This article originally appeared on Dr. Mahaney’s Pet-Lebrity News column on Pet360.com as: Justin Bieber’s Monkey Kept From Entering Germany
If you are one of the most successful, popular, and young musics acts today, it may seem that you have the power to make personal choices irrespective to the legal constraints of the U.S. or international governing bodies.
More specifically, you’re Justin Bieber, your pet monkey’s been providing accompaniment on your Believe tour, and a private plane is transporting your pet and simian posse to Germany. Combine all these factors, add lack of proper documentation of a “pet” monkey, and you get “Bieber Monkeygate”.
Reportedly, German authorities stopped Bieber from bringing Mally, his Capuchin, which is a South American monkey having a cap of hair on its head lending the appearance of a monk’s hood into the country. This recent scandal has animal welfare organizations chomping at the proverbial bit and is heating up the realm of celebrity journalism.
Upon arriving at Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich, Germany, customs officials recognized that Bieber lacked appropriate documentation for Mally. Thomas Meister, a German customs spokesman stated,
"Justin Bieber brought his monkey to Germany, but had no official paperwork with him. We were forced to confiscate the animal."
Such standards are in place to protect public health, as there are a variety of zoonotic diseases (those capable of transmitting between animals and humans, as described in my petMD Daily Vet article: Reduce the Potential for Zoonotic Disease Transmission) a seemingly innocuous monkey could potentially bring into a country that’s otherwise free from such illnesses.
According to E! Online, Mally is being quarantined until Bieber pays the €50,000 euro ($64,685) fine imposed after not having his monkey properly documented and the fees associated with Mally’s detainment.
Germany’s Animal Public has gotten involved and does not want Bieber to retain Mally as a companion animal on the basis that doing so is considered animal cruelty. According to Animal Public spokesperson Laura Zimprich, “Monkeys are not pets. Separating a capuchin monkey from his fellow monkeys and raising him at home is not right for this type of animal. The animal will develop serious behavioral disorders. Mally is only 14 weeks old. To separate him from his mom and to take him on tour as a living stuffed toy can only be characterized as animal cruelty."
In general, transporting a pet from one country to another is always a process that should only be undertaken with the utmost of responsible planning and primary consideration for the animal welfare. There are plenty of circumstances where pets should not travel domestically or internationally with their owners (illness, injury, risk of exposure to stress or disease, etc.).
Pending where, when, and for what length of time the pet is going to be transported, the process of preparing a pet to fulfill the legal importation requirements of the chosen destination can either be relatively simple or an extremely complex process.
Companion animal exportation to Hawaii, (domestically) England and Australia (internationally) are notoriously challenging due to the strict requirements needed to maintain rabies-free status and to reduce the likelihood internal and external parasites are brought along for the ride.
I’m always flabbergasted by the gall of “that client” who intends on transport their pet to one of these places “tomorrow”, but has not yet undergone any of the extensive processes required for such travel (Rabies antibody titer, etc.).
In the case of Bieber, it seems as though he merely intended on landing his private plane in Germany and proceeding through customs with Mally in his arms (hopefully, while being appropriately restrained with some form of harness and leash).
In the United States, the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for the importation and exportation of dogs, cats, and certain other species. The “APHIS does not have animal health requirements for the importation of lions, tigers, bears, mink, rabbits, sugar gliders, foxes, monkeys, endangered species, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, chinchillas, squirrels, mongoose, chimpmunks, ferrets, or other rodents provided they have not been inoculated with any pathogens for scientific purposes. If the latter is the case, they require animport permit (VS Form17-129) and can only be released to an approved laboratory”. Evidently, “the CDC has responsibilities pertaining to the importation of primates” (including monkeys, like Mally).
I hope that “Bieber Monkeygate” works out best in respect to the welfare and most appropriate lifestyle of Mally. Seemingly, the most ideal situation would be for Mally to live in the companionship of others of his kind in a suitable and natural environment instead of jet-setting around the globe between private planes and hotel rooms.
This is going to be an ongoing story, so please stay tuned for updates by signing up for for email delivery of my Pet-Lebrity News (enter your email and press the “SUBSCRIBE” button on the middle-right of this webpage).
Thank you for reading this article. Your questions and comments are completely welcome (I’ll respond).
Please feel free to communicate with me through Twitter (@PatrickMahaney) and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by liking Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook.
