No, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, Dez Bryant, did not consult with WagBrag before getting his new pet monkey. If he had, we would have sent him the link to an article that we wrote a year ago – Top 5 Reasons Why A Pet Monkey Is A Bad Idea. This past week Dez posted a picture on Instagram of him holding the little baby monkey that he named ‘Dallas’. However, animal advocates have spoken out against Dez’s decision to get a pet monkey.
Trend Setter
The most unsettling part of this drama may just be that he is helping fuel a trend that gives the impression that it’s okay (maybe even cool) to own monkeys as pets. In 2014, Justin Bieber stirred up a similar controversy when he abandoned his pet monkey in Germany. April Truitt, Executive Director of the Primate Rescue Center in Kentucky, told Wagbrag that “Unfortunately small monkeys like tamerians and macaques are becoming an increasingly popular pet.” It’s a big problem in the U.S. although several states ban owning a primate. People think that owning a small monkey will be less dangerous. But April explained that these little monkeys have extremely sensitive systems. It’s very difficult to provide just the right environment for them to thrive and be healthy. April suspects that most of these monkeys pass away shortly after being purchased.
In the UK there are even fewer restrictions on owning a primate and they have seen a surge in the growing number of “back yard” breeders thanks to celebrities and high profile professional sport athletes. But these breeders are interested in only profiting from this latest fad of owning pet monkeys. The conditions in which these monkeys are bred are deplorable, and rescue organizations are completely full with neglected monkeys. Thankfully the government is now concerned about this issue and they’ve launched an inquiry, and hopefully will set new regulations to protect these magnificent and social animals.
Adopt A Monkey
Instead of getting a monkey for a pet, please consider becoming a Primate Pal – a symbolic adoption through the Primate Rescue Center. By becoming a Primate Pal you will help support the medical, nutritional and enrichment needs of one of their monkey residents for an entire year. Your adoption package includes a photo and certificate suitable for framing and a one-year family membership. They also send you updates on how your Primate Pal is doing so you can get to know more about his/her daily activities and life at the sanctuary. Click on the following link to learn more about the organization and the wonderful monkeys that they have helped rescue.
Primate Rescue Center – Primate Pal: https://www.primaterescue.org/get-involved/primate-pals/
