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Please help the remaining animals left in winter weather at Primarily Primates in Texas! Drop off donations to Morse Road Wal-Mart in Columbus.

While in grad school some time ago, Traci worked with my project studying chimpanzee cognitive abilities. Last February 2006, those chimps were moved to a "sanctuary" in San Antonio TX (Primarily Primates). You can read more about this transfer at Kermit's Community & the University's research news website.

Since then, the TX Attorney General's office raided the facility and charged the previous management with animal neglect, cruelty, and misappropriation of funds. A temporary receiver was been appointed, who we feel is doing a very responsible job with an extremely difficult task. The OSU chimps thankfully have been moved to a lovely sanctuary in Shreveport LA ( Chimp Haven). Unfortunately, this still leaves over 500 animals ( +50 chimps, + 100 monkeys, large cats, birds, etc. etc.) at Primarily Primates. Traci recently spent some time volunteering at this facility, and despite 3 months of clean-up, conditions are still quite deteriorated.

Here is the IMMEDIATE crisis: Currently, because of the massive winter storm that has hit San Antonio, there is an emergency situation at PPI. Freezing rain and ice shut down Interstate 10 for easy access to the facility, all water sources for the animals are frozen or have broken under the extreme temperatures, and large trees and limbs have crashed down on some enclosures.

We spoke to a caretaker there yesterday, and they are in desperate need of BLANKETS, BLANKETS, AND BLANKETS. There is also great need for BOTTLED WATEER, since they must carry it to all the animals. They also need INSTANT (non-flavored or flavored) OATMEAL, because they are trying to feed the monkeys and chimps hot food to fight the cold. Finally, heavy PLASTIC TARPS of any size are needed to help cover enclosures & serve as wind breaks. For example, he told us that they have seen gibbons whose hair was covered in icicles!

We greatly appreciate your time, effort & generosity in advance. Here's how you can help immediately:

1. Pass this information on to any one that you feel may be able to help, and send this message out to any other email lists you can think of;

2. Donations of goods (bottled water, oatmeal, tarps, old blankets, new blankets (preferably polar-fleece type as they repel water & dry quicker), bolts of polar-fleece fabric that can be cut by the care staff into multiple blankets), or Wal-Mart gift cards. The staff at PPI have been buying fleece fabric there, as well as all other items listed).

YOU CAN DROP OFF THESE ITEMS AT THE WAL-MART PARKING LOT ON MORSE ROAD AND I-270 (3900 Morse Rd.) LOOK FOR OUR U-HAUL PANEL TRUCK TODAY AND TOMORROW, SAT. JANUARY 20th AND SUNDUNARY JANUARY 21st, FROM TWELVE NOON TO 5 PM.

3. If you would prefer to help with a monetary donation, they can be made easilly on-line through their website ww.primarilyprimates.org , or mailed to:
Primarily Primates
c/o Lee Theisen-Watt- receiver
78255 Dull Knife Trail
San Antonio, TX 78255


Thank you so much for helping us help all these animals in great need.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sally (Sarah) Boysen
Chimpanzee Cognition Center, Inc.
131 N. High Street, 5th Floor Columbus, OH 43216
Ph. (614) 227-0651