Sugar Gliders & Pot Bellied Pigs, Humane Societies Flashcards
sugar gliders characteristics
marsupials from Australia and Indonesia
tail half of total body length
large, protruding eyes
large ears that move independently
patagium
skin flap for gliding
goes from front to hind limb
difference between males and females
males have scent gland on top of head
sugar glider social tendencies
colony animals
stressful to keep one by itself
sugar glider life span
5-7 years in wild
10-15 years in captivity
why do they live longer in captivity?
guaranteed food source
lack of predators
medical care
cage size
should be tall
litter on bottom of cage
perches/branches for climbing
sugar glider nutrition
insects and “nectar”
can make nectar substitutes
conflicting suggestions on fruit
calcium/vitamin d supplement if feeding insects
exotic diets
lots of anecdotal information
sugar glider health
calcium/vitamin d deficiency
sugar glider sexually mature at
7-15 months
sugar glider mating
may mate 3 times per year
sugar glider gestation
16 days
time in pouch approx 10 weeks
sugar glider babies
usually 2 in a litter
joeys
altricial
are sugar gliders legal to own?
USDA considers them exotic, must be licensed to own
exception now, don’t need a permit if less than 3 females (not breeding)
exotic pets
shortage, conflicting information on animal
harder to find food, knowledgeable vet
can be laws regarding animals
can be more interesting than typical pets
pot bellied pigs
may live for 20 years
varying adult size if breeder crosses with other pigs
mature weight=80-100 lbs
pot bellied pigs health care
can vaccinate, parasite control
suggested to neuter male, control aggression, odor
not necessarily required to spay female
pot bellied pig behavior
intelligent
can be housebroken
not as trainable, food oriented
pot bellied pig nutrition
easy to become obese, need to control diet
miniature pot bellied pigs
starving pigs to keep them small
only sold spayed/neutered
expensive
humane society history
started as humane shelters for children, elderly
later included pets
private organizations, not funded by government
humane officers may be government employees
humane society objective
put themselves out of business
want no pets in need
business approach=education
why do we need to get stray animals off the streets?
dog bites
estimated 4.5 million annually, 30-50 killed
can spread disease, trash
cause auto accidents
hard on wildlife (cats killing birds)
other functions of shelters
take in “unwanted” animals
euthanizing
neglect cases
euthanasia in shelters
number of pets euthanized in shelters has decreased
humane society of the united states
not associated with humane societies
animal rights organization
