"Monkids" Article in todays Metro

[MattS]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place or has been posted before.

I picked up a copy of the Metro on the way home tonight and there was an article about parents getting pet monkeys when their children leave home.The American lady in the article says a vet recommended this to her....

Just some random quotes from the article....

"The animals permanently remain as an adorable baby, without growing into an unruly teenager or a 40-year-old desperate for inheritance, as one devotee, Lori Johnson, found"

Forgive me if I'm wrong as I'm certainly not an expert but don't monkeys become "less cute" as they get older and sometimes aggressive??

I felt a bit lost and wanted someone to look after. A vet suggested if I wanted a child for life, I should think about a primate,' she said.

Hmmmm....

There is also a picture of the ladies "baby" Capuchin in a dress.

As I said I'm not a expert but I'm sure it's not a good idea to publish a full page on this encouraging people to get monkeys to replace their kids.

Maybe someone with first hand knowledge of primates would like to send a letter/email to the Metro????

Full article here: Mother adopts monkey as a child | Metro.co.uk

[rob-stl-07]

wot a load of bullsht

[Robbie]

Sadly things like this happen. I don't think metro publishing the article is going to encourage people to go out and buy a monkey. Talk about a cotton wool state!

Originally Posted by MattS

"The animals permanently remain as an adorable baby, without growing into an unruly teenager or a 40-year-old desperate for inheritance, as one devotee, Lori Johnson, found"

Forgive me if I'm wrong as I'm certainly not an expert but don't monkeys become "less cute" as they get older and sometimes aggressive??

Very true. Most become quite aggressive.
It's not just their social needs (They would require attachments in a number of people to develop correctly) but most Monkeys available to buy (Marmosets, Caps, Rhesus even) smell terrible. They can eat a hell of a lot too. They can cause a lot of damage aswell. Decor/Caging I mean.

[Nerys]

the only reason that poor animal could never harm someone

is because we, humans, already harmed it..

how? by pulling out its teeth, so it can not bite the hand that feeds, even if it wants too.

i've long said to rory that i am very iffy on private primate keeping.. sure we know some bloody good keepers, keeping their animals correctly.. but for the few who do.. how many do not...

when i see things like this, i have to say, i can only agree with CAPS and Co.. this should not be happening, should not be allowed to happen.. in the first place.

poor bloody creature..

and how many people will read that, then read freeads or ukclassifieds, and be scammed out of money for a diaper trained baby that does not even exist...

N

[Onissarle]

I saw the article and was pretty appalled. If you had a look at the website last night, the vast majority of replies to the article were very critical. Other than a few silly one liners in support, public response to it has been pretty damning.

Grab a copy of today's Metro and turn to page 18. They've printed three sizable responses, all condemning the article and none in support of it. The disappointing thing is that a lot more people will read the big colour article on page three than read the opinions page.