Free Republic

HAVILAH, Calif. — St. James and LaDonna Davis raised Moe the chimpanzee as their son. That was the word they used to describe him, and that was how they treated him — like a hairy, rambunctious child who was a pampered member of the family. They taught him to wear clothes, to take showers, to use the toilet and to watch TV in their West Covina home. They had their picture taken in bed with him. On Thursday, the day they marked as Moe's 39th birthday, their love for the chimp nearly cost them their lives. The Davises were visiting...

CALIENTE, Calif. -- Several chimpanzees escaped from their cages at an animal sanctuary and attacked workers, injuring two, authorities said. At least one chimp was shot to death. One of the employees was badly injured and had to be airlifted to a hospital after the attack at the Animal Haven Ranch, about 20 miles from Bakersfield, said Cheryl Longwith, a sheriff's spokeswoman. The other employee's condition was not disclosed. Animal Haven employees shot and killed at least one of the escaped chimpanzees, Longwith said. Longwith said she did not know how the chimpanzees had escaped their cages or whether any...