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Take Action for Primates Before This Week's Congressional Hearing

Dear John,

We're excited to see progress in our fight to end the sale of primates as pets. The Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing on the Captive Primate Safety Act this Thursday, June 25. This bill (H.R. 1776/S. 2562) would end the inhumane and dangerous interstate pet primate trade, and we need your help to attract additional support in Congress.

The total number of pet primates in the United States is unknown, but most estimates suggest there are tens of thousands. These animals often suffer enormously in captivity--almost all are kept in relative isolation, tethered or in small cages, with inadequate nutrition and little chance to express natural behaviors.

Breeders provide a continuous supply of baby primates to meet the demand, and the internet is rife with advertisements for primates for sale. A person can buy virtually any species of monkey or ape, but buyers rarely understand the truth about owning a primate as a pet.

Pet primates also pose a serious threat to public health and safety. Since 1990, approximately 300 people have reported being injured by primates kept by private individuals. Additionally, nonhuman primates can easily transmit a wide range of viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal diseases to humans.

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What You Can Do
Please urge your US representative and senators to cosponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act ([link removed]). Then share our eAlert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their federal lawmakers too.

If you are interested in learning more about the plight of primates in the pet trade, please read Monkeys Don't Wear Diapers: Heartwarming and Heartbreaking Stories from a Monkey Sanctuary ([link removed]). AWI is happy to provide a complimentary copy to those seeking to lobby their legislators on these bills.

Thank you for all you do for animals!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

P.S. Follow us on Facebook ([link removed]), Twitter ([link removed]), and Instagram ([link removed]) for other important animal protection actions and news.

Photo by Polly Schultz

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Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 337-2332 | www.awionline.org ([link removed])

The Animal Welfare Institute is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. We seek better treatment of animals everywhere: in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.

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