Pennsylvania Family "Therapy" monkey seized in Game Commission Raid by 2 dozen officers

NORTH VERSAILLES, Pa. -- A North Versailles man told Channel 4 Action News that the Game Commission confiscated his family’s therapy monkey after it said he didn’t have the proper permits.

"I don't know how to describe it, except a Nazi-style raid. There were literally 25 of them here. Some of them threw on these hazmat-type suits," said Sam Govannucci.

Govannucci said his family has had the monkey, named Kira, for more than a decade until the Game Commission, along with police, raided their home on April 9.

Govannucci said he trained the monkey to be his helper while he recovered from an accident, and it was recently aiding his wife, Amanda, who is battling multiple health problems, including terminal leukemia.

Read more: http://www.wtae.com/news/28265287/detail.html#ixzz1PYlqTaK7

"They go after (Kira) with these radiation suits and these big, long poles trying to tranquilize her. Three people were going after a little 10-pound monkey," Samuel Govannucci said.

Wildlife Commission officials said the monkey is a potential threat. A spokesman from the commission said, "These animals carry all kinds of diseases that affect other animals and people. It was a public health issue."

Amanda Govannucci said she has hearing problems and Kira would alert her when someone was at the door.

"She would help me with hearing things. Like she would make calls, make noises and I would know if someone was knocking at the door," said Amanda Govannucci.

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Govannucci said the monkey was on the couch watching television when authorities came in dressed in protective suits and respirator masks. The primate was sedated.

Fife said the state doesn`t usually issue permits for monkeys because the animals can carry diseases potentially fatal to humans such as herpes B, hepatitis B, tuberculosis and AIDS.

Govannucci said Kira was a therapy animal for his wife and the American Disability Association said he didn`t need a permit. He showed Barner his United Service Animal Registry Plus certification.

Wildlife conservation officer Doug Dunkerly said USAR certification isn`t official like Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled. Fife said capuchin monkeys are generally used for therapy, not macaques. Barner pointed out that Govannucci registered Kira after the monkey confiscation.

Read more: North Versailles man fined for monkey - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_742426.html#ixzz1PYojFVTY

Hot talk radio/TV topic in my area last 2 days. The guy raised the monkey for last 10 years since she was 2 weeks old. No complaints. A pet store owner supposedly ratted on them over another dispute.

And a bit of overkill here on # of officers.

You raised the monkey from 2 weeks of age and it's supposed to be a service animal? What training did this "service animal" have? Why did the facility that trained the "service animal" not ensure that proper documentation was in place for it to fulfill its role?

Nah - this dude got himself a monkey as a pet without getting permits to do so and got busted for it. Sucks for him to have to find out the hard way he's not special and that the rules actually do apply to him, too.

the house to seize the monkey? Really?

It reminds me of the incident last week in CA where a SWAT team did a 6:00 AM commando raid on someone over a case of fraud. It's overkill and it's becoming all too common in this country.

When 25 of your local police show up at your house?

so they're not after me.

:rofl: :rofl: How easily that could change. :rofl: :rofl:

:thumbsdown: