TV Chimp attacks & gravely injures woman.

[Cubby]

cheko,

I opened this thread for the first time and read your story. wow, thank you so much for sharing. It gives us a much better understanding. I smile, greive and agree with you. It brought back a childhood memory of a pet store around the block from where I grew up and a coata monday? in a smal cage. No larger than 4'x3' maybe a little bigger (5x?) from my memory but it was small. We used to go see him... and were 'enthralled' as kids the pet store had a monkey! At times he was calm to a kid, but now I see it as sad, lethargic.... later when we'd go see him, he would run around and beat himself in the cage.

It's amazing people still do this... I am sure you were fooled as you mentioned, but Checko had a good life with you and knew he was loved.

Did you ever report the seller? or were they ever busted?

thanks for sharing your story.

Cubby

 

[scrabble]

"Chimp shares bath with owner" -- The story is at

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2257384.ece

 

[lizzybeth]

Not only do I think the chimp owner was ignorant but I think she may have had some mental issues too. I love my dog like a child but I realize he's a dog. He sleeps with me, rides in the car with me and at times eats with me. Even if he were capable I don't think I would want him brushing my hair and definitely not bathing with me.

If you look at the picture of this woman with Travis on a leash it's obvious if he decided he wanted to get away she would have no control. He probably outweighs her by 60 lbs. or more.

I hope she is charged with something and that the state does change their laws concerning owning wild animals.


BTW, where did you read that Travis could drive? I heard he would get the keys and get in the car but I didn't know he drove too. Wow, what a sight that would have been. Driving to the store and look over in the next lane and a monkey is driving beside you.

 

[feddup]

Son? Looks like a 'marriage' to me....
you don't share a bed with your 'son'.
my 2cents of sarcasm and disgust





bold by me :blowkiss:

*SHUDDER*


luv my dogs too but bathing with them? Uhhhh not a chance.

me, too. I wouldve never thought of taking a bath with my dog Ick!!

I think the relationsip this woman had with this chimp was kind of sick.
I feel SO sorry for the poor woman who was attacked, it mustve been terrifying.
Im glad they shot him, he can no longer be a danger to anyone.
Sorry, he was crazed, some on here seem to feel bad he was shot. There was NO way they couldve gotten him under control. I do not like chimps or monkeys. My son was bitten by a monkey once, it was supposed to be tame, it drew blood. It happend VERY fast. EW I dont like them!
I feel sorry for the woman, she will never be the same again and will probably have nightmares, can you imagine a 200# thing eating you up all of a sudden? I cant!
Michael Jackspm put his in a chimp retirement place. I wonder f Bubbles was starting to act weird?

 

[lizzybeth]

I don't think anyone thinks he shouldn't have been shot. I don't think there was any other way to stop the attacks. What we've been saying (and I hope no one minds me speaking as a group) is that it's a shame it had to come to that. Something should have been done about Travis before it reached the point where a woman's life is ruined and Travis is dead.

 

[scrabble]

Travis' owner has been quoted on the news as saying that the chimp could drive, and that they shared Filet Mignon and Lobster & Wine. My heart goes out to the poor victim.

 

[scrabble]

The following newspaper link states that the chimp victim still has her hands and nose, however they are horribly disfigured.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/ny-uschimp0220,0,3575

 

[lizzybeth]

scrabble, that link didn't work for me.

 

[Hopeful One]

scrabble, that link didn't work for me.

The link didn't work for me either. I really am curious as to her condition. Did she really lose her eyes???

This story is heartbreaking and creepy!!

And Cheko, thanks for sharing your story. How traumatic that must have been for your family. But you did the right thing.

 

[colomom]

The following newspaper link states that the chimp victim still has her hands and nose, however they are horribly disfigured.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/ny-uschimp0220,0,3575

Fixed the link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/ny-uschimp0220,0,3575782.story

 

[colomom]

From: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/ny-uschimp0218-poll,0,343015,post.poll

 

[LiveLaughLuv]

Not only do I think the chimp owner was ignorant but I think she may have had some mental issues too. I love my dog like a child but I realize he's a dog. He sleeps with me, rides in the car with me and at times eats with me. Even if he were capable I don't think I would want him brushing my hair and definitely not bathing with me.
If you look at the picture of this woman with Travis on a leash it's obvious if he decided he wanted to get away she would have no control. He probably outweighs her by 60 lbs. or more.

