Sugar Glider University

For some time, we have received countless emails about sugar gliders being unethically treated by many different breeders, and we have considered announcing a boycott. Many students and concerned members of the community have alerted us to the many horrific and tragic conditions many gliders face. We finally heard a story that spurred us into action. Enough is enough!

A nice woman named Helen had a little business in which she sold sugar gliders. It was called Helen's Little Critters****(we have been notified of a change in ownership of this business--please see end of article for update [02.21.08]). Due to changes in her life, she sold the business. It is now under the operation of "Venette", and oh, what a sad situation has ensued.

Here is a letter we received explaining the situation:

Jenny bought two gliders from Venette who bought Helen's business, "Helens Little Critters". I've included a picture below. I believe the baby is probably three weeks old.

They told her that both Toby, and the girl they got, were 5 weeks old, but the girl was twice the size. She took him to the vet a number of times and the vet said he hadn't been weaned and that he was dying from depression from missing his mother. After five long weeks of trying to keep him alive, diarrhea, etcetera, he died.

Venette neutered Toby herself in her own house. She said the vet showed her how, so she bought the equipment to do it on her own. She said that she used a topical anesthetic, but that he yelped anyway. So he had been neutered closer to the two weeks of age, because she neutered him the Thursday before [she] got him.

If the above is true, not only is Venette committing a misdemeanor by practicing veterinary medicine without a license, but she is also selling joeys much too young (see our article on when to handle a joey), and practicing unethical treatment of animals.

Unfortunately, Venette is not the only one. Due to the letters and requests we have received (some of which you can find in our Glider Givens section), we have compiled a list of breeders to boycott, and our opinions as to why they should be boycotted:

This does not include trade shows, pawn shops, and other pet stores, which we feel should not ever have sugar gliders, and therefore, we have a boycott overall, regardless.

If you know of any breeders who should be added to our boycott, please contact us.

****02.21.08 -- Venette, who had bought Helen's business, Helen's Little Critters, has retired and is no longer selling sugar gliders or any other animals.  Helen is buying back her name, and is in the process of acquiring sugar gliders from her original lines.