to see this thread and think its okay to let their dogs be around their gliders.

Now, I don't agree with people chewing you out about things you can't help. You can't help that you live in a small place, or that you have a dog and they seem to be missing the fact that you've already said when your gliders are out playing, the dogs go bye-bye. Just be careful. Maybe your dog wouldn't hurt your suggies for anything, but maybe not.

I'm happy to hear though, that you got a gate in order to keep the dogs out of your room, even when the gliders are in their cage. I think that is a very good idea. I would also put locks or heavy duty clips on ALL doors of your cage for extra reinforcement. That way you will get in the habit of using those clips/locks and it will help eliminate any chance of accidentally leaving a door un-fastened.

Amen Ed! I am not trying to be mean but I think this is like playing Russian Roulette with you gliders. You think you have everything safe and nothing can happen. But, look what happened to your bird. That would have been enough to teach me a lesson. I know that we aren't going to change your mind. However, if something does happen to them I will be the last to feel and sympathy for you. My sympathy will go to the poor gliders. How do you know they like your dog? Maybe your dog scares the hell out of them. They can't talk.

Suggieluvr well one thing I have a gate up now but only cause I don't want my suggies hurt. I still think Ginger wouldnt hurt my suggies. Another thing is when ginger would lay by the cage they would either sleep in the pouch closest to her or sleep against the cage where she is to try and cuddle with her. If you ask me they like her. But Ginger will no long be going in there.

I think everone is being a bit harsh on her. I totally understand that dogs / cats and our gliders do not mix, but she has specified that they dont directly interact with them. they are in their cage. to say that they must stay out of the room entirely is going too far. Yes, something can happen but that is true in every aspect of life. Should we not take our dogs or cats out of the house for fear that a fox or hawnk may take them (and i know more than a few that this has happened to, including my own mother) should we not get in a car for fear that someone might be driving dunk and kill us (and this happens every day) should i live in the basement and only venture outside when the sun is up for fear of getting cancer? (no double sun expousre casuses skin cancer) Everything must be safeguarded...all of our pets, ourselves, loved ones, etc etc but how much is too much? whose rules are better than others, and why?

For the record, i dont allow my friends children nor my cats to interact with my gliders. The cats seem uninterested, but i wouldnt trust them for even a second. the kids seem genlte and interested, but all it would take is a small nip or a stragne noise and the kid could fling them across the room. (this recetnly happened to someone i know with a hampster...the kid was spooked, slapped it off his shoulder, it slammed against the wall...dead. do any of you let you kids handle your gliders?)
My cats do however sleep in the same room as the gliders cage.

Stevos, upon hearing so many stories of gliders getting injured WHILE in the cage by another animal reaching through the cage bars, or biting through them... My cats are not allowed in the room with them. How does a cat play? They paw at things. They chase. I wouldn't put it past my cats to think that my gliders are toys.

Maybe I'm crazy over protective though, because I also don't allow my cats outdoors, as I don't want them to get hit by cars or anything.

As far as my pets, if I know something can be a danger to them, I try to keep them from it... but like I said, maybe I'm crazy over protective -- but I like to refer to that as just smart and safe.

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Originally posted by Stevos

I think everone is being a bit harsh on her. I totally understand that dogs / cats and our gliders do not mix, but she has specified that they dont directly interact with them. they are in their cage. to say that they must stay out of the room entirely is going too far.

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I couldn't disagree more. Did you not read the posts about people's dogs knocking the cages OVER or cats reaching through the bars? Just because they are in their cage does NOT make them safe. SafeR, maybe. Safe, NO.

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Yes, something can happen but that is true in every aspect of life. Should we not take our dogs or cats out of the house for fear that a fox or hawnk may take them (and i know more than a few that this has happened to, including my own mother) should we not get in a car for fear that someone might be driving dunk and kill us (and this happens every day) should i live in the basement and only venture outside when the sun is up for fear of getting cancer? (no double sun expousre casuses skin cancer) Everything must be safeguarded...all of our pets, ourselves, loved ones, etc etc but how much is too much? whose rules are better than others, and why?

