Rick this is part two of our two-part comment...

We wanted to go on record about the veiled implication, via Mr. Larkin's reference to the Home Show management company, that we can be easily dismissed crazed whack jobs. The "these Margulies people" comment is again typical Mr. Larkin hyperbole.

The rest of the story is even more interesting and reveals the "sick alliance" between the more uncaring of these trade show companies and people who sell exotics in impulse-buy venues.

Now check out the confederacy between these people... Gail in fact asked to buy a booth at the Home Show so we could offer information to people about these animals and how hard they are to take care of. And offer people a chance to ADOPT them instead of buy them. But they said NO because they have to "maintain a ratio of non-home related and home related vendors." So it's OK for Tropical Attitude Pets to skew the ratio, but not a non-profit animal rescue? That's cold.

So Gail went to speak with them face-to-face to tell them about the plight of these animals and how so many that are bought at their show on impulse end up in our rescue.

She suggested that at the very least Mr. Larkin should publish a list of area vets, and better information on (real) food instead of protein-deficient pellets.

I guess they don't like the idea of a non-profit animal rescue being a "buzz kill" to offset the huckstering of exotic animals at their show. Anyway, that face-to-face discussion was well-mannered and not like we were running around splashing pigs' blood on furs or anything over the top like that.

Mr. Larkin also shows photos of sugar gliders on dogs' heads as if their two species got along. Guess what? There are numerous animals surrendered to us as lone gliders after their mates were eaten by dogs! How can the man advocate that gliders are OK with cats and dogs? So he can hoodwink prospective buyers into walking away with some, that's why. It's just blatant disregard for the value of their little innocent lives pure and simple. Again people like him seem soulless to us.

We also think it's highly ironic and cynical that in taking the "high road" Mr. Larkin says that he even refers customers to us...

Oh thanks, Steve! So when people finally realize they made a mistake, we're like your little local clean-up crew? He knows well that a lot of these creatures end up in rescue because he makes misleading statements about how easy they are to care for and all you have to do is feed them lousy pellets.

So far as we are concerned, this person is not welcome in our town. He does not bring revenue into this town. He does not support local commerce. All he does is swoop in, make a few thousand dollars in a weekend and then begs out -- leaving us to clean up his mess. All to the detriment of many of these animals that end up abandoned because of his misleading and callous pitch.

Yours truly, Ed & Gail Margulies
Co-directors, Lucky Glider Rescue & Sanctuary

Dear Rick, this is part one of a two part comment. Gail and I are happy you got a chance to speak to Steve Larkin so you could show both sides of the story. You may recall that in my own communications with Mr. Larkin, he has wisely taken the high road when referring to our rescue. And he did likewise for your article.

Mr. Larkin makes an interesting comment about his suggie-stuffed RV and the "USDA Approved cages."
We too have a USDA license for the rescue and have access to all the rules and regulations about cages.

Guess what? The USDA guidelines are very loose and to be calling his cages "USDA Approved" is pure hyperbole. For example, a cage is considered "OK" by the USDA so long as the animal can stand up and not hit its head on the top of the cage.

That's "USDA Approved." This is typical of the "spin" Mr. Larkin puts on the truth.

We too are subject to unannounced surprise visits from our USDA ACI (Animal Care Inspector). Our ACI (Warren Striplin of the CO office) is a kind gentleman who seems to truly care about the welfare of these animals. For the most part, he is interested in our paperwork and likes to verify the vet visits, and the number of animals on hand. His first question is always "What's the number" which refers to the number of animals in our care.

After reviewing our paperwork and asking some pointed questions about the operation, he is typically satisfied and writes up a positive inspection report.

These ACIs have a heavy case load and often travel from state to state for weeks at a time on the road. For the most part, they are looking for heinous violations. Our inspector tells us he is not an enforcer. But he has the power to bring in the guys with the guns if something is terribly wrong.

The bottom line is it's pretty easily to get a pass from the USDA and for anyone like Steve Larkin, who is really just a front man for mill breeders, to imply that "USDA Approval" is some coveted thing, like he had to jump through all kinds of hoops to get "approval" is just more cynical misdirection on his part.

Our contention, quite apart from the oh-so-loose regulations, is he and his ilk simply lack a soul. We still feel very strongly that it is amoral to hustle these animals as an impulse item at a trade show.

Yours truly, Ed & Gail Margulies
Co-directors, Lucky Glider Rescue & Sanctuary