Jimmy is turning out to be quite well known. I just got a call from Holly, an admirer of his, yesterday and she told me that she used to picket the pet shop Jimmy was living in 12 years ago! I thought 2 years seemed to take forever, now I am hearing it has gone on much longer than I could have imagined!

It seems that Jimmy is in his forties; 20 years an organ grinder and 20 years at the pet shop. Jimmy does have bottom teeth, but we have not seen any upper teeth. He is missing most of his two index fingers and part of one thumb. We were told that these digits were amputated so that he could not pick his lock, if that is true, it was not done by a vet! It looks more like they were chewed off to me, but what do I know?! Jimmy appears to be a cinnamon capuchin, we have three of this species, our two from Canada, Joni and Gussie and Chi Chi our old circus gal , we hope that Jimmy and Chi Chi will make a love connection! Just as soon as we get Jimmy a vasectomy :-)! And then we hope to unite Chi Chi and Jimmy with Joni and Gussie, we will keep you posted on the socialization process. Jimmy didn't seem to notice his surroundings when he first arrived. Of course I was prepared for him living in his own little world and maybe never respond to anyone human or non-human, I was told that he had appeared to have gone mad. However, I am happy to report that Jimmy is doing better than I could have ever hoped! Jimmy is having fun! People think me crazy, but successes like Jimmy is exactly why I do what I do. Jimmy takes food from everyone and has been holding hands with some of our volunteers and allowing me to groom and stroke him. He is also quite the sun worshipper, he has a bit of a burn on some of his bald spots, but I found some spray-on sun block that is helping. Jimmy has also started to notice the other monkeys and is vocalizing with them. He has figured out our ramping system already and is out and about meeting monks. So far he has met with Gizmo and Connie. He also has ramps to meet Jimmy the Jerk, Buddie, Tyler and Cappy. We first thought Jimmy to be an apella, however, now that we know he is closer to a cinnamon, we will be moving him near our other cinnamons and his indoor habitat will be inside Chi Chi's house. We noticed Jimmy getting his entire body in a water bowl we put in for him, not sure he knew how to use a lixit (he does), so we set him up with a swimming pool. He was bobbing for apples and grapes today and wading around in the cool water. He treasures all of his yummy foods and is eating non-stop between naps, meeting monks and threatening old Cappy in a near-by habitat. Jimmy had a great day yesterday, he fell madly in love with Debra, one of our volunteers, he was dancing and singing and posing! He had on a big play face and was throwing his mulch, some flowers he pulled up and some food to Debra. Today was the first time he has even made real eye contact with anyone. I told Debra we would fix her up a nice bed inside the quarantine area so that she could be with Jimmy all of the time, I think she thought I was joking?! I must say that I am overwhelmed by all of the good people that have sent cards, donations and gifts! I cry tears of joy to find that there are so many loving human primates out there wanting to help us take care of the those that cannot care for themselves. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you! May 3, 2001 As you know, we have been trying to free Jimmy for about two years and it is finally happening, USDA has seized him. Jimmy caught his flight at 5 pm tonight in Albany New York, his flight got into DC shortly after 6 pm and he will board his next flight to Charlotte at 7:05 and then it is on to Gainesville where he will arrive at 10:59 tonight! I heard his favorite foods are bananas, apples and meal worms. I will be there with the fruit, but I am fresh out of meal worms, if anyone has any and is in the area, please bring them over to Jungle Friends. Jimmy is in sad shape, such a state that no one can even tell us what species he is, we do know that he is a capuchin, 27 years old, has very little hair left and is completely gray. Jimmy has lived in the pet shop for many years without fresh air or sunshine and has several scars from cigarette burns. Jimmy also had several of his fingers amputated so that he could not pick his lock; we are told that he originated as an organ grinder monkey and lived for many years in a small crate, so you can imagine what his life has been like. Jimmy will go into our quarantine area when he arrives where he will be monitored round-the-clock. The USDA inspector on the case tells us that Jimmy is making eye contact and was playing with a toy, so we are quite hopeful for a bright future for Jimmy! The medical and travel expenses for Jimmy have been paid for by Susan McDonough, the NY State Trooper on the case who originally alerted Jungle Friends of the situation. A Jungle Friends member donated two of the chain link enclosures. Several other JF members have donated $850 toward Jimmy’s residence and United Animal Nations will be sending us a $500 grant. The total to build Jimmy’s indoor / outdoor habitat is $5765.00 we are lacking $3015.00. Please put a check in the mail toward Jimmy's new home today!

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