Missouri Woman Sues Wal-Mart, Others for Discrimination Against Her and Her Pet Monke

[Woodmonkey]

A southwest Missouri woman sued Wal-Mart, local health officials and Cox Health Systems, claiming they discriminated against her and her monkey named Richard.

Debby Rose of Springfield said in the lawsuit that the 10-year-old bonnet macaque helps curb a social anxiety disorder that can cause her to have panic attacks in public.

The suit contends the Springfield-Greene County Health Department lacked the authority to decide that Richard is not a service animal under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Health officials in 2006 sent letters to restaurants and grocery stores, advising them not to let Rose in with the monkey.

Rose also alleges she was denied access to Cox Health Systems facilities.

The three entities declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The Source

[bhdean]

I suppose a monkey can be considered a service animal because they sometimes employ them for severly handicapped individuals. The monkeys will give them a drink, some food, or help them open drawers. I have never heard of an animal used as a psycological crutch before, but anything is possible.