Copyright of this article (2013) is owned by Dr Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.This article originally appeared on Dr. Mahaney’s Pet-Lebrity News column on Pet360.com as: Justin Bieber’s Monkey Kept From Entering Germany
If you are one of the most successful, popular, and young musics acts today, it may seem that you have the power to make personal choices irrespective to the legal constraints of the U.S. or international governing bodies.
More specifically, you’re Justin Bieber, your pet monkey’s been providing accompaniment on your Believe tour, and a private plane is transporting your pet and simian posse to Germany. Combine all these factors, add lack of proper documentation of a “pet” monkey, and you get “Bieber Monkeygate”.
Reportedly, German authorities stopped Bieber from bringing Mally, his Capuchin, which is a South American monkey having a cap of hair on its head lending the appearance of a monk’s hood into the country. This recent scandal has animal welfare organizations chomping at the proverbial bit and is heating up the realm of celebrity journalism.
Upon arriving at Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich, Germany, customs officials recognized that Bieber lacked appropriate documentation for Mally. Thomas Meister, a German customs spokesman stated,
"Justin Bieber brought his monkey to Germany, but had no official paperwork with him. We were forced to confiscate the animal."
Such standards are in place to protect public health, as there are a variety of zoonotic diseases (those capable of transmitting between animals and humans, as described in my petMD Daily Vet article: Reduce the Potential for Zoonotic Disease Transmission) a seemingly innocuous monkey could potentially bring into a country that’s otherwise free from such illnesses.
According to E! Online, Mally is being quarantined until Bieber pays the €50,000 euro ($64,685) fine imposed after not having his monkey properly documented and the fees associated with Mally’s detainment.
Germany’s Animal Public has gotten involved and does not want Bieber to retain Mally as a companion animal on the basis that doing so is considered animal cruelty. According to Animal Public spokesperson Laura Zimprich, “Monkeys are not pets. Separating a capuchin monkey from his fellow monkeys and raising him at home is not right for this type of animal. The animal will develop serious behavioral disorders. Mally is only 14 weeks old. To separate him from his mom and to take him on tour as a living stuffed toy can only be characterized as animal cruelty."
In general, transporting a pet from one country to another is always a process that should only be undertaken with the utmost of responsible planning and primary consideration for the animal welfare. There are plenty of circumstances where pets should not travel domestically or internationally with their owners (illness, injury, risk of exposure to stress or disease, etc.).
Pending where, when, and for what length of time the pet is going to be transported, the process of preparing a pet to fulfill the legal importation requirements of the chosen destination can either be relatively simple or an extremely complex process.
Companion animal exportation to Hawaii, (domestically) England and Australia (internationally) are notoriously challenging due to the strict requirements needed to maintain rabies-free status and to reduce the likelihood internal and external parasites are brought along for the ride.
I’m always flabbergasted by the gall of “that client” who intends on transport their pet to one of these places “tomorrow”, but has not yet undergone any of the extensive processes required for such travel (Rabies antibody titer, etc.).
In the case of Bieber, it seems as though he merely intended on landing his private plane in Germany and proceeding through customs with Mally in his arms (hopefully, while being appropriately restrained with some form of harness and leash).
In the United States, the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for the importation and exportation of dogs, cats, and certain other species. The “APHIS does not have animal health requirements for the importation of lions, tigers, bears, mink, rabbits, sugar gliders, foxes, monkeys, endangered species, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, chinchillas, squirrels, mongoose, chimpmunks, ferrets, or other rodents provided they have not been inoculated with any pathogens for scientific purposes. If the latter is the case, they require animport permit (VS Form17-129) and can only be released to an approved laboratory”. Evidently, “the CDC has responsibilities pertaining to the importation of primates” (including monkeys, like Mally).
I hope that “Bieber Monkeygate” works out best in respect to the welfare and most appropriate lifestyle of Mally. Seemingly, the most ideal situation would be for Mally to live in the companionship of others of his kind in a suitable and natural environment instead of jet-setting around the globe between private planes and hotel rooms.
This is going to be an ongoing story, so please stay tuned for updates by signing up for for email delivery of my Pet-Lebrity News (enter your email and press the “SUBSCRIBE” button on the middle-right of this webpage).
Thank you for reading this article. Your questions and comments are completely welcome (I’ll respond).
Please feel free to communicate with me through Twitter (@PatrickMahaney) and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by liking Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook.
Copyright of this article (2013) is owned by Dr Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.