MONKEY bites BOY in Brooklyn store

[charlie,nj]

Aug 3, 2004 7:02 am US/Eastern

(1010 WINS) NEW YORK A monkey trained to help a disabled man with chores bit a two-year-old boy in a Brooklyn supermarket.

The boy, Thomas Romano, was shopping with his grandparents at the Key Food store on Avenue U in Mill Basin at about 4 p-m yesterday when the monkey bit him on the arm. He was treated at Maimonides Medical Center and released.

The monkey's owner, 45-year-old Steven Seidler, says the animal attacked after the boy pulled its fur. Seidler is confined to a wheelchair and uses the monkey to help him open doors and pick things up.

But Romano's grandmother, Helene Romano, says the bite was unprovoked.

It is illegal to keep monkeys as pets in New York City, but permits are given for those trained to help the disabled.

from www.1010wins.com


I never knew they used monkeys to help disabled people..amazing!

 

[vettechick99]

If the monkey was a helper for the owner, I definitely think he was provoked. Those assistance animals are trained to be so placid.

I was bitten by a monkey when I was in second grade. My teacher had a party at her home for the kids and her son was just back from Africa and had this monkey he picked up. My friends and I were having him do some mudane task over and over again and I think he got mad and just took a chunk out of my leg. In that case, it definintely was provoked!

 

[vettechick99]

double post! sorry!

 

[Saffron]

They are incredible animals, Charlie! I watched this wonderful documentary on PBS about the training of the monkeys and placements in the homes. One of the most heart warming stories was about a man who had his monkey for about 15 years now. It was heart warming and touching to watch them grow older together. Now instead of depending on his monkey companion to do for him all the things the monkey used to, he now has human aides come into his home, to take of him and his quickly aging friend. It was very touching to see this baby monkey become a trained companion monkey, and now become an elderly monkey who needs help herself. I'm a sap for those kinds of stories.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Where is Monkeyboy anyways??

 

[cynsaun]

Originally posted by Stepharoonie!
Where is Monkeyboy anyways??

Apparently in Brooklyn.

 

[Robmom]

I actually live kind of near that store. I think the boy provoked the monkey. Kids that small do things like that. I remember having to lock up my cat when my 2 year old nephew would come over because all he did was chase it and pull his tail. I'm sure my SIL would have blamed me if the cat jumped him, even though it wasn't the cat's fault.