Family Life

02.25.09 | FL News Team

Congress wants to ban personal ownership of primates. Lawmakers in the House have moved very quickly since the recent attack on a Connecticut woman to ban the keeping of primates as pets

The so called Captive Primate Safety Act was passed yesterday on a 323 to 95 vote and is headed for consideration by the Senate. The bill was cheered by the Humane Society of the United States and other animal support groups. Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society says "there is no reason for any private citizen to keep a primate as a pet." 

Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer who wrote the bill, along with Congressman Mark Kirk of Illinois, says the effort will protect communities and ensure the humane treatment of the creatures. He called the bill "long overdue."

A privately owned chimpanzee named Travis viciously attacked Charla Nash, a friend of his owner recently nearly killing her and maiming her for life. She is hospitalized at the Cleveland Clinic facing a possible facial transplant after losing her eyes, nose and jaw in the attack.