citation_inspection: 4244

A video of a DeBrazza monkey in an undersized pet carrier showed an extremely agitated monkey exhibiting signs of behavioral distress during attempts at providing a medical treatment by facility staff. The video shows the monkey being repeatedly jabbed with sticks in an unsuccessful attempt to get the monkey to move from an airline-type plastic pet carrier (which is small enough that the monkey cannot stand erect) into a small squeeze cage. During this time facility personnel were making loud noises in apparent attempts to scare the monkey into the squeeze cage as well as talking loudly about other things and joking (making comments such as we need to get a cattle prod). During the approximately 6 minutes that this was occurring, the monkey was frantically moving back and forth in the small carrier in an apparent attempt to avoid being jabbed with the sticks. At that time the squeeze cage was removed from the front of the carrier and facility staff began an alternate method to transfer the animal. A staff member (later identified by the licensee as his daughter) then inserted a net into the carrier and after an additional minute removed the monkey from the carrier. At the point that the animal was removed from the carrier, the monkey was partially out of the net being held primarily by its tail and jumps and flails around the room knocking things over while being partially restrained by its tail. The licensee was shown the video by APHIS officials on 09 January 2015 and was asked about his thoughts regarding what he saw. He made several comments throughout stating "(cid:28)they should not be jabbing"(cid:29), "(cid:28)I am not happy about it"(cid:29), and used descriptors such as "(cid:28)unprofessional"(cid:29), "(cid:28)primitive"(cid:29), and "(cid:28)inappropriate"(cid:29). The licensee stated he did not know about this event, was disappointed in what he saw, and that he trusted his daughter be more professional. When questioned about the treatment of non-human primates in need of veterinary care over several days, he mentioned the use of a squeeze cage and said they have one on hand. The licensee asked his wife to view this video and she also commented that she was also unaware of this event. She stated that the licensee'(cid:25)s daughter was in the video and that she (the daughter)was responsible for the care of this animal which she (the wife) believed to be a monkey that required daily treatment for a period of time. The licensee did comment that the cage in front of the pet taxi in the video is a squeeze cage but when asked about the size of the squeeze cage and whether this was one that an animal could be housed in for an extended period for treatment (which he previously described as a method of treatment of primates) he stated that the facility has a larger one. Based on comments made on the video and the statements by the licensee and his wife regarding the treatment of this monkey, this is believed to have occurred on more than one occasion over the course of treatment for this animal. Jabbing at an animal with sticks, yelling and talking loudly, and having unnecessary discussions while attempting to move a primate from one enclosure to another are distressful to the animal and very inappropriate. The licensee agreed and used the term (cid:28)"clowning around"(cid:29). This degree of intentional harassment of a primate on a recurring basis is inhumane and sufficient to constitute abuse. Physical abuse is never appropriate when handling animals as this can lead to injury or permanent psychological damage to the animal. Correct by handling all animals as carefully as possible. Correct from this day forward