Friday, January 18, 2008

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle


No? They can't, Duh!


Those PETA folks are just kinda strange. Ya think? I understand their concerns but come on use some common sense here, folks.



Court: Monkeys, chimps can't sue
Cindy Tumiel: Express-News

The 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio has rebuffed efforts by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to gain legal standing for chimpanzees and monkeys that were brought to San Antonio's Primarily Primates sanctuary in 2006.

The appeals court Wednesday affirmed a decision by District Judge Andy Mireles, who dismissed the case in September 2006, saying the nine animals and two human plaintiffs didn't have a legal right to sue.

The animals came to Texas from Ohio State University with $324,000 that the university pledged for their care. PETA charged the sanctuary was substandard and wanted the animals and money moved to another sanctuary.

A later legal action by the Texas attorney general put the sanctuary into receivership for six months, during which time most of the animals involved in the suit were taken to Chimp Haven sanctuary in Louisiana. Primarily Primates now is suing to force their return.
PETA said it was evaluating whether to appeal the latest ruling. It issued a prepared response noting the findings of the court receiver.

"The receiver's report of the substandard facilities at Primarily Primates, Inc. (PPI), described horrific conditions for the animals there, from which some of the animals were saved as a result of litigation," the statement said.

Priscilla Feral, chairwoman of a restructured Primarily Primates board, welcomed the appellate ruling.

"We are glad that this wrong-headed lawsuit which PETA filed against a sanctuary is finally over and we can get on with bettering the lives of each and every animal under our care," she said.