GliderCENTRAL

Rescued neglected girl...

Posted By: Anonymous

Rescued neglected girl... - 03/26/05 08:10 AM

Hi everyone- missed you all when we were moving! (no internet for a month, ack!)

I have recently (about two weeks ago, maybe) rescued a little girl glider from a teen that knew almost nothing about glider care. And I do mean RESCUED. The glider had been a gift to the girl, and the only reason I found out about her is that the girl's mother had signed for her to get a tattoo in the studio where I work, and while I was tattooing her, she talked about selling a pet she didn't want anymore. It was mean, she said, couldn't be handled, and she wanted to sell it.
When I found out that the unwanted pet was a glider, I asked about it, and she gave me specifics. The girl was following the breeder's advice (I'm not sure who the breeder was, and I forgot to ask), the glider was about a year and a half old, lived in a 'tiel cage, was fed apple slices with powdered vitamins sprinkled on them (that was her main diet), and the girl didn't know what bonding was, and seemed shocked when I told her about out of cage time. According to her, the glider had gotten loose once, but was caught and put back in her cage before any harm was done.
To make a long story short... er, shorter... I offered to buy her, and since then, I've been working to rehabilitate her... and I've done well, I think, but we have a long way to go.
I finally have her on the BML diet, which is what my other gliders eat, and she's a BIT more friendly, but any advice would be helpful at this point.
When I adopted Chip and Dale, (my boys), they didn't know me, but had been well taken care of before I got them, which made bonding pretty easy for me. The girl, on the other hand, has barely been handled her entire life! Sometimes she's acted downright neurotic, and other times she doesn't seem to know what to do. There's a wheel in her cage, but she doesn't seem to trust it, likewise with toys I've given her. I have her cage next to the boys', and she doesn't bark constantly anymore, but I'm not sure how to introduce them to each other, or even if that would be a good idea at this point, because she's still quite wild.
Lol, sorry for being long-winded, but I honestly didn't think she would have been in such bad shape when I rescued her. Does anyone have advice for really, really neglected gliders? I wonder if she will ever really trust people with the start she's had.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/26/05 08:55 AM

aaawwwww... that's an awesome thing you did <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" />. i'm sure you'll do great in earning her trust eventually <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" />. everyone really echo's patients around here <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />. as long as you do it, for the most part, on her terms and eventually show her that there's nothing to be afraid of i'm sure you'll have a GREAT friend <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. best of luck!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/26/05 09:06 AM

I'm definitely trying- and I'm sure patience helps, so maybe I can win her trust... I just wish I was a glider "expert" at times... being relatively new to "glideritis" just makes me wonder if I'm doing everything possible for my glider kids... but, according to the hubby, I worry too much, lol... I just hope she'll come around soon... I'll keep you updated! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/26/05 01:36 PM

Hum... Well, I would first get your little girl vet checked. Once she's been okayed by a vet, you can try introducing her to your boys. Since they are of oposie sexes, you should have no problems there. Putting her with the tamer gliders should help speed up her taming. She will see that they aren't afraid of you and there for, they won't be afraid of you. Be very careful though because some times the grumpy one can rub off on the tame ones. If your boys start getting crabby, pull her and start working with her by herself again. Also, putting her with the other gliders will help her learn how to use her wheel and other toys <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Dancing

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/26/05 03:56 PM

I think Leyna is right. Following a vet check to make sure she is healthy, I would try introducing her to your boys (are they, one or both, neutered? you don't want them to start fighting over her). Being alone and neglected most of her life, she doesn't know how to be a glider. Being with another glider or gliders is going to really help I believe. It will show her you are going to be the one to feed her and give her goodies (mealies, lots of mealies!). They will also help her with the loneliness I am sure she has been feeling.

I am by no means an expert but I do believe any glider can learn to trust but be prepared, it could take a very long time. Or you could be surprised and she may start giving glider kisses next month. Best of luck to you and keep us posted.
Posted By: Srlb

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/26/05 04:11 PM

You have already gotten lots of good advice so far, I would like to add however, I also got a rescue in almost a year ago today, and he was not a happy camper and did not want to have anything to do with humans or contact with them. What helped me out with bonding with him was the Sissy Pouch I recommend this to anyone that needs to bond with a glider and teach the glider that human contact is not bad after all. Get the one with the window in the back, closer contact to you and gets your scent to them much better I believe.
Posted By: jmi

