PETA Action Alert

Help Rescue Baby Baboon From Petland Store

Used for photo shoots, young primate is alone and frightened.

This photo of Bobo, a baby baboon who has been yanked away from his mother to be put on display in a plexiglass case at the Petland store in North Augusta, South Carolina, is sad enough all on its own, but there's so much more sadness ahead for this young male baboon if he is not rescued and sent to a sanctuary.

But his "owner" George Bonner won't hear of it—he dresses Bobo up in human clothes and charges people $2 for a photograph. Thankfully, many good people in North Augusta don't think it's right—they know Bobo is lonely for his mother and frightened by his circumstances. Bonner told PETA's caseworker that he has no interest in hearing from us about Bobo's prospects for being sent to a sanctuary.

Baboons in the wild live in large, close-knit communities and travel together for miles each day through forests, savannahs, and hills. Baboons are highly social and caring animals who suffer when deprived of companionship. In the wild, baboons will even stage sit-down protests or hurl rocks at cars when a loved one is killed on the road, according to Robert Sapolsky, professor of Biology and Natural Sciences at Stanford University. (Read A Primate's Memoir by Sapolsky for a wonderful look at the lives of these amazing animals.)

Bobo will soon go insane from lack of enrichment and baboon companionship and from the inability to exercise his natural inclination to roam in the space required for his health and sanity.

Bonner has applied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a license to exhibit Bobo. Please write polite letters to the USDA and ask the agency to deny Bonner a license. Baboons don't belong behind plexiglass in a pet store:

Kay A. Carter-Corker
Assistant Regional Director
Animal Care—Eastern Region
920 Main Campus Dr., Ste. 200
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-855-7097

Please also write a heartfelt letter to Bobo's captor and ask him to let Bobo go to a sanctuary:

George Bonner, Manager
Petland
336 E. Martintown Rd.
North Augusta Plaza
North Augusta, SC 29841
803-279-5557
803-202-0802 (fax)

Please also write to Petland's CEO and ask him to implement a corporate policy against exotic-animal displays:

Ed Kunzelman, CEO
Petland, Inc.
250 Riverside St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-775-2464
1-800-221-5935
operations@petland.com

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This is insane.  Don’t people know better than to treat a primate like it were an toy or prop.  I feel so sorry for this little guy.  The stupid “owner” does not care that his actions will lead this little guy to an early grave.    I hate people who think they can do what they want with nature’s children.  I’d like to give this jerk a swift kick in the butt.  Come on people lets get this baby into a real home for his kind.

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Here is my letter to Bonner. (The one I wrote to the CEO was the same as the one to Connor, just tweaked a little.)

Has anyone thought of putting this into their local newspapers?

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THE BABY BABOON IS CLEARLY SAD AND SCARED. WE HAVE A WAY OF CAPTURING WHAT IS FREE AND BEAUTIFUL AND MAKING IT OURS!  HOW CAN WE FIND PLEASURE IN SUCH CRUELTY? SOMETHING BIG IS WRONG WITH A SOCIETY THAT HINDERS LIFE AS IT IS AND SHOULD BE FOR THE ONE'S OWN SATISFACTION.

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     To me, this is the equivalent of seeing a child in a cage. There is no difference.I cannot understand how someone can be so blinded by their own selfishness that they can no longer see the suffering it instills.

Cora

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GO FOR IT, HAZEL!! I'll sign it!

Love & Light,

Cora

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Small petition targets are always more achievable Is there a weblink for this peta campaign?

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Please be sure to send me the petition-if, indeed there is one!-to sign to have Bobo released from the Petland Store.  I don't see the point of keeping Bobo prisoner !!  It just breaks my heart to see him looking so forlorned in the corner of his now-pexiglass-world !!  I will pray that God takes Bobo back to his family A.S.A.P. !!  In fact, Dear God, if you're reading my message right NOW, PLEASE ALLOW BOBO TO RETURN TO HIS FAMILY !!  IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN !!

I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, MY SWEET BABY BOBO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE NOW IN  MY HEART.....HANG IN THERE, BABY, GOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE & LIGHT

BARB =) 

PS  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE EMAIL ME RIGHT AWAY IF THERE'S A PETITION TO SIGN !!  THANKS YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH AND GOD BLESS !!  BKC  =)

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I mixed up 2 petitions I was doing at the same time but the target is wrong.The target (which i wil change) is actually Bobo's so called 'owner' the manager of the petland store

and Terrie's is for the CEO so they are the same petition but for 2 different people OK?!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/793667281

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Signed both

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The picture of Bobo on the petition is a great idea

He looks so sad

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That photo's impact is great!

