House Passes Act Stopping Chimps Sold as Pets

Lost in the pomp and circumstance of President Obama’s non-State of the Union address on Tuesday was an important step in Congress for animal lovers. The House of Representatives passed the Captive Primate Safety Act by a vote of 323 to 95.

The Captive Primate Safety Act would make it illegal to engage in interstate and foreign commerce with primates as pets – making it much more difficult for people to buy a chimp as a pet. And given the recent incident in Connecticut (which fellow Care2 blogger Sharon S. so eloquently discussed earlier), it’s becoming more and more clear that some sort of regulation is necessary to ensure something like that doesn’t happen again.

The LA Times talked to Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D.-Ore.), the bill’s cosponsor. He offers reasons familiar to animal lovers why the Captive Primate Safety Act is a good piece of legislation:

“Make no mistake, this bill will protect our communities and ensure the welfare of these animals,” Blumenauer said today. “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 the Captive Primate Safety Act had been in place when Travis, the chimp who mauled the woman in Connecticut, was born in Missouri, it would have been illegal for them to sell him to his owner in Connecticut. That’s why it’s so critical that this piece of legislation makes it through the Senate as well and onto President Obama’s desk. I urge you to take a moment to sign a petition sending a letter of support for the act to you senator.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Mandi T.

10:32AM PDT on Mar 18, 2009

BTW, I am more prone to be wary of toy poodles than pitbulls or rotties,
Ditto that.

send a green star

10:27AM PDT on Mar 18, 2009

The chimp issue is totally different than parrots. If purchasing a hand raised domestic parrot is like a dog. I have both!
The chimps definatly should be and deserve to be in the wild.

JulieAnn Z.

8:56AM PST on Mar 3, 2009

It is time a law is finally going to be passed to prevent poeple from owning primates. It is a shame the law doesnt state ALL exotic or wild animals not just primates.
It is a shame a woman had to be hurt to get this law into being, but, it seems humans never listen or care until some horrible crisis happens.

Claudia T.

2:29PM PST on Mar 2, 2009

Chimps belong to the wild!

Julie v.

3:47AM PST on Mar 2, 2009

Hopefully South Africa follow the same example. The wild should be protected at all times. Afterall, these animals dont want to be domesticated.

Delight S.

8:42PM PST on Mar 1, 2009

I am glad they put together this bill, I hope it makes it all the way. I have always been deeply saddened and troubled by the fact that if an animal attacks a human (pure instinct on the animal's part-they don't understand "human-don't attack"!!) they are killed instantly, no questions asked, no wondering what the human did to deserve it, no trial, no jail, just instant death. But if a human kills an animal just for the sheer pleasure of killing, they are fine, applauded, looked up to, and encouraged. WHY???? is an animals life worth less than a humans? I don't think so!!! I think human life is worth less than an animals...there are way too many humans out there who torture and kill innocent animals for no good reason, and they get away with it. it is SICK!!

Peggy R.

4:22PM PST on Feb 27, 2009

Claude, please don't "shout" at people. (all caps and exclamation points, in case you didn't know) It's rather rude.
About pitbulls...if they attack more people than primates, it's probably because there are more of them around, and they have been trained to be aggressive, or just not trained at all. Pitbulls as a breed do not deserve to be generically branded "aggressive" and out-lawed. One of the sweetest dogs I ever knew was a friends' pure-bred pitbull. The cats and bird pets of my friend, and little children, were all safe around this dog some adults were fine with as long as they believed it was a Boxer. Funny how some reacted in fear the instant they discovered they were mistaken, and the gentle creature they had been petting and talking baby talk to was a pit.
Part of the problem with aggression in dogs could be the way humans react to them. I know cats will go out their way to annoy or torment humans who have an aversion to felines...Pretty smart, these animals...BTW, I am more prone to be wary of toy poodles than pitbulls or rotties...

Jeanne D.

1:16PM PST on Feb 27, 2009

I question why we even have zoos. Everything living thing and being in this world has a place. Somehow, somewhere, we forgot that idea of "Mother Nature". Every creature has a "higher" purpose, and by that I mean they belong in their own habitat. Because of that, behaviors from animals are highly unpredictable and should not be brought into homes to be raised as humans. I believe that could be very dangerous and before one can stop a animal from attacking, the damage is done, someone gets hurt, mauled, or even looses their life. I know, they are so cute, their steal our hearts, and we just want to hold them and love them as that is what we do best. We "love" our animals, but love them enough to allow them to be free, and/or in protected enviroments. I think that the woman who received that horendous attack from the chimp, was probably just doing what she has always done. But now she is fighting for her life, lost her sight, and who knows what else? This could have been prevented . The Captive Primate Safety Act needs to be passed.
Jeanne D.

"If we keep on doing what we've always done, we'll keep on getting what we've always got!

Nick O.

12:43PM PST on Feb 27, 2009

I remember the chimp attack on the news. I'm from Connecticut, and I thought that it was just incredibly stupid on the woman's part. Glad the bill was passed, hope Obama signs it (I'm sure he will, though)! I signed the petition, too ;)

Christina C.

9:17AM PST on Feb 27, 2009

Some one taught me that all animals even domesticated ones are completely connected at all times directly to source energy. All humans however enlighted we may be or not, have difficulty maintaining a constant steady connection with source energy.

Humans may use a connection to an animial that is always "tuned in tapped in and turned on" to that energy to connect with source energy and thier true selves and purpose. Connections that humans can make with animals presents us with a direct plug in through connecting to them... hense the human attraction to animals.

My personal guess would be that exotic animals less influenced by human (irractic disconnected) vibrations have an even stonger and more pure connection with soruce energy thereby making a connection with such a wild animial more a exilerating and potent human experience.

Bottom line is that the animal's welfare and rights are primary. My guess regarding that particular woman's circumstances having her human connections severed so abruptly (loss of husband and child) she needed a strong life line to source energy to keep going. Unfortunately for the chimp he became it and as time went on she was addicted to the connection and it clouded her judgement.

Animals are happy being themselves. They know what they are and have no delusions or desires towards grandure. They do not suffer anything except at the hand and or interference of humans who do not know who or what they are or supposed to be. Peace