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/26/05 05:35 PM

Congrats on your new baby....
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" />Nemisis311 really like your picture is that your dog..
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/27/05 02:08 AM

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" /> thanks jmi <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />! yeah, that's my sweet wolf hybrid poochie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/muchlove.gif" alt="" /> . he just turned a year old feb 6 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/27/05 06:51 AM

Thanks for all the advice, everybody... lol, I think I was just feeling more than a little overwhelmed once I got her home! I wasn't expecting anything that happened (I hadn't even planned on getting another glider, even!), and I was so dismayed to see how she acted at first (no fault of her own, of course)! But hopefully living with us she can have a much happier life. I'll keep updating as more progress is made.
Posted By: the gliders angel

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/27/05 07:01 AM

give her love love and more love talk to her she will learn her name if u call her by it just as my gliders know their name. and give her a little yogurt daily its good for her. and spoil her to death. poor glider only getting apples to eat. shes a lucky girl u got her.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/30/05 07:36 AM

I have her scheduled for a vet visit at the end of the week- just a wellness exam, I think... but at this point, I'm sure her most of her problems stem from poor socialization and diet problems- compared to the girl I brought home a few weeks ago to how she is now, I see a lot of difference in her behavior- but I'll keep you all posted- I hope there is nothing physically wrong with her due to her diet before she came to live with us. Can there be long term damage due to a poor diet in her early life, or will she more than likely be okay? j/c.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/30/05 05:20 PM

There can be some damage due to a poor diet early in life. Do you know how long the teen had her or how old she is? The shorter the time the less damage or likelyhood thereof. Just keep her on her new healthy diet and she should do well.
I also took in a rescue about a year ago that had a few problems one of which was diet and she is doing quite well now. Also once I was able to put her in a cage with two of my other babies she actually came around much more quickly as they were able to show her that I was not bad and wouldn't hurt her. Good luck with this little one and do get a sissy pouch if you can (I'm waiting on an order now) as that can help with the bonding process.
Posted By: glidrz5

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/31/05 09:56 AM

It's really sad when you rescue a glider who is neurotic. I've had 2 this way and both are coming along great. The first was Meeko. He'd been in a small cage for about 6 months with no wheel, no toys and no pouch (for the majority of the time). He was psycotic when I got him. He would run circles on the top of his cage because he didn't know how to run in a wheel and didn't know what toys were for and didn't want much of anything to do with people (he would lunge and try to bite me and crab whenever I touched his pouch). He did however want a buddy and has bonded very tightly to Nicky. He is now a happy little guy and is even starting to bond with me tho it has been a long process. Since he wouldn't let me wear him or handle him in any way without risking severe bites, I started out by feeding him treats through the bars of the cage. When he got to be a gentleman about taking them, I switched to giving him the treats inside the cage and then to licky treats in the cage. He will now let me place my hand in his pouch and hold him while he sleeps, most of the time.
My other rescue, was Simon. Simon was almost the exact opposite of Meeko. He had been returned to the pet store because he was mean. At the pet store, he was placed in an isolation cage (again with no toys/wheel/pouch) and everyone was afraid to handle him. I was willing to take him and work with him, so they just gave him to me at that point. When I got him home and into his new house I discovered the root of his problem. He was scared, so scared that he would hide in the corner of his cage and freeze whenever he saw me. After a few weeks of treats and gentle attention, he started to come around and bond to me. By the time his quarentine period was over he had become a sweet gentle little boy who liked attention and no longer hid from it. At this time I introduced him to Sydney and Seamore and he became their buddy. He can be a bit nippy when startled, but most of the time is very sweet and loving.
I'm sure that your little girl will come around as well. Be paitent with her and let her approach you on her own terms rather than pushing the issue. If she will tolerate a bonding pouch, wear her as much as possible and give her plenty of treats while she is with you. Soon she'll learn to trust that you won't hurt her and she'll associate you with kindness and good things. As to playing with toys and on her wheel, she might just need to see how your other gliders play with them. She might not have a clue what she is supposed to do with them.
Best of luck with her, she is very lucky that she found you.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/31/05 10:06 AM

I am so glad you rescued her...
Posted By: Charlie H

Re: Rescued neglected girl... - 03/31/05 11:16 AM

I am so glad to see you glider lovers taking in these little gliders in need of good homes. Rescues are growing in numbers and we need more people who are willing to take the time and patience to help them out.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />
Charlie H
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