And What Will The Monkey Be Having?

The local health department and the Southwest Center for Independent Living had a pow-wow today over whether to allow Debby Rose's monkey to dine at local eateries with her.

Debby Rose says Richard, her bonnet macaque monkey, is a service animal that assists her with an anxiety disorder, which should be allowed according to the Americans With Disabilities Act, a federal law.

Service animals (defined here) are just that; trained to perform various tasks for their owners such as picking up dropped objects, turning lights off and on, opening the refrigerator , etc.

Richard, however, is not trained to perform any useful function.

Family members dispute that, saying Rose's anxiety is disabling. Without her monkey, she's less able to manage normal tasks, such as grocery shopping and dining out because of severe anxiety.

"I have seen the difference he makes," said Rose's grown daughter Tonya Brady. "She used to get to the point where she couldn't come to my kids' birthday parties. ... There were some days she couldn't even get herself dressed and out the door. He's aware of her emotions at all times."

(Does anyone else find it a little disturbing that a monkey is apparently a better companion than her family members?)

The catch is that all the lady has to say is that it's a service animal and she has to be allowed in with the damn thing, no questions asked.

Now if the monkey were a smoker, that'd be a different story...

Link: News-Leader.com | Local News.

Comments

[Darin Codon]

I often prefer the company of monkeys to kin. They rarely borrow money and it's much easier to defend their behavior.

[cheesyknitwit]

So in essence my Sisal Pig is a service animal. She always is assisting me in picking up dropped food and disposing of it....right down her throat. Hee hee.

I think a smoking monkey would be a woot!