LEAGUE CITY, Texas – Many people are sounding off in support of a League City popcorn shop owner whose monkeys were quarantined after a woman said one of them bit her 4-year-old son.
"The main attraction was for them to see the monkeys," customer Tyree Nelson said. "I understand his concern, which is why we're here today. Me and Trina made an oath saying we'd come at least two times a week. So this is subtle and in support of him."
The animal in the center of the controversy is a Capuchin monkey named Cody, one of the star attractions at Ms. Monkey's Emporium, a gourmet popcorn shop in the 2800 block of Marina Bay Blvd.
Kelley Haas and her family were eating at a restaurant during Labor Day weekend when they saw a large crowd gathered at the business next door. The waitress informed them that the crowd was gathered to see the popular monkey show, so the family decided to go and check it out.
At the shop, Cody and two more monkeys, Sasha and Darwin, are allowed to interact with the crowd. It is a major draw for business, the owner says.
Tickets for the first two shows were sold out that day, so the family bought tickets to the watch the third show, then left. They later returned for dinner at the same restaurant, then went back to the area where the monkeys were.
That is when Cody bit the boy in the leg in the leg, Haas said.
The mother said the owner, Robert Williams, was rude to her when she reported the bite, disputing that the animal would bite anyone. The boy was given a bag of ice for his leg.
The mother took her son to the hospital the following day and was was told that they would need the monkey's shot record.
She contacted Williams, who provided the shot records and apologized for being rude, Haas said.
The mother forwarded the records to the doctor, who contacted animal control.
Under state law, all three monkeys must be quarantined for 30 days as a measure of public safety. That quarantine is not expected to be lifted until Oct. 6.
Ms. Monkey's Emporium posted the news on its Facebook page.
"By order of the City of League City, Monkey Interactions have been suspended until further notice. Sasha, Cody and Darwin will be in the arena at Ms. Monkey's, but will not be able to come out and interact with you until further notice."
Williams is worried that the quarantine will damage his business. He says his monkeys are not aggressive, and that Haas' son was being aggressive with the monkey.
"So I don't know what her purpose is. She knows the monkeys don't have any diseases. Her child didn't catch any disease from them so I don't know what she's hoping to accomplish," Williams said.
Supporters flooded the business' Facebook page as as a show of support.
"Yes, I'd like to know the real story too! It's ashamed some people ruin it for the rest of us..." one Facebook comment said.
"Poor babies. This is uncalled for. I would understand if this was a reoccurring thing with the monkeys, but it's never happened before! They interact with children all of the time. The child clearly did something wrong enough for the monkey to feel the need to defend himself," another person said on Facebook.
"I would think that the owners would have common sense to make sure the monkeys were up to date on shots. And wouldn't bring out something that could hurt people. They only mistake that was made was not having people sign a waiver for things like this. The part about the mom asking for the shot record is funny to me. These are wild animals people pet at your own risk. I am sorry this happening it is a very cool place. Follow rules." a third person posted.
Williams made a GoFundMe account to save the business and thanked all of his supporters.
A message was posted on Ms. Monkey's Facebook page that read, "By this evening we will have over 10,000 friends/fans here on Facebook. That must mean we are doing something right. I have made some great friends and met so many wonderful people and your comments of support today have made me want to thank each and everyone of you personally. I do however feel if Ms.Monkey's Emporium is to survive we need to move to a neighboring city such as Webster that has offered to work with us or Seabrook that has the same primate laws as Houston. Each and everyone of one of you can make a difference. If each of our Facebook fans would donate $10.00, we would have enough to move and continue delighting each and everyone of you for a long long time."
As of Friday morning, the GoFundMe account has $1,500 in donations.
"It's a little fearful that the weekend's business won't be where it needs to be," Williams said. "It keeps the business operating and it keeps them happy. Right now they're extremely bored and of course they don't understand why they're not out here and people aren't playing with them."