Monkey business
June 21st, 2008 by admin
Good news. This week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Captive Primate Safety Act with an impressive vote of 302-96 (with 35 members not present/voting). The bill would prohibit the interstate trade in primates sold as pets. (The bill is similar to the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which Congress passed in 2003, and which bars interstate commerce in lions, tigers, and other big cats for the pet trade.)
Among Florida’s congressional delegation, the following six members inexplicably voted against the bill:
- Rep. Jeff Miller (District 1)
- Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (District 5)
- Rep. Cliff Stearns (District 6)
- Rep. Adam Putnam (District 12)
- Rep. Connie Mack (District 14)
- Rep. Tom Feeney (District 24)
Monkeys, apes and other nonhuman primates make horrible pets. They can be dangerous, carry life-threatening diseases, and the average pet owner cannot provide for the animals’ basic social, psychological, and physical needs in captivity.
The Captive Primate Safety Act is a common-sense measure that is supported by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Jane Goodall Institute and many other mainstream animal welfare groups.
If your Congressperson is among the six who voted the wrong way this week, please let them know that you are disappointed. Tell them that animal protection is an important issue for you.
Click here to write your Representative.
The Captive Primate Safety Act now goes on to be voted on in the U.S. Senate.