Vermont allows monkeys trained as service animals

[Liberal_in_LA]

Vermont allows monkeys trained as service animals


A helper monkey removes the lid off a jar of peanut butter before dipping a spoon in and feeding Craig Cook, a quadriplegic, at Cook's La Habra, Calif. home in 2007.

By Terri Hallenbeck and Adam Silverman, USA TODAY
WILLISTON, Vt. — From the time she first heard of the possibility, Judy Zappia has thought a lot about how much a trained monkey could help with the day-to-day tasks multiple sclerosis has made increasingly difficult.
If she dropped a jar of oregano and it rolled under the counter, the monkey would be able to fetch it. If the remote was across the room, the monkey would deliver the device. And if Zappia needed a hug, she hoped the monkey would be able to provide that, too.

Zappia, 58, who relies on a wheelchair to get around, will soon find out exactly what it is like to have a companion monkey.

After initially being denied approval, she has the OK from Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche to acquire a monkey from Helping Hands, a non-profit organization in Boston that breeds and trains small capuchin monkeys to work as service animals for patients with limited mobility.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-06-02-monkey_N.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

[pepperbear]

1. OMG! Battle for the Planet of the Apes!

[hlthe2b]

2. Nice complementary program to guide dogs...

Dogs can do an awful lot of things including a lot that monkeys could not. Nonetheless, monkeys are nimble and like humans, can reach and grab things. Good on them.

[Codeine]

3. I will not be satisfied

until I see an army of service monkeys riding a herd of guide dogs like fuzzy little Cossacks.

[hlthe2b]

5. what about the miniature guide horses...

yes, they do exist...;)

[Codeine]

8. They will be busy transporting

our service animal artillery pieces. Over the thunderclap of the cannon will come their warcry; "Do not pet me, I am working!"

[joeybee12]

4. God help, my first thought was there was going to be a monkey in a tie and

white apron, guiding someone to a restauarnt table.

This is a good idea...wonderful what animals can do for us...but all I can think of is what we're doing to them in return.

[hlthe2b]

6. Only because I've been aware of this program...

did I stifle the urge to comment on Bush* new job... :evilgrin:

[Blue-Jay]

7. .

[Justice]

9. very good program; monkey helpers make a world of difference

I know this organization very, very well. They do great work and are very committed. The difference they make in the lives of a people. Incredible.

I am glad the point about the capuchin size is highlighted - these are not apes or chimps or massive animals.

[Skip Intro]

10. hmmm - I had a run-in with a monkey as a child - I don't like 'em.

Don't know what kind of monkey it was, some neighbor had it as a pet. It snatched my glasses off my face and I grabbed them back. It didn't like that, and I got the hell out of there. Years later I hear about the woman who got her face eaten off by a friend's pet monkey.


Maybe these are different, I don't know, don't know much about them, but I wouldn't want one around me...

[SemiCharmedQuark]

13. That was a chimpanzee. This is a capuchin. About a 150 pound difference.

[KamaAina]

25. This is the same kind of monkey Ross had on Friends

not likely to strike terror into any but the faintest of hearts.

[Mojorabbit]

22. I don't like them either

Never have and I don't know why not. I love every other animal there is and I was born in the year of the monkey.
and on edit
I don't get a good vibe about this whole thing either. Dogs are domesticated and have been for centuries. Monkeys are not and it feels wrong to me to have them be service animals. I have MS and can see where they would be helpful but...

[Phoonzang]

11. This story makes me feel slightly alarmed, but that's probably

because I saw Monkey Shines as a child and it terrified me. ;)

[Toucano]

12. There aren't PEOPLE who can do this job?

Monkeys are not domesticated animals and this is not an appropriate place for them.

[flamingdem]

15. They must be considered domesticated or this wouldn't be approved, I suspect nt

[Toucano]

19. A tamed animal is not a domesticated animal.

Monkeys have not been domesticated by humans.

[customerserviceguy]

16. Service animals are way less costly

than round the clock human servants. I have my doubts about the monkeys, but I guess if there are some species that can be adequately trained, then it would be OK.

My big concern is what happens when people with service animals get around others who are allergic to the particular species of animal.

[Toucano]

21. Is that the gauge? It's okay because it's cheaper?

That doesn't sit well with me.

It is especially disturbing that there at 6.7 billion people on this planet and we can't take care of the members of our species who need help.

Sad, really.

[customerserviceguy]

23. Ok, your shift to feed him

is Tuesday through Saturday, 2PM to 12 midnight.

Or, you could let the monkey do it. He's probably a lot happier about it that you or I would be.

[SoCalDem]

24. People would ask for monetary compensation

Monkey-slaves don't ask for days off, or for health insurance or a paid vacation..

I have had monkeys for pets.. ..very cute..but very "unsanitary" and I'm not sure their innate traits can be trained out of them..

It's a sad commentary when a person "hopes" a monkey will hug them:(..

[KamaAina]

26. Not enough of them

Pay for personal care attendants ranges from barely adequate ($14/hr. in the hyper-expensive Bay Area) to abysmal (minimum wage). Out here, Arnie wants to change it from barely adequate to abysmal. :grr: :banghead: So it's damned difficult to recruit and retain a skilled workforce for this demanding work when all the states are offering is burger-flipping wages.

[flamingdem]

14. I want one too nt

[SemiCharmedQuark]

17. Pray for Mojo.

[Lisa0825]

18. This is probably the ONLY way in which I think monkeys should be in a home....

They should NOT be pets. They are way too intelligent and need way too much stimulation to be happy. But when trained to be service animals, they should be able to get enough interaction to satisfy them, as opposed to just pets that people only pay attention to when they feel like it. I have witnessed monkeys as rehab aides before, and it was amazing how attentive and eager they were to participate.

[lonestarnot]

20. Gawd for a second I thought you were talking about Chimpie on facebook and that he was trying to

assist at something. :D