I hope she is charged with something and that the state does change their laws concerning owning wild animals.


BTW, where did you read that Travis could drive? I heard he would get the keys and get in the car but I didn't know he drove too. Wow, what a sight that would have been. Driving to the store and look over in the next lane and a monkey is driving beside you.

This woman must truly have some mental issues. As she was telling this the other day, she told how she slept with this chimp, bathed with him, ate and shared wine with him, eating filet mignon and lobsters, did everything with him as if it were her significant other. I'm wondering if this chimp decided he was the Alpha male and became jealous of this other woman stepping in to help get him in his "home".

She also claimed the chimp had lyme disease and gave him a xanex to calm him down. Something is definately off with this woman.

I truly feel for this woman who know has no face and hands. How horrible for her and her family. I'm sure charges will be brought on this woman.

Hoping for a speedy recovery for the victim...

 

[Hopeful One]

Fixed the link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/ny-uschimp0220,0,3575782.story

Thank you!!

It amazes me that she even survived such a brutal attack. Now that poor woman faces a lifetime of disfigurement.

 

[Gracenote]

It is easier now for me. I live way out in the country. My neighbors are like 3 acres away from me on each side & 20 acres away from the back. Cheko also had a HUGE cage like a zoo outside. He was only in it a few times. I never cared what people thought. We devoted our life to him....Cheko was not big by any means possibly 20 pounds, but strong as an ox. He climbed trees / he dug for food / got to go swimming. We would never give Cheko anything to calm him down.

Hubby & I both wonder how Sandra could of handled Travis. He was to much for her & would of been horrid strong.

Nobdy should own primates / It should be against the law!
NOBODY should be allowed to breed them / NOBODY!!!

Yes they are apart of your family

Cheko1, I am sorry it took me a while to naviagate back to this page. I actually had trouble finding it again :blushing:

You have been through a heartbreaking trauma and I am so sorry. You gave Cheko such a good life and you also gave him a gentle death, much better than he would have experienced in the wild. I don't have to tell you how brutal "mother nature" really is. I am glad you are an advocate for animals and you speak for them whan they can't speak for themselves. I am an animal welfare volunteer advocate and it often seems that the problem is too big to even make a dent in it. Bless you. :hug:

I have wondered if people who keep primates as pets have them spayed and neutered? It seems it would make them more comfortable. (I work in a middle school and I wish we could spay/neuter our students temporarily sometimes :biggrin: )

Thank you for sharing your hard earned wisdom.

 

[Gracenote]

First, terribly saddened about your loss cheko1.

I too am an animal lover, immensly. It is because of my love for all animals my opinion is strong and it stands. Wild animals, any wild animals born in captivity or not, do not belong integrated with humans. Even if 80+% of the population may never harm a hair on any head, it's not their habitat, it's not their domain, it's not their life.

I'm not sure about your last comment above regarding the gorillas? Chimps have already proven the capability of killing or forever gravely harming a human. My best to you. :blowkiss:

PS: zoos usually make me sad. I'm not sure it's okay for us humans to place these animals under such circumstances for our entertainment. I'm so torn about that.

I am with you there, PattyCake
I see an animal like a tiger who normally has a 25 mile personal range and they put them in a little fake habitat. It just breaks my heart. And the apes sit in their fake little habitat looking so sad. As much as I like to see the animals up close and personal, I don't approve of keeping them caged for our entertainment.

 

[Gracenote]

This woman must truly have some mental issues. As she was telling this the other day, she told how she slept with this chimp, bathed with him, ate and shared wine with him, eating filet mignon and lobsters, did everything with him as if it were her significant other. I'm wondering if this chimp decided he was the Alpha male and became jealous of this other woman stepping in to help get him in his "home".

She also claimed the chimp had lyme disease and gave him a xanex to calm him down. Something is definately off with this woman.

