really disturbing monkey programme

[TEB]

I know there are all sorts of things amiss with some of the 'breed standards' for show dogs etc, but that is on a whole different level to taking a baby monkey and trying to make it into a human baby.
Yes, some people do keep cats or dogs and treat them as a baby substitute, but NOT to the extent of having them from newborns, and rarely by 'dressing up' and such.
It's not that all Americans do such bizarre things, very far from it, but if there IS any weird (and morally dubious) fashion going, there will mostly be Americans leading the way (sometimes Japan or China start such things, usually in the 'we can do this' stakes).

My point being is that it isn't about what country you were born of brought up in, but of the two, monkeys being treated as human substitues or the aims of some dog breeders then to me (and I find both to be abhorrent) the monkey story is the lesser of the two evils. Is sticking a monkey in a skirt any different from caging a songbird or parrot, both are in my mind cruel and definitely not natural.

[SlugLobber]

The monkey baby was actually removed at 6 days old, to be sold on at 10 days, from memory (it was on 2 weeks ago and yes, I felt sick). I was repulsed by the tour of the breeding cages, where the mother was in obvious distress at the sight of her baby in the arms of the strangers, reaching through the bars and screaming. According to the programme, some are removed at 1 day old.

I thought the dressing up of the monkeys was the least of their worries. I was more alarmed at the diet, the lack of intra-species interaction, the nappies...monkeys are very easy to house-train. Why would you WANT to change nappies for 20yrs plus??? No wonder, then, that monkeys are known to become aggressive as they get older.

I think the only reason it doesn't happen here is that it's illegal to keep a monkey without a licence. I was at the South of England show yesterday and saw some 'toys' that were 'breathing'. I even thought this was somehow wrong, but I can see that this is much more preferable to animal-baby substitutes. I also saw little bags to carry your dog.

TEB, I agree about the caged birds. I'm also not impressed with the raptor displays that are at shows everywhere, stating that they do not make good pets and most are rescues, then the little plaques under the perches all state, 'bred in captivity'. Er...

We are ahead in animal welfare in the UK, but I don't think we can fool ourselves that it's because we're somehow better. It's more to do with the laws that are upheld in this country and even then, some appalling breeding is deemed 'acceptable'.

[NOG]

Saying that you need a licance for a monkey but can have as many children as you can pushout......no licance no training....and a lot no care or brain.

[Hilary B]

The monkey baby was actually removed at 6 days old, to be sold on at 10 days, from memory (it was on 2 weeks ago and yes, I felt sick). I was repulsed by the tour of the breeding cages, where the mother was in obvious distress at the sight of her baby in the arms of the strangers, reaching through the bars and screaming. According to the programme, some are removed at 1 day old.

I thought the dressing up of the monkeys was the least of their worries. I was more alarmed at the diet, the lack of intra-species interaction, the nappies...monkeys are very easy to house-train. Why would you WANT to change nappies for 20yrs plus??? No wonder, then, that monkeys are known to become aggressive as they get older.

I think the only reason it doesn't happen here is that it's illegal to keep a monkey without a licence. I was at the South of England show yesterday and saw some 'toys' that were 'breathing'. I even thought this was somehow wrong, but I can see that this is much more preferable to animal-baby substitutes. I also saw little bags to carry your dog.

TEB, I agree about the caged birds. I'm also not impressed with the raptor displays that are at shows everywhere, stating that they do not make good pets and most are rescues, then the little plaques under the perches all state, 'bred in captivity'. Er...

We are ahead in animal welfare in the UK, but I don't think we can fool ourselves that it's because we're somehow better. It's more to do with the laws that are upheld in this country and even then, some appalling breeding is deemed 'acceptable'.

The only raptor displays I watch are those run by the Hawk Conservancy. MOST of their display birds are captive bred, but that doesn't have to exclude rescue. Sometimes they are rescued from bad previous owners, but too imprinted to return to the wild......Raptors free flying, but bonded to humans, is nothing new. They have been kept for many centuries, and an abused bird cannot fly well.
The reason there are those laws is there ARE enough people who WANT it that way. If the laws are what put us 'ahead' they prove that we are 'ahead' at heart as well.
While a lot of 'baby substitute' dogs are less than ideally cared for, it really isn't as drastic as the way those monkeys were being treated, and if someone DID treat any primate in such a fashion, their licence to keep one would be withdrawn.

[bluemoon]

Well now my kids are grown and flown I have to admit that my dog is my baby. I don't over-feed her, but I do take her just about everywhere with me, give her a cosy bed by the fire, buy her far more toys than any dog could ever need and put presents for her under the tree at Christmas (and tell her they're from Santa ) BUT there seems to be a fundamental difference between being somewhat silly and over indulgent and pretending that an animal is a human child. I didn't see the programme, but it does sound rather disturbing.

[dexterdoglancashire]

I saw it advertised, But didn't watch it for the reasons you described above. Just the trailer for the prog made me feel uneasy.

Sorry to borrow your post kirsty, but I couldnt have put it better.

[lyndap]

Snap,seeing the trailer was enough for me to make sure the tv was off!

[Alice]

I did see this programme janeyo. Not the kind of thing I would usually watch but I just had to look in horrified fascination. I think those people had serious mental health issues and the law should intervene to protect animals from people like them.

[allotmentlady]

I watched it too Janeyo..........horrified me that it was all legal! I was in tears when momma monkey saw her baby again, the look in her eyes said it all..... these people are crazy but my pal at the lottie said that we take puppies away from their mummys at 10wks old, whats the difference?

I could neva justify this at all, shocking, America should ban this keeping forever.