Back In Business, Baby!
Permit OK'd for chimp-attack site
By Associated Press
BAKERSFIELD -- The state Department of Fish and Game has decided to renew the operating permit for the owners of Animal Haven Ranch, where a near-fatal chimp attack occurred last month.
Virginia and Ralph Brauer, who run the animal sanctuary near Havilah, in rural Kern County, will be allowed to continue housing four chimps and one spider monkey, according to department spokesman Steve Martarano. The permit is valid through next March, he said.
"Is the public safe? We feel they are," he said, adding that the Brauers have held exotic-species permits since 1985. "They've never had any past problems. We're going to continue to monitor them."
St. James Davis, 62, remains hospitalized in critical condition after two male chimps, Ollie and Buddy, attacked Davis and his wife, LaDonna, during a visit to the sanctuary March 3. Davis lost most of his face, his foot and his fingers in the attack. He's also suffering from a lung infection from the bacteria and feces he inhaled while wrestling with the chimp in the dirt.
The Davises were at Animal Haven to celebrate the birthday of Moe, a 39-year-old chimpanzee who was taken from their West Covina home in 1999 after biting off part of a woman's finger.
The couple had brought Moe a cake and were standing outside his cage when Buddy and Ollie, two of the four chimpanzees in the adjoining cage, attacked St. James Davis.
Earlier this month, the Kern County District Attorney's Office announced that no criminal charges would be filed in the case, even though Virginia Brauer left two of three cage doors unlocked, because she had reason to believe the third locked door would keep them restrained. Unbeknown to her, the chimps had learned how to unlock that door.
LaDonna Davis has said she's disappointed by the district attorney's decision not to file charges against the Brauers. Reached by phone at her home Wednesday, she said she had no opinion on Fish and Game's decision to allow Animal Haven to continue operating. She also said she had no idea whether she'd ever return to the sanctuary.
"At this point, I don't know where the future's going to lead," she said. "Right now, I'm just keeping my husband on track."
The phone at the Brauers' house rang unanswered Wednesday.
Under the conditions of the Brauers' permit, they are not allowed to obtain any new animals and no members of the public, except the Davises and animal health care professionals, can visit the site. The permit is subject to immediate cancellation if there are any violations.
"This almost puts them on a probation status," Martarano said, adding that the department believes the attack was an isolated incident.
By Associated Press
BAKERSFIELD -- The state Department of Fish and Game has decided to renew the operating permit for the owners of Animal Haven Ranch, where a near-fatal chimp attack occurred last month.
Virginia and Ralph Brauer, who run the animal sanctuary near Havilah, in rural Kern County, will be allowed to continue housing four chimps and one spider monkey, according to department spokesman Steve Martarano. The permit is valid through next March, he said.
"Is the public safe? We feel they are," he said, adding that the Brauers have held exotic-species permits since 1985. "They've never had any past problems. We're going to continue to monitor them."
St. James Davis, 62, remains hospitalized in critical condition after two male chimps, Ollie and Buddy, attacked Davis and his wife, LaDonna, during a visit to the sanctuary March 3. Davis lost most of his face, his foot and his fingers in the attack. He's also suffering from a lung infection from the bacteria and feces he inhaled while wrestling with the chimp in the dirt.
The Davises were at Animal Haven to celebrate the birthday of Moe, a 39-year-old chimpanzee who was taken from their West Covina home in 1999 after biting off part of a woman's finger.
The couple had brought Moe a cake and were standing outside his cage when Buddy and Ollie, two of the four chimpanzees in the adjoining cage, attacked St. James Davis.
Earlier this month, the Kern County District Attorney's Office announced that no criminal charges would be filed in the case, even though Virginia Brauer left two of three cage doors unlocked, because she had reason to believe the third locked door would keep them restrained. Unbeknown to her, the chimps had learned how to unlock that door.
LaDonna Davis has said she's disappointed by the district attorney's decision not to file charges against the Brauers. Reached by phone at her home Wednesday, she said she had no opinion on Fish and Game's decision to allow Animal Haven to continue operating. She also said she had no idea whether she'd ever return to the sanctuary.
"At this point, I don't know where the future's going to lead," she said. "Right now, I'm just keeping my husband on track."
The phone at the Brauers' house rang unanswered Wednesday.
Under the conditions of the Brauers' permit, they are not allowed to obtain any new animals and no members of the public, except the Davises and animal health care professionals, can visit the site. The permit is subject to immediate cancellation if there are any violations.
"This almost puts them on a probation status," Martarano said, adding that the department believes the attack was an isolated incident.
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