Logo wrote, "I don't care how much you love your monkey or pit bull for that matter. The test of time has shown that no matter how loving or docile they may be, there is always a threat that something will trigger them into violent action." Well I don't believe this is true. Sure some pit bulls might attack people, but it all depends on how they're raised. I have 4 pit bulls and they've NEVER been violent. I believe that the same goes for primates. I believe that it depends on how they're raised. I can't and won't believe that they just snap for no reason at all. It may be something small that the owner doesn't realize that they did, but there has to be some reason. Also, I'm sure all primates don't attack their owners. Instead of the media showing how awful primates are and how many attacks there have been, they also need to show the upside of having a primate as a pet. I think the media makes it out to be a whole lot worse than it actually is.
Ashley Jones
of TN
@
Oct 08, 2009 13:01:57 PM
Primate Ownership
I think the media concentrates way to much effort and time on the few horrific instances that may occur with primates rather than the tens of thousands of primates that have brought so much joy into our human world. If the Helping Hands program deems them smart enough to assist quadropelgics then why are we so against them. I think their need to be regulations put on owning a primate however I do not think they should be banned all together. I am a primate owner who has provided my pet monkeys evertyhing that you say they need plus they have human companionship. And I will do whatever it takes to raise them and secure their future.
Yvette Hicks
of WV
@
Jul 17, 2009 13:59:02 PM
BAN "PET" PRIMATES NOW
With the possible exception of disabled individuals who use primates as service animals, NO individual should have the right to own an inherently wild animal. This bill is important not so much because it will prevent maulings of people but because it will reduce the amount of suffering that captive primates endure. Primates have needs that can not be met in people's homes. They need a lot of space, trees to climb, and especially members of their own species to interact with. Just as you would not enjoy spending the rest of your life solely in the company of a monkey, monkeys and other primates prefer to be with their own kind. They are highly social animals. Whether they are captured in the wild or captive bred, primates suffer when living with people. Primates don't exist to amuse or entertain people. They have their own needs and preferences so show a little RESPECT and let them live wild. Contrary to what the author of this article seems to believe, sometimes eliminating suffering is more important than "business"
Ed
of NY
@
Mar 04, 2009 11:20:05 AM
Loose cannons
logo wrote "...I don't care how much you love your monkey or pit bull for that matter. The test of time has shown...."
The test of time has also shown that there is always a threat that something will trigger your significant other into violent action, but I don't think we are about to ban people from living with each other based on the threat that something might happen.
We need to exercise some reason in reaction to the things that happen, otherwise we will soon legislate ourselves into a personal prison where the risk of danger has been eliminated to the point of not being able to live at all.
John
of TX
@
Mar 02, 2009 15:50:53 PM
Loose cannons
logo wrote "...I don't care how much you love your monkey or pit bull for that matter. The test of time has shown...."
The test of time has also shown that there is always a threat that something will trigger your significant other into violent action, but I don't think we are about to ban people from living with each other based on the threat that something might happen.
We need to exercise some reason in reaction to the things that happen, otherwise we will soon legislate ourselves into a personal prison where the risk of danger has been eliminated to the point of not being able to live at all.
John
of TX
@
Mar 02, 2009 15:50:52 PM
Please request a vote AGAINST the Captive Primate Safety Act.
Please request vote AGAINST the Captive Primate Safety Act.
I have a 7 lb capuchin monkey that 'works' for me as a certified service animal. She alerts me to medical problems that I am dealing with on a daily basis. I am a widow & live alone. Each member of my immediate family lives in a different state. To say that my capuchin can not travel with me across state lines means that I will never be able to visit my daughter, sons, grandchildren, mother, sisters, brother again if this bill is passed. Where is the sense of fairness in that?
I have no problem whatsoever with regulation, permits, licensing, proving my fitness to care for her, etc. Just do not BAN ME from having her with me just because some are not caring for their non-human primates properly!
Debbie
of TX
@
Mar 02, 2009 13:54:16 PM
Loose cannons!!!
I dont care how much you love your monkey or pit bull for that amtter. The test of time has shown that no matter how loving or docile they may be, there is always a threat that something will trigger them into violent action. Up until the attack of that woman in Cn last week I had thought of pit bull as the biggest potential danger. That is due to there nature when they keep on the attack after the victim is down. Taking the worst of the pit bull attacks they would make what this monkey did look live a love bite. An animal smart enough to systemacyicaly dismember its orey to the point where its blinded and chew of hands and even arms. After that toy with there victim.
