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Medicinal monkey

Friday 12 January, 2007

An American woman has found a novel method of therapy - by keeping a pet monkey.

Debbie Rose, a mother of six from the US state of Missouri, claims that her simian companion is more than a pet, he is caring for her health.

"Richard helps me," she told ABC news. "He's an emotional support. He calms me down. He lowers my blood pressure, from his soothing and his eye contact.

"He helps me with that."

Ms Rose, founder of the Wild Things Exotic Animal Orphanage, said that Richard the monkey aided her with her panic attacks to such an extent that she no longer needs her medicine.

Dr Larry Halverson, Rose's physician, supports her use of a simian substitute for conventional treatment.

"Debbie has a monkey that she carries with her and takes no medications and remains very functional. So I think it's a great thing," he told the report.

However, not everyone is so supportive. Neighbours complain that Ms Rose takes the monkey everywhere with her and residents have even managed to get local officials to ban her from taking Richard to restaurants and supermarkets.

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