I signed! Thank you for making this petition, Hazel!

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This makes me sick and very angry!!!    I signed!!!

Jamie

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are getting a network message with the original story and both Hazel's and my petitions. Let's hope everyone signs!

If everyone here sent anetwork message, imagine the numbers we'd have on those petitions, not to mention the help from people who might call, fax, or write to the CEO and Corker and Bonner!

Here is what I sent out. feel free to copy and paste to your own network.

Bobo NEEDS your help!    Message: Bobo is a baby baboon, swiped from his mother, and is being held captive in a Plexiglass box in a Petland store in Augusts, SC. There are two petitions for Bobo, both designated for two separate people.
Please sign both petitions We are very grateful for all the help you can give, whether it's signing our petitions, faxing, writing letters or otherwise contacting the appropriate individulas in this matter.

First: Bobo's story and heartbreaking photo:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=96&pst=137648

First petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/257825987

Second petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/793667281

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This is an email I received on tuesday from the email group primfocus. Can anyone verify this?

Bobo is no longer at Petland as of yesterday.

The city of North Augusta's animal control went to Petland yesterday and gave Bonner 48 hours to get rid of Bobo.  Bobo is now (according to Cindy, the Petland Gen. Mrg.) at Eudora Farms, a petting zoo located about 45 minutes from the Petland.  Bonner paid $7,000 for Bobo at an auction in Jackson and Eudora Farms bought Bobo's half brother---which, according to Cindy, the half-brother is about half the size of Bobo.

Petland will probably deny it but they told me they planned to pull his teeth so he would not hurt anyone.  Bobo was wearing a diaper and they said they would probably keep one on him for life.  Bonner had a collection jar out for the public to donate so Bonner could build a larger cage to keep Bobo in.  Strange that Bonner had the $7K to spend to purchase him but not enough money to build a cage Bobo was kept in a plexiglass wall unit measuring about 5 feet long, 18 inches wide and about 20 inches high.  He had lots of toys but kids would climb up on the ladder and bang on the plexiglass.  Taller kids could stnad there and tempt Bobo with food and drinks....which initially, Bobo was denied.

Animal control officer told me Bonner had said he would take Bobo home to live with him in Ga.  Eudora Farms told Bonner he could have Bobo back anytime he wants him.

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They were going to pull his teeth!? They deserve to be shot.

I'm not sure Eudora Farms is a great place to go if Bonner can have Bobo back whenever he wants hom. Gosh this gets sicker.

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they possibly took Bobo away because Bonner has no licence for him?

Leave it to me.I will find out what is going on .....

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Jesus Christ what in the hell do these people think they're doing??!!!!!  Why can't people see that this not right??!!! This is not for us to do!!!!

How dare them kidnap this baby and make him a slave this way!!!!!! I am chewing nails right now!!!!! 

Hazel, you have done a lot of work in a short time, thank you SO much.

My Care2 was out last night so I was unable to catch up on things. But I'm so glad you guys have stepped up to the plate and began swinging. And now these horrible slime balls are continuing to torture this baby. 

I'll check the PETA website to see if they have anything new on this poor mistreated baby. 

When will humans just leave animal alone??!!!  

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From: "Laura Yanne" Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2005 13:47:15 +0000

The best way to get PETA to contact you back is to get on their "action" lists.

Go to this link:

http://www.peta.org/lists.asp

And there you can sign up for various action alerts and updates. Once you start getting the alerts and updates via email, they usually come complete with PETA emplyees email addresses....which can be quickly transferred directly into your address book!lol!!! Label them and use them for future reference. If you send an email to the info address at PETA, it could be up to 2 weeks before they contact you back. They get thousands of emails per week, OH! you can just imagine!

Here's a list of their action alerts and updates you can sign up for. A warning - you'll get a response email from each and everyone of these that you sign up for, and you MUST confirm back to be totally signed up, but it's worth that extra trouble to get the info sent directly to you.