I fully agree with the laws that make them illegal pets.
get a small animal. Even if my cat wanted to kill me he couldnt do much!
logo
of OH
@
Mar 01, 2009 04:26:32 AM
you are correct
I have to agree with everything you have written. Why punish primate owners who love and dedicate their lives for the well being of their monkeys. Where has our freedom and choices in America gone? What about pit bulls attacking people everyday! That's all I see anymore on the news, you don't have to have a special license for that. It's just a real shame the way our country is turning out!!!
Tabitha
of TX
@
Feb 28, 2009 19:43:55 PM
Re: Annie of IN
The bill is much needed to protect the animals from people who buy them, after they have been traumatized, and expect them to fill in either for a baby or a lost human companion.
What makes you think people with primates expect them to fill in for a human ? Do you have a dog or cat ? If so do you expect them to fill in for your "Uncle Harvey" ??
"In the decade from 1995 to 2005, there were only 132 documented incidences between captive primates and humans. Of that total, only 80 involved pet bites. That's 8 bites per year."
So you think 8 bites per year justifies spending $5,000,000 to enforce this bill that would not prevent those 8 bites anyway ??
I am deeply saddened by what happened to Charla Nash but I am sure that had that bill been in place before then, this tragedy would have still occured !! They are just using this incident to try and justify spending tax payers money on something so ludicrous that isn't going to work anyway !!
Sandi
of OH
@
Feb 28, 2009 08:51:32 AM
Need for laws yes!
I agree with Rep Rob Bishop of Utah. Another point is that this was a chimp which is an ape not a monkey. Apes are very strong beings and therefore there should be laws in place that people have to meet to have such an animal. Proper housing, care, and dart gun like zoo's. As for the smaller primates they cannot inflict any more damage than a dog, so therefore should not be outlawed. There are many primate owners that have very loving relationships with their pets and see to all of their needs. If anything the smaller primates are in more danger from their owners than the owners are from the monkey. If a person is willing to make the commitment of ownership and proper care and housing I see it to be no different than owning a dog with proper care and housing. I think their should be laws in place to ensure the animals well being as a pet. Many people are against ownership of a monkey using scare tactics of them being diseased. The truth is that for many years now you can only attain a monkey from a USDA breeder in the US, and they have been tested for all diseases at birth; and have to go through the same series of shots as a human baby. The only monkeys in captive that have ever been found to be diseased are ones in US labs. There is no record of anybody ever getting a disease from a pet monkey that was purchased in the US. I believe there should be stronger laws for exotic animals that can rip a limb off such as a chimp yes, but to surpass that to the smaller primates people own as pets NO. Like I said for the smaller primates there should be laws to ensure they are being taken care of properly yes. The truth is outside the private sector of primate ownership, these animals are abused, tested on, kept in small caging for experiments. I say I'd rather see them in the private sector given they have people who will make the commitment to their well being. Yes the wild would be great for these animals, but the truth is they were born captive and know nothing about the wild. Better to be in a loving home than a lab cage.
Matt Bandyk, a reporter for U.S. News, explores capitalism from where it all begins, with the entrepreneur, whose risk taking and experimentation provide the roots from which the rest of the economy grows. As much courage as it takes to create one's own business, even the entrepreneur needs some help, and this blog will look at news, trends, and practical advice for starting and running a small business.
Ashley Jones of TN @ Oct 08, 2009 13:01:57 PM
Yvette Hicks of WV @ Jul 17, 2009 13:59:02 PM
Ed of NY @ Mar 04, 2009 11:20:05 AM
John of TX @ Mar 02, 2009 15:50:53 PM
John of TX @ Mar 02, 2009 15:50:52 PM
Debbie of TX @ Mar 02, 2009 13:54:16 PM
logo of OH @ Mar 01, 2009 04:26:32 AM
Tabitha of TX @ Feb 28, 2009 19:43:55 PM
Sandi of OH @ Feb 28, 2009 08:51:32 AM
Sherri Chambers of TX @ Feb 27, 2009 19:23:34 PM
Back to blog