grimmk

Wed, Dec 7, 2011 : 4:58 a.m.

I'm horrified that this happened! Poor little animals exploited like that. They do not belong in a mall or a pet store. And the price is absurd! I hope that was a deterrent for most people. Do not support companies who sell "pets" like this. They are no better than people who run puppie mills.

Susan Karp

Wed, Dec 7, 2011 : 1:06 a.m.

Sugar gliders are tiny nocturnal marsupials who, in nature, live in groups of 30. They spend their time in trees searching for insects and sap and frolicking with family members. Kiosks and pet shops are now acquiring them from hellish breeding facilities similar to puppy mills. The animals are then peddled as cheap trinkets to customers who buy them on a whim. Confined to small cages, roughly handled, fed improper diets, and forgotten when the novelty wears off, sugar gliders are doomed from the moment they're born. Please do not buy a sugar glider at Briarwood Mall. Contact the management to let them know of your disapproval of this practice.

Unique Reality

Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.

Wow! When I started reading these comments, I thought, ok maybe they have a point, but the more I read the more I see a bunch of people who have nothing better to do but jump on their soap box! I was here on Black Friday and my daughter was very excited to see the Sugar Gliders, even wanted me to buy one. The staff was very specific about how much time you have to spend with them, to bond with them, be cautious, feed them certain foods, etc. Matter of fact, he was so to the point; my daughter decided she didn't want to have that much responsibility. I don't know if any of you even heard the "sales pitch" or lack there of, or if you are just all wanting to jump on the "band wagon." I was at the mall yesterday and the Sugar Gliders are gone, have been gone. As for demanding that the mall put in writing to agree not to bring them back or you will protest... really... I mean really.... Who are we, you, etc. to demand a privately owned company do anything, yet alone to agree not to bring in something because you disagree with it? Do I own or would I buy any type of exotic animal, no. Do I have pets, yes, I have adopted 2 dogs and a cat, but that doesn't give me the right to tell other people what to do. People have always told me Ann Arbor was full of a bunch of Liberals, but I guess it's a bunch of Liberals as long as you agree with what they believe in or want. I shop at Briarwood because it has the stores I like, it's safe, comfortable and close to home. I also support them because as we all know, since Pfizer left; Briarwood has picked up the slack of being the highest tax payer in our fine city. So do what you will, but I'm sure most of you have much more important things to do beside Mall bash, like enjoy the holiday or spend time visiting family. I'm sure someone will have smart comment, but hey.. I'm allowed to voice my opinion too. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Rizzle

Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.

By the number of comments, Ann Arbor's citizens continue to demonstrate that they care more about sugar gliders, swans, goldfish, ducklings, and just about any other animal by an order of magnitude more than they care about people. Throw in the occasional illegal fence and the commenters go nuts.

einy

Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 3:26 p.m.

Wow, this is just wrong on so many levels! Buy a Tamagotchi instead of a real live animal that wasn't meant to be domesticated!

Hemenway

Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 4:55 a.m.

Briarwood used to be a nice place, now it's like a flea market. I'm no longer going there.

DBH

Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.

Of the two videos (links for which were posted above by Ryan Stanton and cinnabar7071), the one posted by Ryan seems to me to be done by someone well-intentioned but probably with insufficient experience with these animals, and the one by cinnabar7071 is done by a vet who appears to be very well-informed (as would be expected of a veterinarian) and much more in favor of owning one of these sugar bears/gliders. I get the feeling, though, that he might be a shill for the industry, though I have no proof. $700 is a lot of money and, as others have pointed out, might be better spent in other ways. I did see the animals when the company was selling them at Briarwood during the summer and I have to admit I was enthralled with them. It seems apparent that you would need to spend a good deal of time with them when they are young, and less (but, still, a fair amount) once they bonded. They are social creatures and likely would benefit emotionally from having another sugar bear/glider as a mutual companion. But the same can be said of all pet animals. Humans can serve as a substitute, but only if enough time is devoted to the pet. It is a significant commitment and, as both videos point out, can last for 15 years.

Arborcomment

Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.

And post this story to your friends in other places. These folks "moved on" somewhere. Adopt. Adopt. Adopt.

tom swift jr.

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 11:19 p.m.

Instead of complaining here, use your wallet. Let the merchants at Briarwood know that this will impact on your trips to a mall that supports this.

Michael K.

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.

Thank you folks for (partially) restoring my faith in the AA comentariat! Humans have been so arrogant for so long about how we are all so superior to other animals. I think it was a bit of a wakeup call to see that our DNA is 99.9% the same as most other animals a few years ago when the human genome was fully decoded. Given our own 70,000 year history of existence, if you go forward or back 100 million years, or 1 billion years, we are all pretty closely related. Our ancestors: our children. Same life force.

cinnabar7071

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 10:19 p.m.

