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Act Now to Protect Primates from the Cruel Pet Trade

Dear John,

Nonhuman primates are not pets. They are highly intelligent and typically social wild animals whose basic needs cannot be met when kept in a home. To ban the private possession of these animals, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reintroduced the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 3135/S. 1588). This bill would also restrict direct contact between the public and primates.

Breeders within the United States provide a continuous supply of baby primates to meet the insatiable demand. The internet is rife with advertisements for primates for sale, and these dealers ship them to buyers around the country. A person can buy virtually any species of monkey or ape, but buyers rarely understand the truth about owning a primate as a pet.

The total number of pet primates is unknown due to inadequate governmental oversight under current laws, but estimates are in the 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. They may be forced to endure unnecessary, painful procedures such as tooth extraction in an attempt to reduce potential harm to people.

Pet primates also pose a serious threat to public health and safety. Since 1990, nearly 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 ([link removed]) to cosponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act. Share our alert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them contact their federal lawmakers, too.

Thank you for all you do for animals!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

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Animal Welfare Institute
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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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