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They aren't anyone's rules...as I clearly stated, the risks and opinions are listed. It's up to everyone else to make the EDUCATED decision. Should we not take our dogs and cats out of the house for fear that a fox or hawk may take them? DAMN RIGHT that's why my 14 year old cat has never seen the outside of my house! Should we not get in the car? Unfortunately, getting places is a necessity and a risk that CANNOT always be avoided. We are talking about risks that can easily be avoided. You are comparing apples and oranges here. I make sure my car has tune ups, oil changes and good tires, I make sure we all wear seat belts, I get vehicles with 4WD, anti-lock brakes and airbags to try and alleviate as much risk as possible. I also don't pick up hitchhikers, stay on my side of the road and obey traffic laws. Some laws are pretty good if you ask me and I don't care whose they are. I also wear sunscreen and try to limit my time in direct sun. Again, the sun can't be controlled...PETS CAN. How much is too much? When you IGNORE the risks and do nothing to alleviate the risks. That's when.

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For the record, i dont allow my friends children nor my cats to interact with my gliders. The cats seem uninterested, but i wouldnt trust them for even a second. the kids seem genlte and interested, but all it would take is a small nip or a stragne noise and the kid could fling them across the room. (this recetnly happened to someone i know with a hampster...the kid was spooked, slapped it off his shoulder, it slammed against the wall...dead. do any of you let you kids handle your gliders?)
My cats do however sleep in the same room as the gliders cage.

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Again...your risk, not ours. I would feel much worse about keeping quiet and having someone think it was OK to let them near each other, have them kill the glider than if I was vocal, expressed the risks and prevent one avoidable accident. Every time.

Stevos I don't think you understand what most of the people are trying to say. Some of the mills tell everyone that your gliders can be friends with all of your other pets, which is way wrong and REAL dangerous for the gliders. Most of the people who have gliders know better, its the people who just got them and don't know any better that we are worried about. Did you read her other post? www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25657
I truly don't think her dog is in love with her suggies and if given the chance would kill the glider,even just playing.OHhhh look at my little squeaky toy, lets make it squeak .

I don't see why we are still having a bash brittney and people that are being nice to brittney day. Yes cats and dogs will eat and kill your sugar gliders but they also can kill each other. Dose that stop us from keeping a dog and cat together? Yes sometimes but not all the time. Now stoping people from putting pets together won't ever stop because you see it on tv all the time. Animal Plant have a show where it shows rat, cats, and dogs getting along also birds and cats, its just something people do. Now do I think my dogs, and cat will hurt my suggies? No if my suggies are in the cage. Would they hurt them if they are out? Yes but just because they would want to see what they are. Now I know the risk and I have reread everthing in here like 10 times. Even though I don't think my animals would harm my suggies, and they go bye bye when its time to play with my suggies. I put a gate up so my dogs cant get into my room where my suggies are.

Again, comparing oranges and apples. I'm sure my husband could kill me if he wanted, but let's not get silly. Please show me one person bashing you? I can show you tons of people trying to WARN others of the dangers and provide the reasons why. Bashing you? I don't think so. The last few posts were directly addressed to someone else.

No one is bashing you, Brittney. What people are doing is discussing safety.

It feels like bashing. All I seem to be getting out of this is that you all think I'm a bad glider mom and a bad animal owner. Which I am e very good glider mom and animal owner!!

I think that you're getting too defensive here.. just my opinion. No one is bashing, no one thinks that you're a bad glider owner.

As Kyro said, the last few posts were not even directed at you.

I didnt feel bashed as it was kyro opinion and she feels strongly about her opinion. I gave mine, and i feel strongly about mine. I really dont feel that i was comparing apples and oranges (which by the way are both fruit

I got mine from PPP....they told me they were safe with other animals and children. i did my own research and decided otherwise.

there are some risk that are more avoidable than others, but none are totally unavoidable. I think i wont take mine out of the cage anymore at the risk of stepping on them.