Ryan heres a better video. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4y2EhBOnzE&feature=pyv&ad=4663258299&kw=sugar%20bears" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4y2EhBOnzE&amp;feature=pyv&amp;ad=4663258299&amp;kw=sugar%20bears</a>

Fatkitty

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.

I hope the price tag will act as a deterrent and ultimately put this &quot;business&quot; out of business. Briarwood Mall administrators: WAKE UP. I'll shop online and pay for shipping before I set foot in your filthy mall again.

A2James

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 8:27 p.m.

Sounds like a great name for a school mascot! Imagine..the Ann Arbor Huron Sugar Gliders, lol

Ryan J. Stanton

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 8:21 p.m.

Here's an interesting video on &quot;the drawbacks of sugar glider ownership&quot; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mlwzf_bqVI" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mlwzf_bqVI</a>

Dog Lover

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.

How inhumane! I'm sure they have Sugar Glider Mills, just like the puppy mills to have enough on hand. That would be cheaper than bringing them from Australia, where it is illegal to sell them as pets. Be sure to tell Briarwood that you think this is wrong. You can friend them on Facebook or send an e-mail to the corporate office: <a href="http://www.simon.com/about_simon/contact_spg/confirm.aspx" rel='nofollow'>http://www.simon.com/about_simon/contact_spg/confirm.aspx</a>. Briarwood should get the humane society in there to 'adopt' animals in need instead of helping line the pockets of some for-profit corporation at the expense of these poor animals.

aawolve

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 7:10 p.m.

I'll return to Briarwood mall, after they release a statement saying that this will not happen again.

Magpie

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 6:52 p.m.

Very sad...as well as 'shlocky'. I, too, will BOYCOTT BRIARWOOD until I hear that they will cease this practice.

Guinea Pig in a Tophat

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 6:03 p.m.

I was there at the mall on Black Friday and saw these little guys. The guy next to me thought it was a chipmunk (it is about the same size.) Pretty cute but I don't like the idea of selling these animals. I can see kids asking for these guys as gifts and the humane society gets flooded with unwanted animals after the holidays as is.

obviouscomment

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.

I'm so glad I wasn't there, I already can't stand the kiosk hagglers at the mall. If they had been trying to sell me one of these innocent little animals I would have probably let them have it.

James

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.

So I opened the link to see what these things looked like, I thought it sounded cool... What I found was comment after comment of nonsense... What makes this any different than owning any kind of pet? I understand it's not common place to have one of these things as a pet... But it's no different than having a cat or dog. Responsibility comes with owning any pet, you just have to do what needs to be done. Get a life people, there are real things to be worried about.

Louhi

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.

I have some experience with exotics, mainly birds. Several years ago, I was working a few rescue agencies and I fostered a pair of sugar gliders for about three months. Everyone who has commented on this article is absolutely correct. It takes a great amount of experience to properly harbor these animals. Sugar Gliders are incredibly social animals, and therefore they must have a partner. The lack of socialization can actually harm them to apoint where they may die. They are nocturnal. They nest during daylight hours and become active approximately one hour after sunset. I suspect children would lose intrest in them within the first week of owning them due to this fact. They are prone to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, especially calcium. They are also prone to hypoglycemia which can cause severe problems with their limbs. Their diet must consist of approximately 50% insects and 50% fruit and vegetables. In the wild they eat insects, and nectar produced by native flora such as eucaleptus, manna and other nectar producing plants from Australia and Tasmania. Sugar Gliders are adorable, and are attractive because of this. But the average household with little exotic experience will struggle raising these animals effectively. It is unfair to all animals to make the decision to purchase them based on attractiveness versus research and experience. I have fostered a number of birds and reptiles that came from similar situations as the sugar gliders at the mall. They deserve to be in their natural habitat, and those that are domestically raised deserve to be harbored by people that have significant time and resources to do so effectively.

LaMusica

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 5:32 p.m.

These animals are cute, but they do take a lot of work! I'm not sure I like having them sold at a mall for teenagers to beg their parents to get one on a whim. Also, as far as I know, sugar gliders are companion animals and need others of their kind to be happy. If people were only buying one they might be in for a surprise when they discover their new pet seems lethargic and sad.

Ariel

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 5:28 p.m.

Is this for real? What's next? A pet store in Briarwood selling sickly dogs for $1000+?? This obviously represents Pocket Pets and Briarwoods disregard for life. Are we seriously selling marsupials for fun and charging $700? People are also aware when buying these that if they kill it by &quot;accident&quot; it's animal cruelty right?

63Townie

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 4:46 p.m.

My reasons to visit Briarwood, except for getting my hair cut at JC Penney, just dwindled to zero. I was beginning to find the kiosk hawkers annoying, but the &quot;Sugar Glider as an appropriate pet&quot; idea is disgusting. What next, panda bears and rattle snakes?

