The dangers of treating pet monkeys as kids

by kittymowmow on July 2, 2008

Some people don’t consider monkeys their pets; They take it a step further and treat the animals as their children.  They call them mon-kids.  Adopted monkeys that are dressed up, wear diapers, and go everywhere.  Just like a human baby.

But they’re not humans.  They are a wild animal and sometimes their animal side comes out unexpectedly.

Monkeys are a big attraction at Sarasota Jungle Gardens, from Spider Monkeys to Lemurs.  What you won’t find on their cages is where they came from.  ”Most of the primates we have here were pets,” says Sarasota Jungle Gardens’ Robin Cain.

Bonnie, a Long Haired Spider Monkey, came to the park in 1986.  Her previous owners weren’t taking care of her properly.  But others were given up because their personalities changed.  ”The main reason with the primates is aggression.  We got one Spider Monkey here that attacked his owner and put her in the hospital,” says Cain.

Click here for the full article.

I’d like to hear from some responsible primate owners.  How did you prepare for your pet, and how do you make sure it is happy and safe while it lives with you?  Why do you think so many owners of pet primates make mistakes?

-Kitty Mowmow

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    I am a responsible primate owner of 2 squirrel monkeys. My mother-in-law also has 3 capuchins. ALL of our monkeys have ALL their teeth, and are very happy well-adjusted monkeys. They are NOT our surrogates, they are our pets...lifetime companions.

    Before I purchased my first monkey I researched for about 1 year. I read every web site pro and anti ownership. I read articles on them in the wild, and some primatolgy articles that I had acess to. I try to mimic activities that they would do in the wild. I bought the "Monkey Matters Guide to Care and Behavior" which provided a wealth of knowledge from Husbandry, diet, and bonding to training and owner experiences regarding captive primates. I also visited the zoos in my area to look at their caging and speak with the caretakers there. I spent time with my mother-in-law's 3 capuchins, and spoke with many other "pet" owners. I visited breeders to see how the animals were cared for & asked them questions. I also joined the Simian Society of America, a 50 year old organization, which supports responsible primate ownerhsip and has many owners with 25+ years raising captive primates, including veterinarians, doctors, nurses, and pet owners. I learned so much from other owner's experiences and how the dealt with certain situations.

    Regarding Safety: I read ALL the FWC regulations regarding captive animals to make sure I met all the requirements and understood the laws in the state of FL. Their enclosure is out of public access behind a wall in my home. They can see the street, but people can't see them. Their cage has locks on all doors so that they can't open them. The occasional times I take them out they ALWAYS have a leash so that I am in 100% control, & I NEVER let people touch, especially not children. I know my monkeys would not bite, but if the so much as scratched there may be a problem.

    My monkeys are the light of my life. They are wonderful. I FULLY understood what I was getting myself into BEFORE acquiring them, and committed to accepting them as they were...MONKEYS. I love to sit and watch my two play with each other. My male chases my female around the room. They LOVE to catch little nats that fly by their outdoor cage. Sofie's Favorite treat are meal worms. I hated worms, but I have learned to touch them because I know they love them. Every morning, I wake up to prepare their meals for the day. A combination of Monkey Chow, fruits, veggies, some nuts (unsalted). The veggies I heat up in water (no salt or any other seasoning) to soften them, because they won't eat them raw. They get an occasional treat of whole grain cereal or Peanut butter. Very few & far between are they given human food, and even then its bite size pieces. They definitely have much healthier diet than I. When I am done cleaning the toys, and food prep in their outdoor cage, I go get them from their indoor cage where they sleep. I get to the door and let go of their tails. They JET down the hall outside straight into their outside cage, romp around a little, then start looking for the food I have hidden through out.

    They are TIME consuming. They are A LOT of work. They need LARGE enclosures, and persons who are understanding, patient, and dedicated. They do have their grumpy moments like us people do when they want to have their space, and you allow them that. You don't force things on them. You follow THEIR rules, and they follow YOUR rules. It is a compromise so to speak. You have to be in tune with their vocalizations & body language. THAT is how incidents are prevented. You treat them with respect, but always maintain your troop leader status. Be firm but loving. They are similar to a rebellious teen. You need to give them freedom to grow into themselves. THAT is the difference between responsible primate owners who have a close hands on relationship with their monkeys past maturity, and those who choose to keep them solely as surrogates. I don't have a problem with people who see them as their "children" so long as they understand what monkey behavior is, and accept them as they are. Afterall what greater love is there than that of a mother to her child.

    I don't think "so many owners" make mistakes because it makes it seem like the cast majority. Yes some give them up, but many do have happy monkeys. The problem is the media NEVER wants to hear the positive side. I was interviewed by the original reporter who wrote the article on the Johnsons, but nothing I said made it to print. How often do you see an article in the paper of a pitbull attacking vs a pitbull in a loving home? The former always makes the news. Same concept. During my search I did find a lack of web site that offered objective information on ownership. I created my site to educate persons, and show them what life would really be like with a pet monkey.

    My sincerest thank you for allowing us Responsible Owners to share our side. I apologize if it was too long. I guess I got carried away. Eileen
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    Oops there was a typo in my web page. www.PetMonkeyInfo.com.
    Thank you again. http://www.petmonkeyinfo.com/abcprimetime.html- that page is where I spoke about the ABC primetime show "the Outsiders"
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    Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us. You sound like a fantastic pet owner. :)

    I've talked to several people who have owned monkeys, and all of them said the same thing you did - that it was a lot of work, but was totally worth it. Of course, like you, they made sure that they were educated and capable of taking proper care of the monkeys before they acquired them.

    I wish all pet owners were that conscientious - even those who own run-of-the-mill pets like dogs and cats. I think all relationships with pets should be an investment of your time, effort, and heart, not just treating them as an entertaining appendage.
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    Hey. I will most likely never own a monkey, at least not in the near future.(live in Cali, so they're banned....)

    But how do your pet monkeys deal with your work schedule?
 

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