They're far politer than they're depicted in pop culture, though! I mean, they literally say
Bonner has applied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a license to exhibit Bobo. Please write polite letters to the USDA and ask the agency to deny Bonner a license.Assuming that the information in PETA's press release is true*, then that baboon really shouldn't be at a pet store.
To be honest, I don't like most of the pet stores I've seen, with these little two foot, brightly lit windows where animals lie around depressed all day. The worst one by far is the one in Augusta Mall. Those cages are tiny. I can't stand to even go in there.
Update 6/18 10:00pm: I have some new information in the comments that should be of interest to everyone. Assuming this information is correct, PETA really dropped the ball (again).
Update 6/24 10:38am: PETA has written another article, which makes Bonner out to be unreasonable and greedy. Bleh :>
5 comments:
"Bobo will soon go insane from lack of enrichment and baboon companionship and from the inability to exercise his natural inclination to roam in the space required for his health and sanity."
Is there a way to tell if an animal is insane or not?
btw, I think I've heard about this guy, a friend of mine went in there to see the animal and she didn't say anything about how wrong it was, but hey I don't know what the baboon was thinking.
It's probably the same way you tell if a human is insane.
No, I don't think PETA would allow me to poke it with a stick.
I am the wife of George Bonner, the owner of Petland North Augusta. I agree completely with PETA's basic premise that primates should not be pets. In an ideal world all non-human primates would be born and live in their natural habitats. However, some primates are born in a breeding facility and their only means of survival is to be raised in a human environment. That is Bobo's fate. He was born in Missouri and sold at auction in South Carolina. The best he could hope for was that someone with his best interest in mind would buy him. That's what happened when George bought him.
PETA's completely unresearched (and untrue) allegations about his inappropriate care have led to his being taken away from the only family he knows and suddenly thrust into a completely different environment. We were not able to prepare him psychologically in any way. One morning he was happily playing in his snug, comfortable enclosure. He was fed and cuddled by humans who loved him. That night he is in a strange, outdoor cage, cared for by people he does not know at all.
Bobo was bought without deep thought. However, as soon as he came into Petland we took on full responsibility for his well being. We immediately researched his needs and began to meet them. We worked with the Department of Agriculture and a local primate vet to insure that we planned appropriately for him. His enclosure remained clean because we CLEANED it, not because he was denied nutrition. During the day he wore a diaper which was changed regularly. At night he was unclothed. He had regular vet checks and immunizations. He was growing and developing normally. He had developed attachments to several humans. Arranging to have him suddenly torn from this environment is extremely unethical. PETA would be much more effective at insuring the ethical treatment of primates by working at the breeder level. Stop people from providing baby primates for sale and there will be no more legal pet primates.
I would be glad to send anyone who is interested a copy of Bobo's care plan, which includes a great deal of enrichment.
Carolyn Bonner
Thank you for commenting, Mrs. Bonner.
I want to apologize for the use of the phrase "evil...baboon torturer". It was tongue-in-cheek, but I realize it was probably pretty hurtful, too. (I've left it up because I don't think "depublishing" is ethical, but I've changed all those exclamation points into a question mark. I've also added a note in my post so people will know to check the comments and see what you wrote.)
Anyway, if you would like to send me Bobo's care plan, I would be happy to update my post with that information. You can email me at alindrea@pixelscribbles.com.
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