Wolf's Bane

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.

UNBELIEVEABLE!!! Do not buy these as pets!

LA

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 4:27 p.m.

Why wasn't this headline news when they first appeared?? How horrible! This is the first I've heard about it. I do not go to the mall very often but if I had seen this I would surly have protested!! I doubt they will now come back, but if they or similar places come to light, please let it be known immediately. I will gladly go and physically protest the location!!

bunnyabbot

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 4:12 p.m.

First thing is I would like to disclose that I have a downtown retail store and believe in buy local etc etc. However as a teenager I hung out at the mall. I realize the mall is still a huge draw for people and always will be. That being said I have not been there for a number of years and according to another post there is now a tattoo parlor there, geez, how things have changed. regarding the Sugar Gliders, I find it discusting that any animals would available for sale at the mall, I would understand it if say the Humane Society had an adoption area set up on special occasions but &quot;exotic&quot; pets just adds to the whole problem of people taking on pets that they shouldn't. The decision to take on any pet shouldn't be made in four days. It might be legal and a draw for Briarwood, but the management of Bwood should realize it's just in poor taste. The shopping experience of briarwood will not suffer because the lack of a kiosk with pocket pets.

81wolverine

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.

Shame on Briarwood Mall management for allowing these exotic animal peddlars to set up shop in the mall. Once again, profits are put ahead of animal welfare and rights. I hope that one day we as a society evolve to the point we understand that wild animals need to roam freely in the habitat where that they are native to. And that wanting to own them as pets is wrong and cruel to the animals themselves. Let's start working harder to preserve the natural habitats for these animals rather than subjecting them to miserable lives in a cage so they can entertain us.

Alan Benard

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 3:44 p.m.

I will not shop at Briarwood until they stop allowing kiosk vendors to sell exotic animals.

Lola

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.

The USDA inspects and regulates any business or institution involving animals in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act. Anyone with concerns about how these animals are being treated by Pocket Pets can report them to the USDA so it can be determined if they are in compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations that covers this.

keith_urbanFan93

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 3:39 p.m.

These animals are cute and would be fun to have. However, like other people have said, they are not meant to be domesticated. Adopting an animal from the local animal shelter is a much better option than buying a $700 dollar 'pocket pet'. It's even cheaper to adopt one from shelter.

djm12652

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.

They are cute though....maybe not as cute as the number of children in SE Michigan that are going hungry and homeless...but hey let's all get on the band wagon of these animals and then maybe work our way downward to the little humans already in dire straits....

A2centsworth

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.

It is a sad commentary on our lives that make people want to cage any type of living creature. The arrogance of human beings never ceases to amaze me. Companies like pocket pets merely provide the public what they want. The &quot;latest&quot; &quot;greatest&quot; ego driven items. Unfortunately this time it is a small animal whos DNA has not been adapted to captivity like our dogs and cats. It needs to &quot;fly&quot;, that is what it is built for, gliding, so putting it in a cage is torment for sure. When will people realize we are not gods over other creatures, but guardians of this earth? RE: Briarwood mall. The owners of Briarwood should be ashamed of themselves for the circus like atmosphere they have created. Between their lack of supporting animal rights, to allowing keosk owners to agressively bombard mall customers, it is no longer a nice place to shop. Where are their ethics? Where is there concern for the comfort of their shoppers? A tattoo parlor? really? Briarwood has definitely taken a nosedive in the class department. I will not be returning.

dakini

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 2:47 p.m.

On November 25th I sent an email to Briarwood's Marketing Director Deb Murray expressing my dissatisfaction with this company selling baby animals at the mall. I expressed concern that selling animals in a way to encourage impulse buying is not safe for the animal. I also expressed concern that the salesperson was making claims that could not be completely accurate. Deb Murray's reply to me was: &quot;First of all, thank you for taking the time to call and express your concern. We appreciate your loyalty to Briarwood Mall and to the Ann Arbor community. Pet Pockets followed all necessary legal and safety-related protocols to ensure the well-being of the animals. They also provide detailed information and instructions on how to care for adopted Sugar Gliders to guarantee that families are prepared to care of the animals appropriately.&quot; On their website and through their sales pitch, the company addresses the issue of whether sugar gliders are safe around other animals. The salesperson was telling people if you leave the sugar bear (glider) in a cage for a few days, allowing your dog or cat to sniff the cage and get used to it, you will then be able to take your sugar bear out of the cage and it should be safe with your other animal. As someone who owns a dog with a high prey instinct, I found this an irresponsible remark. I understand it is legal to sell these animals, but that doesn't mean it's decent. I wish the management of Briarwood Mall would have taken a more ethical stand towards both animals and consumers.

Matt Whale

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.

Isn't there a rule that says no animals except for guide dogs in Briarwood?

Peter

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.

