Captive Primate Safety Act Passed: Needs Support

Petside Blog
|
Poll Archive
|
A-Z
- AAHA
- Beds
- Bones
- Books
- Bowls
- Carriers
- Cat Food
- Catnip
- Collars
- Crates
- Dog Food
- Grooming Tools
- Leashes
- Pet Food
- Pet Picture
- Pet Store
- Pharmacy
- Toys
- Treats

| Print | By | March 3, 2009 12:21 PM

By: Jo Singer

As an avid animal lover, I was extremely alarmed and dismayed with the story released a couple of weeks ago, about Travis, the "beloved" 13-year-old, 200 pound Chimpanzee, living as a house pet in Connecticut, who suddenly and savagely attacked his owners friend, maiming her seriously. Sadly, this attack resulted in Travis being shot and killed by Stamford police.

Chimps can reach upwards of 200 lbs

According to an Associated Press article dated February 18, Travis's owner had given him Xanax, a tranquillizing drug, without a prescription, when he became agitated a few days prior to the attack. The Chief of psychiatry at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Dr. Emil Coccaro, said, "In humans, Xanax can cause memory loss, lack of coordination, reduced sex drive and other side effects. It can also lead to aggression in people who were unstable to begin with. Xanax could have made him worse, if human studies are any indication".

I feel adamant that it both wrong and unfair for primates to be kept as house pets. These are wild animals which require special handling and protection. Primates should not be permitted to live in our neighborhoods, or in our homes.

So I am optimistic that the recent passage of the "Captive Primate Safety Act" by the House of Representatives will also be passed by the Senate which will further protect these animals.

Once passed by the Senate, and signed into law by President Obama, this act would not only make it illegal to engage in interstate and foreign commerce with primates as pets, it will also make it extremely difficult for people to purchase chimps and other primates as pets.

The Bill's cosponsor, Representative Earl Blumenauer, (D.-Ore.) gave his reasons why the act is a good legislation, with which animal lovers will agree. He said, "Make no mistake, this bill will protect our communities and ensure the welfare of these animals. The horrific chimpanzee attack in Connecticut last week brought a renewed urgency to this issue and I am pleased with today's long overdue passage of this bill. Primates are wild animals and should not be regularly transported around the United States and integrated into our communities or our households. Today we have taken an important step toward the welfare of humans and animals."

If you wish to become involved to take action, contact your senators urging them to pass H.R. 80/S. 462. You can also use the convenient form provided by the Humane Society of the United States by visiting:
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2009_primates_pets3

What are your thoughts about keeping primates as pets? Leave a comment and share your views.

RELATED TOPICS: Blogs (262) , Law (25) , Politics (11) , Safety (15)

« Previous

Anonymous March 3, 2009 3:18 PM

I'm with you on this. I was deeply shocked and saddened at what happened to Travis. Giving him xanax without veterinary examination and care resulted in his losing control. In all these cases of mistreatment, the animal always pays the price. It drives me to tears.

Anonymous March 3, 2009 4:01 PM

Travis is a perfect example of why primates should not be kept as pets. This tragedy would never have happened if he were kept in the proper environment with trained people to care for him. I am very sorry this happened at all.

Anonymous March 3, 2009 5:45 PM

I think it's absolutely wrong to keep a primate as a household pet. People who own them begin to think of them as human with human attributes and human emotions. You can dress them up and put diapers on them and feed them baby food; but make no mistake, primates are still wild animals, and the wildness is in there, no matter how much you love them or how tame they appear to be.

I am in total support of a law to protect these animals from humans.

Skylark

add your comment