Monkeys on the move

NEWCASTLE, OK – A truck full of monkeys made a stop here in Oklahoma. They came from New Jersey after spending time in a research lab where they were allegedly used for the testing of toxic chemicals. The pharmaceutical company where they were living went out of business and an international animal protection organization called In Defense Of Animals went to work finding the long-tailed macaques good homes.

One of the spots they found was a place in Newcastle called Mindy’s Memory Primate Sanctuary. Linda Barcklay is the founder of Mindy’s Memory. She says, “The joy is beyond description. I’m so proud to be able to take these monkeys and give them a safe secure habitat the rest of their lives with the best food they’ve ever had.” The eight new residents bring the total number of monkeys at Mindy’s Memory up to 87.

Scotlund Haisley is the President of IDA and says he feels good making a promise to the animals to provide them with a better life and end their suffering. He helped deliver the young monkeys to Barcklay and says, “They’ve known nothing but captivity and been poked and prodded and experimented on their entire lives.”

The ones now living here in Oklahoma aren’t the only monkeys going to new homes. IDA rescued 55 monkeys in all. The others will be delivered in Texas to three separate sanctuaries on Saturday.

They range in age from two to five and their medical conditions vary. The people who care about them put in a lot of effort and spent a lot of money moving them. They say the price tag is nothing compared to the priceless feeling they get from providing them with a new place to play.

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