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July 7, 2005

Dear Friends of Jungle Friends,

On the fourth of July, we took Bowser to the vet school to visit Skeeter, his best friend. Bowser talked and talked to Skeeter, but Skeeter was too weak to respond and finally had to be put on oxygen. Dr. Fiorello rigged up the oxygen so that Skeeter could stay in the same room with his friend Bowser. Even though Skeeter could not talk to Bowser, he did make eye contact and knew that Bowser was there with him. Unfortunately, all of our efforts did not save little Skeeter; he died the following day.

Skeeter arrived here at Jungle Friends only three months ago. Skeeter was bred for research, spent nearly two decades in the lab and never had a monkey companion. I try to console myself with the knowledge that Skeeter was finally able to feel the warm sun on his face, experience grass beneath his tiny feet and find a good friend in Bowser. Skeeter and Bowser played and played all day, running inside and outside, doing ‘monkey things’. It just doesn’t seem fair; Skeeter had only just begun his adventures.

Another lump appeared on Louie this morning, this one is near his neck. I just spoke to Dr. Collins and he fears that the sarcoma has metastasized. When they removed the first lump, they thought they got it all, but it is difficult to tell. Dr. Collins is in contact with our vets at the University of Florida. Meanwhile, we have Louie separated from the large group. We moved Louie and his best friend Tyler together right behind the house where I stay so that I can keep a watchful eye and take them special treats to try to get some weight back on Louie. Please keep Louie in your hearts.

Thank you so much for all of your kind words over the past couple of days. And a special thanks to all of you who sent in donations to the Gizmo Memorial Medical Fund. We really do appreciate all that you do for the Jungle Friends monkeys.

Now I must go and help with the preparations for hurricane Dennis.

Lots of monkey love,
Kari and the monks

Please click on Gizzy's picture below to make a donation to the Gizmo Memorial Medical Fund.