by Alexandra Edwards

Pets are adorable creatures that come in all shapes and sizes. Many are furry, some feathery and others scaly, but  no matter what the species, humans seem to fall head over heals for them. Typical household pets are mainly cats, dogs, birds or tropical fish, but some people prefer more exotic animals.

Recently, a travelling team named Pocket Pets have been promoting Sugar Bears at events and local shopping malls across the United States. Sugar Bears, also known as Sugar Gliders, are tiny marsupials native to the rainforests of Australia and Indonesia. Although at first glance they resemble a chipmunk or hamster, on closer inspection they are more like a miniature version of a Koala bear, with big round eyes and stick up ears.

Living primarily in trees in colonies of 10-15 in their native land, Sugar Bears have a sweet tooth, hence their name, eating all kinds of fresh fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Because of a gliding membrane that stretch from their wrist to their ankles, they are able to glide, not fly, from tree to tree, which is why the cute little critters are also known as Sugar Gliders.

The presenters stated that: "Sugar Bears are extremely intelligent, loyal and love to play and once bonded will tag along with you anywhere without a leash. And that because they are marsupials, and not rodents, they do not smell like food to family pets so usually bond well, especially to cats and dogs. They explained that their diet which cost an average of $9 per month, consists of fresh fruit and vegetables, a dry pellet food specifically formulated for Sugar Bears, a calcium based multi-vitamin, and fun treats that can include Cheerios, peanuts and sunflower seeds."  On display were cages, toys, food samples and vitamins recommended for Sugar Bears as well as an example of the annual cost of owning one (which showed to be considerably much lower than that of a cat or dog). Anyone interested in purchasing a Sugar Bear, would need to pay between $500-600, which did not seem to encourage impulse buyers.

Although each representative of Pocket Pets seemed to offer informative, professional one-on-one advice to the interested shoppers at the mall, a few spectators seemed a little uneasy regarding the sale of exotic pets.

Surfing the Internet, it was found that there were other genuine concerns as well as some misconceptions.

A major concern is the fact that Sugar Bears are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and play at night, would it not be cruel to waken them, even for petting, and at the same time not be there for them during the long dark hours when they want to play? Potty training was another concern, and how to avoid poo in your pockets.

Some questioned whether regular veterinarians would be able to treat a Sugar Bear should it get sick and what happens if you grow tired of looking after it, would animal shelters take them?

Also found on the Internet were several very informative websites which addressed many of the above concerns giving plenty of tips, facts and guidelines for those interested in purchasing a Sugar Bear.

So many pets are purchased as gifts or simply because they look so adorably cute, only to be abandoned weeks later because the owner decided they were just too much hassle.

When any pet is purchased, whether it be a cat, dog, bird or exotic animal, the decision should be treated like that of adopting a child. Household pets need constant attention, they need feeding, which costs money, they need exercise which means time, they need toys to play with and somewhere comfortable to sleep; more expense.

Once in your home, pets want to be loved and assured that you will always be there to feed and play with them.

Sugar Bears or Sugar Gliders, which ever you decide to call them, could probably make a terrific pet for the right owner, as long as that owner does their homework first, and with Internet availability the way it is today, research is not difficult...simply google "sugar bears."

.