This is a story of enchantment and love, tragedy and triumph. A story that must be told.

 Early this last summer, I was honored to witness the emergence of a pair of the most beautiful and fascinating creatures on the face of the earth. Out of the comfort and security of their mother’s pouch came a pair of Sugar Gliders. Tiny replicas of their parents, a pair of wild caught gliders my friend and associate had recently received in a trade. This pair was wild caught, they could not be handled, and they were very frightened of us humans. Hiding most of the time, we didn’t get the chance to see them as much as we would have liked. Coming out to eat and play when the lights went out, then darting away to hide the moment someone entered the room, never gave us a chance of observance.

 My friend was aware that there were at least two babies in the pouch when she received them. On the July 4 holiday the youngsters decided it was time to make their appearance. The female being a very protective mother, and the father being the more aggressive of the two hid their little treasures from our prying eyes.

 After three weeks we started taking the little ones from their parents for short periods of time. At first, the little gliders were frightened of us. As time passed the little fellows started to trust us more and more until they trusted us like second parents. They would run up our arms and across our backs or try brave little leaps from hand to hand. They would then scurry up our hair to sit and watch their new world from the tops of our head.

 During these encounters we noticed the two babies developed personalities much like each parent. One was like his father—adventurous and bold and seeming to fear nothing and the other very shy and timid like his mother. I grew fond of the more adventurous one, and decided that I would like to have him, if my friend would part with one of these enchanting little creatures. My friend and I negotiated a deal, and I acquired a baby Sugar Glider. I had experienced raising hedgehogs and other small pets, and I felt confident that I was qualified to raise this fascinating young creature.

 Finally, the day came when I was able to take him home. I put him in a small box and drove away. Upon my arrival at home, I tried to introduce my new pet to my wife. However, he would not leave my hand in the presence of this stranger. The more I tried to hand him to my wife, the harder he would hold on. I would pry him from one only to give him to my wife, he would cling like a booger. So that is what his name became—Booger. The name seemed to fit his personality quite well. Whenever I tried to show him off, he would run up my arm to sit on my shoulder and chatter at the other person.

 Booger went everywhere with me. We became great friends. In our travels, Booger would ride in my breast pocket, coming out only to see where we were going or to whom I was talking. When he was in his cage and I entered the room, he would scurry about and then come to greet me like a faithful old dog when I opened the cage. He would supervise when I fed the rest of the animals, then run for my pocket on the approach of another human, or stand on my shoulder and spread his gliders and bark as if to warn me about someone’s approach. I had fallen in love with this little guy. It was obvious Booger loved me!

 September came and it was time for my long planned vacation. I considered taking Booger with us to show him off to my family, but I decided that the trip would be too much for him. So with regret I left him behind. While on vacation, I called many times to check on the animals, and especially Booger. I always got the report that all animals and Booger were doing g well.

 When I returned, I went straight to the room where I kept Booger. I found him in the bottom of his cage; he seemed happy to see me, but he didn’t race up to greet me as I had expected. I opened his cage; reached in and picked him up only to discover Booger was crippled.

 Many things raced through my mind. Maybe he had fallen and broke his back or he had some form of poisoning. My heart was broken; tears rolled down my cheeks; a sick feeling crept into my gut. I was going to lose him. Just four months earlier, I lost Zeus, my Airedale terrier and companion of six years. I was not ready for this. I was not prepared for another death.

 The next day Booger was rushed to the vet’s for a complete physical, X-rays, and whatever else it took to save my beloved little friend. The wait in the office felt like an eternity. Was he going t be all right or was that just wishful thinking? When our turn came, I took Booger to the examining room and placed his shaking little body on the table for the doctor to examine him. He looked him over carefully. The doctor moved Booger’s little legs and felt his spine. Then looked at me and said that he wanted to X-ray him. The doctor returned with Booger and told me he would live.

 The diagnosis was rickets or soft bone disease caused by a calcium deficiency. It would take some time, but he should make a full recovery. Booger was taken home and place in a small kennel for his treatment and rehabilitation. For nearly two weeks Booger showed little sign of recovery. His tiny legs were nearly useless. His attempts to walk always ended in failure. He was more like a feeble old man that a three month old sugar glider. This courageous little fellow never gave up or stopped showing his love for me. By the end of the third week he was showing signs of improvement and by the fourth week was transferred back to his large cage. At first he was a little slow, but it didn’t’ take him long before he was running around like never before. Booger was back. Back from an illness that could have cost him his life and me a dear friend.

 One-eighth teaspoon daily of calcium supplement plus two hours of sunlight per week is all that was needed to avoid this near tragedy. The vet also recommended that I give all my hedgehogs this same treatment.

 This story had a happy ending, but so many do not. So learn all you can about the care and maintenance of any animal before you decide to bring him home. After all, we have them to make us happy, so let’s keep them healthy.