February 7, 2014 Waterbury, CT Authorities arrested a Connecticut mom and took away her pet marmoset after it scratched the woman’s 10-year old daughter. State law prohibits residents from owning primates that weigh more than 50 pounds. The woman was charged with illegal possession of an exotic or dangerous animal. The marmoset was confiscated. Primates
January 16, 2014 Vermilion, OH An employee at an Ohio Car dealership was bitten by a customer’s pet spider monkey when he reached in to pet him. The man in charge of the monkey did not have a permit to own an exotic pet and it was not clear to whom the monkey belonged. The man and his twin brother had previously been arrested for being in possession of stolen gibbons. The spider monkey that bit the dealership employee was euthanized and tested for rabies. Primates
October 31, 2013 Currituck County, NC Four capuchin monkeys escaped their enclosure from a residence and later attacked a citizen. The person bitten was taken to the hospital for treatment. Three of the monkeys were caught and one was shot dead. Primates
June 24, 2013 Aransas Pass, TX A rookie officer pulling a routine traffic stop was bit on his hand by a monkey. Recorded on his sunglasses camera, a moneky lurched from behind the driver’s seat and attacked the officer. The monkey is trained to entertain at carnivals and festivals and to pose in photos. Primates
June 20, 2013 Conway, AR A monkey briefly escaped from teh Chestnut Animal Clinic where it was being boarded. The officer who tried to corral the animal back into the clinic was bitten on the thumb and had to receive a tetanus shot before the monkey was successfully captured. Primates
June 3, 2013 Godfrey, IL A 6-year old boy was bitten on his forearm by a pet primate when the boy tried to pet the primate’s companion dog at a dog event. The owner of the two animals stated that the primate was possessive over the dog. The boy was treated at a hospital and released. Animal control officials are investigating the matter. Primates
May 14, 2013 Napa Valley, CA A woman was in her bed at her apartment when she was bitten in the hand by a 3-foot long boa constrictor as she reached for her alarm clock. The woman went to the hospital and returned home when released to find the snake under her bed. It is unclear how the snake got into her apartment. None of her immediate neighbors claimed the snake. The snake was taken to Napa County’s Animals Shelter. Reptiles
March 31, 2013 Bradenton, FL A father shot and killed the family’s pet wolf-hybrid dog after the animal bit off his 11-year old son’s finger when the boy stuck his hand into the animal’s cage. After killing the animal, the father cut open the stomach to retrieve his son’s finger, but it could not be reattached due to extensive nerve damage. Other
August 25, 2012 Fort Lauderdale, FL A Fort Lauderdale battalion chief handling a motorcycle accident was bit by a pet marmoset reached over to turn off the motorcycle. The marmoset had been riding in a bag attached to the motorcycle. The owner was issued a warning for failing to label the monkey bag with what was in it and the monkey received 10 days in quarantine. Primates
December 12, 2012 Elkhart, TX A lemur named Keanue kept by the owner of a consignment shop attacked and bit a postal worker. The victim was treated at a hospital for scratches and bite. The lemur was quarantined and returned to his guardian. Primates