Missouri chimp shooting triggers call for stronger exotic pet laws

KSDK -- The Humane Society of the United States called on Missouri and federal lawmakers to strengthen exotic pet laws after an escaped chimp was shot to death in Winston, Missouri earlier this week.

The nine-year-old chimpanzee escaped from a home and was shot Monday night.

The Daviess County Sheriff's Department responded to a call on a request to help capture an angry chimp running loose on a state highway north of Winston. When officers arrived, the chimp opened the patrol car door and grabbed the leg of a deputy, who fatally shot it, Chief Deputy Todd Watson said.

When Watson approached the home that had reported the angry primate, he heard barking from an estimated 100 to 200 small-breed dogs inside. He also smelled a strong odor of ammonia, encountered "nasty conditions and filth," and saw a 10 foot by 6 foot cage which the occupants said had housed their 9-year-old chimp, Timmy.

The occupants told Watson they had three other primates.

Watson returned Tuesday with a search warrant and discovered all but 13 dogs and two cats had been removed, their dog cages remaining inside the home. Watson said he also discovered the remains of nine dead puppies in the yard, and recovered records on breeding, sales, and deliveries of puppies that brought as much as $400 each.

Missouri law requires people who have primates to register them with local law enforcement, but Timmy and three other primates kept at the home were reportedly not registered. The Missouri legislature is considering legislation that would require permits for certain dangerous wild animals and prohibit public contact with the animals.

On March 18, The Humane Society named Missouri one of the five worst states for exotic pets, citing the lack of enforcement of the registration requirement and the proliferation of exotic animal breeders, dealers and auctions. In addition, two people were attacked by tigers in 2008, and in February a tiger was removed from a Newton County, Missouri puppy mill, along with about 150 dogs. The other states named are Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Ohio.

Monday's incident follows one in Stamford, Connecticut in February when a chimpanzee named Travis escaped from a home and mauled a woman before being killed by police. Travis was born at a Festus, Mo. facility that breeds chimpanzees for entertainment and the pet trade.

The Humane Society is supporting federal legislation, the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 80/S. 462), to prohibit interstate commerce in primates as pets. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming 323-95 vote in February and is now pending in the U.S. Senate. The organization also is backing legislation in state legislatures to prohibit private possession of certain wild animals including primates.

Timmy is the 11th chimpanzee killed in the United States since 1999.