animals

Monkey Business: Former Exotic Pet on Way to Animal Sanctuary

Rialto Animal Control officers aren't monkeying around.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services

Animal Control officers in Rialto aren't monkeying around: After officers made a house call on Thursday, "Junior," a 4-year-old capuchin monkey, is on his way to an animal sanctuary.

The Rialto Police Department received a call on Thursday, Dec. 9 about two loud Macaw parrots, along with a tip that the property owners were keeping a monkey in the home.

Animal Control Officer Wendy Ramirez responded to the call, and confirmed that a monkey was being kept on the property, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. She also confirmed the owners did not have a permit to keep an exotic animal.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services
"Junior," a black-capped capuchin, was being kept as an exotic pet in a home in Rialto.

The monkey was then surrendered to animal control.

Junior is a black-capped capuchin monkey. As of Thursday afternoon, he was en-route to an animal sanctuary based in Phelan, which is approved by the state Department of Fish & Wildlife to care for such animals, according to Riverside County Animal Services.

The city of Rialto has its own animal control officers, but contracts with Riverside County for sheltering services.

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