  PETA E-News (weekly)
New online features, campaign updates, contests, special PETA Mall offers, and advice from the experts   

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Whats new on PETA TV: videos, protest coverage, live broadcasts, special events, and more   

PETA Action E-News (weekly)
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Updates on what PETAs favorite celebrities are doing to promote animal rights   

peta2 E-News (monthly)
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PETA E-Noticias (periodically)
Las e-noticias de PETA te entregan la información sobre derechos animales que interesa, directamente a tu dirección de correo electronico.   

PETA Breaking News and Special Announcements (periodically)
National and local animal rights news headlines delivered to your inbox   

PETA Caring Consumer E-News (weekly)
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The e-news for people who care for or help companion animals   

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Vegan lifestyle and activism newsletter 

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From: "Laura Yanne" lauray@peta.org

To: Billye Thompson

Subject: Aaaaaaaagh, Aiken!!!

Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005

http://www.aikenstandard.com/stories/286989994694931.php

Those bastards!

There is so much wrong with this! They didn’t even come to me for a comment.

I’ll respond, don’t worry. But…jeez!

Looks as if Bobo really is at Eudora.

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terms of the overall situation. He also said he had been contacted by a representative of Roy Barnes, a former Georgia governor, as well as by officials with South Carolina government.

He took issue with the notion of BoBo being a wild animal, pointing out that he was born seven months ago in Missouri, from a domestic situation, and was bought from the animal auction in Jackson.

"I have a federal and city license to maintain pets in the store, and I brought BoBo in not for resale, but for the kids, because there are a lot of kids that can't go to Columbia (to the zoo) and ... this is there only chance to see something like that."

The store got clearance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and got veterinary help from Dr. Jay Jones, from Aiken, Bonner added.

Bonner and his employees took strong exception to the accusations leveled against the store, including a letter from Yanne.

The letter indicated, "We were contacted because regarding the conditions under which Bobo is being kept. A customer saw that he is kept in a tiny cage, wears a diaper, and was told that he is not allowed food or water during day to minimize 'unsightly messes' while shoppers are in the store. But he is not a doll or a promotional prop; he is a living, sentient being; and as a primate, he has specialized physical, social, emotional and psychological needs."

Susan Frausher, a Petland employee, commented, "He played with puzzles. He colored with crayons. He did everything that little babies do, and we were teaching him. He gives kisses. He shows love."

Strauss said he received calls from several animal-rights organizations, including PETA and a primate facility in San Antonio.

Bonner summoned an officer from the North Augusta Department of Public Safety Wednesday afternoon, pointing out that he was still receiving faxes from people harassing him about BoBo's alleged mistreatment.

He said BoBo's living quarters were kept clean and he received fresh "real juice" ("I mean, we were good shoppers, over at Publix") along with vegetables, fruit, monkey biscuits, fresh water and formula (via a bottle). The routine also reportedly included ample diaper changes and cleansing with baby shampoo.

Bonner said BoBo went home with him each evening, to Augusta, and slept in Bonner's bed.

Nisbet said BoBo's adjustment is being handled with care, with emphasis on minimal stress. "It's sort of like taking a kid from Aiken and going to New York City," he said. "You don't want to do that. You'd take him from Aiken and go to Augusta, and then Atlanta, and then you'd go to New York City."

Laura Yanne

Special Assistant to the Director, Research & Investigations
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

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Email address for Eudora farms, where BoBo is being kept now.

exotic@eudorafarms.com

See previous messages for update info, and plase email them and let them know how you feel!

Please crosspost above info -

(I have to run another errand for PETA! I'll tell you what that's all about when I get back!! Exciting!!!)

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This came to me in my network Msg:

Lisa S. To: Terri Williams Subject:RE: Bobo NEEDS your help!     Message: I signed the petition but it does not appear that Bobo has gone to a better place. Eudora Forms hires their animals out! They just exploit them, just like Petland. Instead of signing petitions we have to change the laws and make this type of barbaric behaviour illegal. Write the SC legilature and their representatives in Washington.
Lisa

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Yes, BoBo is at Eudora. Here is an excerpt from an earlier post:

the baboon is now being housed in the Salley area at Eudora Farms, which operates a petting zoo and similar educational facilities featuring exotic and farm animals.

And here is the email for Eudora:

exotic@eudorafarms.com

Please email them and let them know that this baby should be sent to a sanctuary that is appropriate for him.

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I got an email from primfocus saying that the Petland store Bobo was in is going out of business.

This is the email:

The slaveholders at N. Augusta Petland, where Bobo Baboon was held, are going out-of-business.

Good Bye!

http://primatefreedom.com/bobo.html

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