Animal Attack: Travis, the murdered chimp

[Angelgal]

I'm not going into my rant on wether these types of animals should be kept as "pets"
but were guinea pigs not once wild? Humans domesticated them. We wouldn't have ANY beloved pets if they were not taken out of a wild habitat and domesticated.

I am not going to bash this lady. I don't know her, and I didn't know the chimp.
There have been many "wild" animals successfully living in captivity. I am currently trying to get ahold of a man for a project on the BSL because he has been trageted by it. He is constantly moving because areas create a law keeping him from living there with his Mountain Lion. This was an animal born and raised in captivity. He got it from a zoo that was not up to par on their animal care, and it has had a much better life since. It is friendly, very friendly. It has never had to kill its food, it was never taught to hunt - but people are afraid it's going to kill their children IF it gets out (more if someone LETS it out. Animal rightists have done it to him before with other large cats and they ended up starving to death because they had no clue how to hunt).

Animals for commercials sure, not treated the best, but how many of you watch animal related movies etc.? Probably a large group of you. I've seen discussions on it.
What do you think your supporting watch them, animals in entertainment.

So I'm not going to bash her. I'm not going to say anything about keeping it as a pet etc. because I don't know her, nor the chip or the situation of why she has it etc. So it's not mine or anyone elses to be bashing her. There were lives at serious risk, I can't say SHE took the best action but... a life had to end to keep many others safe.

I'm not against "wild animals" as pets, if I'm for or against will depend on the individual situation but things need to be stricter. Licneces etc.
Because I know that's the case for around here. People can't be clueless. They need to understand the risks and behaviour of the animal.

Does anyone have a link to any news reports on this?

[Paula]

Originally Posted by Angelgal

Does anyone have a link to any news reports on this?

Go to Google and type in "Travis the chimp." You'll find all the news reports you'd ever want to read.

[sophistacavy]

Some species of animals are not able to be domesticated. With chimpanzees, domestication would be impossible. If someone even thinks it might be possible, then they are just being selfish and thinking "Oh, what would it be like if I had a pet chimp?"
Just because someone is a vet student, doesn't necessarily mean that they know everything. Just look at the finished product, the vet. Many many vets are somewhat more of a threat to our guinea pigs, than a help.

Anyways: Us homosapien sapiens certainly have expanded our collection of domesticated animals quite large enough, to have absolutely no reason to add more to it. If someone is that bored with the variety of domesticated pets available, then perhaps they do not need any living things in their care, at all. Even children.


Oh, in case anybody doesn't already know this, the interviewer asked the owner if, after the recent tragedy, she would ever "do it again" (meaning would she ever get another chimp for a pet). You know what that woman said? She openly said "Yes, I would do it again." She even said that these events prove nothing, and she implied that she believed that since chimps share 98% of their DNA with us, that they make the most appropriate pet for a human to have, since they are "basically like living with another human being". I could reach through my computer screen and shake her. :angry:

I can't believe how people think chimps aren't dangerous! That's like saying that a black bear isn't dangerous just because it eats considerably much much less meat than other bear species. Would you sleep with a black bear? No! They can kill each other very much on purpose during mating season, males and females, and a mother bear of any species will do absolutely anything to protect her cubs.

It's the disturbing image that the media gives certain animals over others. Black bears are just one out of a billion examples.

[pennykit&amanda]

I don't think we should have domesticated in the first place. Sure, we wouldn't have our beloved pets we now love so much and personally, I think life would suck without them. But, it was selfish of us to take them out of the wild. In a way I would be happy if we had no more pets... at least for the animals sake.

[sophistacavy]

Yeah I know, exactly! I mean, we needed some animals like horses way back when for transportation, and there are other examples of animals that were domesticated because we needed them (this all being way back in ancient times and centuries ago), but now, we no longer truly need or require animals for anything. We have technology.

[AnimalHouse36]

Originally Posted by sophistacavy

Yeah I know, exactly! I mean, we needed some animals like horses way back when for transportation, and there are other examples of animals that were domesticated because we needed them (this all being way back in ancient times and centuries ago), but now, we no longer truly need or require animals for anything. We have technology.

But now horses aren't needed.

Just like cows and pigs. None of these animals are needed anymore but we just keep breeding, and slaughtering, and riding them.

But chimps, serve NO purpose. Just entertainment and people selfishness. It's cruel and unfair.

But what gets me BOLING is how my friends are joking around about this. I'm not a serious person when it comes to...well anything. Except of course animal rights and such. So if I flip out about it that won't turn out well...so I try to say my peace without popping a vein!

I am trying to get some PETA members to help out with passing a law.

[BrainDeadBuster]

OK, then I apologize. I read it wrong, and it can be hard to express yourself on the internet.

[wigglesgiggles1]

I feel bad for the poor chimp for where he had to live. I also feel bad for the poor lady that got killed. The chimp owner however, is a complete and total air head. It was a wild animal and a serious accident waiting to happen. RIP Travis.

