Change in regulations demanded after killing of Spokane monkey

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How very tragic and STUPID! For Immediate Release: March 12, 2008Hundreds of primates kept as pets in WA; dogs and cats not killed, whymonkeys?Seattle, WA -- After the pointless killing of an innocent monkey inSpokane, Born Free USA united with the Animal Protection Institute(Born Free USA), a national animal advocacy organization, is callingupon Washington public health officials to review its rabies killplans.Despite offers to re-home Chico to the internationally renowned BornFree USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas, as well as to finance rabiesprophylaxis for the victims, state officials decided to needlesslykill the monkey to test for rabies--even after he had completed thestate's mandatory 10-day rabies quarantine and showed no evidence ofdisease at that time."This is a tragic situation. There was no medical reason why

thismonkey was killed," says Dr. Ned Buyukmihci, veterinarian and co-director of the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary. "The only reportedcase of a 'pet' monkey having rabies was almost a hundred years agoand involved a monkey bitten by a rabid dog. Moreover, Chico, had beenin quarantine for 10 days since the incident and had reportedly shownno sign of any neurologic disease, let alone rabies."Born Free USA had offered to care for the animal at its 186 acrePrimate Sanctuary near San Antonio, Texas, which is home to more than400 macaques, baboons and vervets, many of whom came from deplorableor inappropriate private homes or businesses. The Born Free USAPrimate Sanctuary is one of the very few in the U.S. that providelarge, free-ranging, natural enclosures with dense vegetation withseveral ponds. The majority of monkeys live freely in these enclosureswith minimum human interference."Monkeys are wild animals

and do not belong in people's backyards orother captive situations, and this is a prime example of why" adds Dr.Buyukmihci. "We had hoped our offer to re-home Chico to our Sanctuarywould be accepted so he could live out the rest of his days in anatural environment with others of his kind. Instead, his life wastaken from him for nothing more than being kept inappropriately as a'pet'.""Spokane health officials, as well as others in Washington State, mustimmediately review protocols for dealing with such situations so thatanimals do not continue to pay for human mistakes with their lives,"says Nicole G. Paquette, Esq., Senior Vice President and GeneralCounsel for Born Free USA. "People want to know why the outcome forthis animal was so different, and so harsh, as compared to otheranimals kept as pets."Born Free USA co-sponsored 2007 legislation which banned the privateownership of dangerous wild animals,

including nonhuman primates, inWashington State.Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute is a nationalnon-profit animal welfare and conservation organization working tokeep wild animals in the wild through legislation, litigation andeducation. More information can be found at www.bornfreeusa.org.###Contact: Zibby Wilder, 206.898.7872, press--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join