Sugar gliders are marsupials, not placental mammals, which all rodents are.

gofigure

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 2:19 p.m.

I smell a rat. $700 for a what...... a rodent. Hope there's a money back guarantee on it.

Tony Dearing

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.

A comment was removed because it was off-topic.

beantsee

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 1:43 p.m.

I am very troubled by the activities of this animal dealer for about fifty million reasons. Most importantly, there are countless homeless animals desperately needing adoption at the Humane Society of Huron Valley. They certainly don't need the latest "fad" animal (which will likely end up there also) blowing their chances at a home for the holidays. But there are some serious issues—including legal ones—relating to this traveling kiosk and what they are doing within malls. These animals are being sold as companion pets, and the information that they present is overwhelmingly false and/or misleading regarding the responsible ownership of these animals. Aside from obvious issues relating to the general care of, handling, and stress on these animals as they move from mall to mall across the country, these types of dealers within the mall kiosk setting (especially around the holidays) specifically prey on a person's impulse and family pressures. The staff of Pocket Pets has a pitch which is based on a script, and much of it is shockingly FALSE, MISLEADING, and some of it simply DANGEROUS. They state these animals would never bite (false), does not need to see a veterinarian (false), always gets along great with all other animals (false) and children (false). <a href="http://m.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/surge-of-severe-health-problems-with-sugar-gliders-reported/article_6d4ee634-84ea-11e0-a30e-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=print" rel='nofollow'>http://m.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/surge-of-severe-health-problems-with-sugar-gliders-reported/article_6d4ee634-84ea-11e0-a30e-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=print</a> Since April 2010, there have already been 26 complaints filed with the BBB, of which 10 were relating to advertising/sales, and 16 regarding problems with the "product." Sugar gliders are their primary products. Three complaints so far for November of this year, two filed just last week. Malls are starting to ban Pocket Pets as a result of public outcry. Please reach out to Briarwood (and Simon) mall management at 734.769.9610 and urge them to do the right thing and prohibit "Pocket Pets" from selling sugar gliders at our mall.

klatte

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.

A friend told me about the sugar glider kiosk and I just stopped going to the mall. It really is pathetic. Our shelters are overflowing in this town with perfectly appropriate pets.

dexterreader

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 1:25 p.m.

Agreed. The kiosk booths are the reason I avoid Briarwood whenever possible. Some of them are aggressive and annoying. I don't mind the seasonal ones here and there, but a customer can't walk from one end of the mall to the other without being solicited. And now .... live wild animals? C'mon Briarwood ... you should know better.

cinnabar7071

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.

Its funny that the commenters that are concerned about these little animals have no concern what so ever about these same people having children with no knowledge raising them. I'm thinking Sugar gliders would be easier to raise and care for then real children. I think I live in bizarro land.

Salbolal

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.

I was at Briarwood one of the days these were being sold. It was like a circus. I could not believe there were real animals being displayed that way, with carnival barkers touting the poor animals. That, along with the kiosk guys who accost everyone unasked, and the new tattoo parlor, made the whole shopping experience at Briarwood feel pretty shlocky. Today, I am headed to Somerset Collection. Briarwood needs to consider its shopping product, and not just think about maximizing every square inch of space with rental income. It's not a flea market, it's a mall.

Anonymous

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 12:56 p.m.

I'm curious how many they sold. Any idea A2.com?

pbehjatnia

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.

Why on earth would anyone want to treat a living being as a pocket toy? What is wrong with people?

Robert Granville

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.

An animal most have never even heard of should not be sold in such a manner. It's clearly irresponsible to turn over such an exotic pet to a curious passerby.

Tanya Hilgendorf

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.

There is not only the serious concern of domesticating a wild animal, involving stealing them from their natural habitat, mass breeding and then being shipped across the country to be sold in malls, but the fact that this company is also using slick advertising that is not only false but dangerous and inhumane. They tout that the animals are virtually maintenance-free, cost –free (after you shell out the initial $700), disease-free, don't need to see a vet, and can't be hurt be hurt even by a toddler or the family dog or cat. All absurd claims for any living creature. The truth is that sugargliders have such unique dietary needs that they succumb to malnutrition and sickness quite easily and are such social animals that they can literally can die of loneliness. Like the old time snake oil salesman, this company sets up their booth for just a few days and then leaves town, nowhere to be found, so they don't have to be responsible for the aftermath of their sales pitch. In fact, Pocket Pets recently changed their name from Perfect Pocket Pets because of the number of consumer complaints against them. This is something we don't need our community, or anywhere else for that matter. With millions of homeless cats and dogs still facing euthanasia in this country, we certainly don't need more animals entering our shelters.

2020

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.

Let the poor little animals live in the wild, where they belong. So please, do not buy one. If you want a domestic pet, go to your local animal shelter and save a life, by adopting one. Cats and dogs are beautiful, faithful, pets. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!