I truly feel for this woman who know has no face and hands. How horrible for her and her family. I'm sure charges will be brought on this woman.

Hoping for a speedy recovery for the victim...

Well I am just totally hijacking this thread and I promise I will stop after this, but I did want to give another 2 cents. I think people who want a little creature to love and dress up and spoil need to adopt one or two of the millions of foster children who would dearly love to have such a home. Leave the monkeys and apes where they belong and save the life of a human child. My friend fostered then adopted 5 brothers and sisters and they are blooming like little flowers.

And absolutely the victim in this story is the woman who innocently went over to help a friend and now her life is forever changed. It's tragic.

I am just full of unwanted advice this morning. Forgive me, I think it's PMS

 

[St3phanie]

Cheko1 I enjoyed reading your story. That's an amazing story and even though it was hard to give him up, thankfully you realized you had to. That must have been so hard when he'd get jealous of you. (I had to laugh a little bit when you said it's not easy finding a monkey sitter )

 

[scrabble]

Fixed the link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/ny-uschimp0220,0,3575782.story

Thank you for fixing the link, I don't know what I did wrong, but I appreciate your help.

 

[Saffron]

...No, this didn't have to happen. The state is also responsible for allowing the woman to have the chimp in the first place.
Did you hear the woman say that Travis often stole the keys and took her car for a drive on several occassions yet did nothing about it? Not only do I think she should be held responsible, but I also believe the state is responsible if it continued to allow this type of behavior to occur.

...BTW, where did you read that Travis could drive? I heard he would get the keys and get in the car but I didn't know he drove too. Wow, what a sight that would have been. Driving to the store and look over in the next lane and a monkey is driving beside you.

This story keeps shocking me. The monkey drove a car? On several occasions, no less? How is this possible? I thought the shared baths and glasses of wine was difficult to comprehend, but the monkey driving a car all by himself... I'm stunned.

That poor, poor victim.

 

[cheko1]

Well back onto the topic of the thread.

Recap: A chimp violently horribly injure and woman and she may never recover. Ignoring it by side tracking the subject in my opinion is a terrible disservice to the woman laying almost deceased in the hospital. She has no eyes, no nose, mostly no jaw, no hands. This is the reality and this is the topic of the thread.

The owner has since changed her story, denies drugging the animal but that will be easily proven with tests. I believe fully that she is attempting to avoid jail time. I believe fully in the other woman's story in 1996. That is not something people make up for no reason. Clearly this Chimp was dangerous and if he attacked in 1996 then her owner was severly ignorant.

As this story drags on, I think there should be criminal charges against this woman to make an example of what needs to stop in this society. No more wild animals in any household ever. That is what sanctuaries & rescue organizations are for!

Its very upsetting that this poor woman Charla, a woman in her 50's, her life is OVER. If this Charla has grandchildren, she will never 'touch', see or probably kiss them again. YES I'm angry. This did not have to happen at all.

Patty, I heard on the news tonight charges will be filed against the owner. My heart just breaks for the lady in the hospital. She was being kind & this is what she got in return? I am also very mad over it. It should never of been allowed to happen.

I sincerely think that Travis has showed signs of aggression before & Sandra (the owner) over looked it. I am sure I heard he was very posessive of her. He would of slapped someone / or shown his teeth. Trust me he did something or how else would she of known he was posessive?????? I guarantee she over looked the signs of aggression he showed.

One thing I noticed & am going to point out is in her interviews she wore her hair different... I noticed that she appeared to not have hair & wore it long to cover a possible big bald spot. I told hubby ASAP that I think Travis had gotten mad at her & pulled a massive amount out of her head. They will do that when they attack you....

Monkeys, chimps etc are smuggled into the country, like drugs. Yes they should be banned from ever becoming a part of our society.The laws should ban them from being bred & sold to anyone / also it should be against the law to own one!

Had Cheko of bit anyone we'd of been held 100% responsible. Sandra should also be held accountable. Her poor poor friend... it makes me sick!

Travis totally disfigured someone for life. Charla will have a heck of a time as long as she lives. I cringe at the thoughts of it.