DESOTO, TEXAS — (CNN) People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is calling on Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant to give up his pet monkey. PETA sent a letter to DeSoto Animal Control Services, asking that the capuchin, named Dallas Bryant, be transferred to a sanctuary.
Possession of monkeys is not allowed in DeSoto, where Bryant lives. At least not without a permit. So maybe that’s what will happen?
From the City of DeSoto’s Code Enforcement section on wild animals:
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to exhibit, possess or harbor a wild animal within the city without a permit.
So maybe Dez and Dallas just need a permit?
“Monkeys belong in the wild-not in the hands of football players who acquire exotic animals just to make a splash on Instagram,” says PETA Foundation Deputy Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet. “This baby capuchin was torn away from his mother shortly after birth and needs special care that can now only be provided by wildlife experts who will be able to ensure that he gets the love and attention he deserves.”
According to a PETA press release, a sanctuary is standing by to take the monkey and introduce it to a female surrogate mother figure.
PETA’s letter to DeSoto code enforcement officials, in part:
Capuchin monkeys are intelligent, curious, and highly social animals who naturally live in large groups. A human home denies them mental stimulation and opportunities for social interaction with other monkeys, which can lead to boredom and depression. Monkeys are wild animals, and as such, they can become frustrated, aggressive, and difficult to control as they get older-and they can and will bite humans.
Captive monkeys should be cared for by wildlife experts who understand their physical and psychological needs and in facilities where they can live in natural social groups-they should not be in the hands of an NFL football player. This infant animal must be urgently relocated to a reputable animal sanctuary, where he or she can be provided with appropriate care. PETA stands ready to assist your investigation in any way, including with arranging for placement of the monkey at a reputable sanctuary.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this important matter.
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