Three illegally-owned pet monkeys have been removed, two impounded, and one placed under a six-month quarantine after they attacked a woman in Southern California.
“It felt like that, like a razor; like a rough-ass poke,” said Tricia Moreno, who was the victim of the monkey attack, according to San Francisco CBS News affiliate KPIX 5. Moreno reportedly suffered a laceration to one of her forearms.
The attack reportedly took place outside of Antonio’s Pizza in the town of Beaumont, which is located within Riverside County. Animal services took possession of the monkeys when they discovered that their owner, Wendelin Ringel, did not have special permits to legally own exotic pets, according to the Desert Sun.
“Any mammal can be susceptible to rabies virus infections, so this is a standard precaution,” Riverside County Chief Veterinarian Dr. Allan Drusys said, notes the Sun. “It’s probably unlikely the monkey has rabies, but the monkey must be quarantined in the interest of public health.”
The two monkeys that were not involved in the attack were impounded, notes the Sun. They are a Capuchin monkey and a Tamarin. Ringel reportedly surrendered the monkey that attacked Moreno shortly after.
The quarantined monkey is also a Capuchin. Studies have shown that particular monkey breed is known to turn on its owner around their second or third year of life and it is not recommended humans have them as pets.
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