Monkey in thurso pet shop

[lin]

When I was visiting a Thurso pet shop I saw a wee monkey in a very small cage. I thought this was very cruel, what do you think??

[angela5]

When I was visiting a Thurso pet shop I saw a wee monkey in a very small cage. I thought this was very cruel, what do you think??

The poor monkey died lin.

[lin]

That is sad news, how old was the monkey when it died?

[angela5]

That is sad news, how old was the monkey when it died?

I'm not sure but i'd say a fair age it was in that cage for a very long time, i felt really sorry for it.

[connieb19]

I'm sure it was in it's twenties, poor thing never had much of a life.

[ellie-lou]

I Think When It Was Announced In The Local Paper That Lucy The Monkey Had Died It Said She Had Been There For 24yrs

[unicorn]

Do you remember when they tried to get her into a sanctuary and the shop put a petition giving the option of a large run or put her to sleep, the poor animal got to stay and never did get the promised run. They built a tuck shop instead

[angela5]

Do you remember when they tried to get her into a sanctuary and the shop put a petition giving the option of a large run or put her to sleep, the poor animal got to stay and never did get the promised run. They built a tuck shop instead

Aye i remember unicorn, pretty sad that the poor thing never had much of a life stuck in that cage with every kid poking it's fingers in at it.

[Saxo01]

There's a monkey in the local petshop here as well, Its been there as long as i can remember it must be very old as well

[unicorn]

It's a terribly sad and lonely life for them I hated going into the petshop because I couldn't bare to see her sad face

[sam]

its a shame to keep them captive, although i believe this monkey never knew any different but that still doesnt make it right

[Liz]

I hate the death of any animal but have to say when Lucy the monkey died I was pleased as the poor wee soul was free at last.

I don't care about the reasons why she was taken into the pet shop she should have been moved to a sanctuary.

She was a prisoner and had committed no crime!!!!!

[lin]

Its very sad that she died, but now she is free. Why were the owners allowed to keep the poor we thing in those cramped conditions. Its a wonder the R S P C A were not involved

[pink]

Lucy the monkey lived for 29 years and is very sadly missed in the shop. Folk tried to get her moved a few years back but she had never known any different and would have come to harm if placed back in with other monkeys. She was well loved by bob and all his staff, well looked after and lived longer than most which goes to show how well she was looked after.
Back in the day of 1977 it was common for these animals to be kept as pets and why why why would you want to introduce a 20 + yr old monkey who knew no different back in with others and take her away from the only folk she knew. That would be cruel . I am glad she stayed she was part of my growing up and i miss her now she has gone. Her corner in the shop is empty now and that is what is sad.

[unicorn]

It's the fact that she only had a corner in the shop that I found upsetting, at the time it was said she would have a new enclosure built so she could have space and exercise but that was an empty offer, she didn't get it.

[pink]

but you only seen her during work hours.

[unicorn]

Oh right, I do apologize I didn't realise that she had a different life at night, so did she have a separate enclosure then?

[pink]

All im saying is she got excercised just fine. Did she look fat to you? Not to me .

[sweetpea]

More fool her for letting her

[porshiepoo]

I saw that monkey a couple of times and i must say it did put me off going there.
I have no problem with animals being kept in captivity if it is for their own good and if there is no medical reason that they should be put to sleep, but I do think that cage was a tad small. Not only that but monkeys are social creatures and while I accept that this one may not have integrated with other monkeys well was it even tried?
It has been known for primates to adapt well when introduced to other primates after an entire lifetime of being kept in cages.
I for one contacted Monkey World regarding this poor soul and they informed me that many many other people from the area had done exactly the same.
Unfortunately, Black capped capuchin monkeys are not under any protection and basically any old Joe Bloggs can own one.

The saving Grace was that this monkey lived to a ripe old age so was obviously in good health physically and i'm sure the owners loved it dearly and cared for it to the best of their ability and knowledge.
Like i said before my main gripe (beside the fact that it was solitary) was the size of the enclosure.
Pink may declare that it had further exercise at night but being the pessimistic person I am, I doubt it.
There were probably many concerns thrown up over the years to the owners and a simple sign at the side of the cage explaining the circumstances and the access to further exercise would have helped visitors tremendously. I could be wrong but I don't remember seeing anything.

On a sad note: My sympathies really do go out to the owners of the monkey, no matter what I know they must have been absolutely devastated to lose it.