Mindy's Memory - New Residents

Our Newest Residents

CALVIN - AKA PIGGY

Calvin is a young pigtail macaque. We estimate his age at about 1 1/2 years. He was picked up by the police when he was found wandering around in an alley in Compton, California at 3am. Once inside the police car, Calvin proceeded to hit the police officer in the back of the head as he was driven to the station. The officer coaxed him inside and he went directly into a cell and made himself at home. Animal control picked him up the next day and with the help of primate rescuers Gwenna Blackmore, Shelly Ladd and Linda Howard, Calvin was sent here in November 2003. He is currently housed with a young bonnet macaque, Beasley, and they are having a great time. We don't know what Calvin went through before he was found but he is certainly a very happy monkey now. - Shelly Ladd -

TOMMY

Tommy is a male long tail macaque. Tommy was a pet that became too aggressive, was sent to the sanctuary at the age of four years.Tommy arived in 2003.

BEASLEY

JJ is an eight year of age male capuchin, brought to the sanctuary because the owner could no longer care for him for various reasons, one being he was attacking the daughter. JJ arrived from Ft Worth Texas.

The first night JJ was upset and cried until he was exhausted and fell asleep. The next day he was more relaxed but I kept him in a shift area until I could start an introduction to the five black white front capuchins he would come to live with. Within a few days he was loose with his new family. Considering this little guy had never seen another monkey, we did good in the introductions. Now he is part of the troop and having the time of his life. His appetite is good and he is well accepted by the other monkeys.

Nona was sent as a rescue from Salina, Kansas. The original owner was unable to care for her due to health problems, and the foster caregiver contacted us. We picked her up in Kansas.

When Nona arrived I noticed she drooled constantly. I was informed her canines had been removed so I thought it must be the lack of teeth causing the extra juicy mouth. As I observed the monkey's behavior I noticed her rubbing her fist against her jaw, and the drooling. I captured and examined her mouth and found what I thought was a damaged tooth next to the canine that had been extracted. The veterinarian was contacted and an appointment was set up.

<When the veterinarian called me to let me know what she found, I was shocked. Nona had her jaw wired together and there were wires protruding from between the bottom teeth gouging her tongue, and wires protruding at the gum line, gouging the soft insides of her mouth. What I had thought was crushed enamel turned out even worse than that. The bottom jaw had been broken during the tooth extraction, the top jaw had been damaged, and the tongue had been lacerated deeply underneath. The canines of a primate are twice as deep as they are long, tremendous pressure is excerted and a twisting and prying is all applied. Anyone that is considering tooth extraction I hope upon reading this, will change their minds...

I have no idea how long Nona endured the agony I describe, I was sick to my stomach even knowing she was with me for weeks before I realized something was not right about her. She is all healed and has gained weight now that she can eat without pain.

Nona is housed with seven black cap capuchins and is having the time of her life being groomed, climbing and playing. The stool she is sitting on is in the enclosure so I can reach the feed stations for scrubbing. It doubles as enrichment for a tired monkey.