[AnimalHouse36]

They said that she had a cage for him within her house. Imagine how small a house is for a chimp. Then add a cage...this all just discusts me.

[pennykit&amanda]

I hate zoos, but this... *sigh*

[sophistacavy]

Originally Posted by wigglesgiggles1

I feel bad for the poor chimp for where he had to live. I also feel bad for the poor lady that got killed. The chimp owner however, is a complete and total air head. It was a wild animal and a serious accident waiting to happen. RIP Travis.

The lady didn't get killed. She's in ICU with improving vitals, last I heard.

[Paula]

The friend who was attacked lost her eyes, nose and lower jaw. She might be a candidate for a face transplant.

The victim, the friend, was at the house trying to help lure the chimp back onto the property (he'd escaped somehow) and was holding a stuffed animal in front of her face when he attacked her. The owner locked herself in her car and pleaded with the 9-1-1 operator to have responding officers shoot her pet, after explaining that she had already stabbed him multiple times.

[AnimalHouse36]

Originally Posted by paula.m.moore

She lost her eyes, nose and lower jaw. She might be a candidate for a face transplant.

I heard that , too. It's so terrible that she had to be put through all that because of her friend.

[theresaj]

Originally Posted by sophistacavy

The lady didn't get killed. She's in ICU with improving vitals, last I heard.

The lady's friend was the one killed.

[starshine123102]

Originally Posted by theresaj

The lady's friend was the one killed.

No, one one but the chimp was killed. Only severly injured/maimed.

[AnimalHouse36]

Originally Posted by theresaj

The lady's friend was the one killed.

Yupp, nobody dead except the innocent chimp. The friend is in critical and was just transferred to ohio to a clinic specializing in plastic surgery, last night.

[wigglesgiggles1]

Woops sorry I couldn't think straight because I was so discusted about that whole story if you know what I meen.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Originally Posted by AnimalHouse36

They said that she had a cage for him within her house. Imagine how small a house is for a chimp. Then add a cage...this all just discusts me.

I doubt he spent very much time in the cage. I believe he had the run of the house. The owner created a very sick relationship with the chimp. He slept in her bed at night where they "cuddled". They took baths together. Some say she turned him into a sort of surrogate husband which set up some jealousy problems and could explain why he attacked the lady's friend.

[Angelgal]

Some species of animals are not able to be domesticated. With chimpanzees, domestication would be impossible. If someone even thinks it might be possible, then they are just being selfish and thinking "Oh, what would it be like if I had a pet chimp?"
Just because someone is a vet student, doesn't necessarily mean that they know everything. Just look at the finished product, the vet. Many many vets are somewhat more of a threat to our guinea pigs, than a help.

Um, not sure where this came about?
No, not every species can be a domesticated pet. Owning a non-domesticated animal is not something everyone can or should do. That's why things like this need to be very strict, and believe me, for the local guy with the Mountain Lion, it IS incredibly strict to keep the animal and people safe and healthy.

The thing about vet school. They are to specialize in a certain area (large animal, small animal, exotic etc.) but when they get out into the real world they pretty much practice on whatever they want. Really it's a lack of proper education and experience. Just like it is about owning non-domesticated animals.

Yeah I know, exactly! I mean, we needed some animals like horses way back when for transportation, and there are other examples of animals that were domesticated because we needed them (this all being way back in ancient times and centuries ago), but now, we no longer truly need or require animals for anything. We have technology.

But now horses aren't needed.

Just like cows and pigs. None of these animals are needed anymore but we just keep breeding, and slaughtering, and riding them.

Sure, we may have technology now, but its technology that's destorying this planet. Causing global warming, health problems etc. Honestly the world was a much healthier place when we were using animals for everday use (transportation). So should the population of humans with disabilities or mental health problems go without help?? You'd be amazed at the change animals can bring to people.

Animals are also very therapeutic, for a variety of disabilities and crime management. It has been prooven to be successful, and I have seen it and been in that area myself for a first-hand experience.

Specific livestock are bred for clothing, food etc. Sure, there is vegan/vegetarian but not everyone can live off this (like myself). We are not herbivours. There are other ways to prevent cruelty to animals then stopping breeding/eating them and letting them die off like PETA wishes.

I am trying to get some PETA members to help out with passing a law.

The BSL. It's all we need.

[Susan613]

Originally Posted by PiggieMamaKelly

I doubt he spent very much time in the cage. I believe he had the run of the house. The owner created a very sick relationship with the chimp. He slept in her bed at night where they "cuddled". They took baths together. Some say she turned him into a sort of surrogate husband which set up some jealousy problems and could explain why he attacked the lady's friend.

She is sick. She said in a interview that she treated him like her own son. She didn't get that he isn't a little boy that you can dress up and show off to people, he is a chimpanzee! Right before the attack, she gave the chimp Xanax in a cup of tea. Its sad to see animals getting stuck in a situation with stupid people.