Chimpanzee Information: Ex-Chimpanzee Owner, Sid Yost, Had Another Animal Bite

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Ex-Chimpanzee Owner, Sid Yost, Had Another Animal Bite

Photo: Doug Larson
Sid Yost scratches "Timber," an 8-month-old giant malamute wolf, while talking to the crowd after a show Wednesday night at Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Lodge in Utica. Yost said he and fellow trainers, Matt Martin and Toree Arntz, use "affection training" with animals. Another wolf-giant malamute was put down several days ago after attacking a 2-year-old girl during a show Saturday.

04/09/2009, 10:42 pm

Dan Churney, danc@mywebtimes.com, 815-431-4050

The handler of a wolf that attacked a child Saturday during a show at Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Lodge in Utica has been in trouble a number of times with federal authorities in connection with his handling of animals.

On Tuesday, the Virginia-based animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the incident in which the leashed wolf bit a 2-year-old Ladd girl on her face and neck, as well as elsewhere on her body. The girl was treated and released at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru; the wolf was euthanized so brain tissue samples could be sent for rabies testing.

The wolf was part of a show put on by Amazing Animal Productions, a California-based company that provides animal actors for films, television shows and other similar work. The show began at the lodge March 20 for a three-week run and is set to end Sunday. The owner of Amazing Animal Productions is 54-year-old Sidney J. Yost, who was the wolf's handler Saturday when the wolf bit the girl.

Court and government records, as supplied by PETA and otherwise obtained by The Times, give the following history for Yost:

In March 2008, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited Amazing Animal Productions for unsafe handling of a lion during an appearance on NBC Television's "The Tonight Show." Yost had a lion on a leash in the presence of the public during a taping of the show. The USDA said a leash does not constitute a barrier and there is risk to the safety of the public when a leash is the only restraint in use. Amazing Animal Productions also was cited for failing to provide adequate space to a lynx that was in an enclosure of "inadequate size and design," with the enclosure not allowing the lynx to make "normal postural adjustments, such as standing on rear feet" and that the animal was "showing signs of stress, such as constant pacing." The USDA also cited the company for a number of other noncompliance issues involving adequate shelter for a squirrel, failure to have a sufficient fence around enclosures for a tiger, red fox and monkey, to prevent humans and other animals from having contact with the animals, as well as failing to provide food to animals in a manner that ensures the food is not contaminated and necessary nutrients are provided. Also, citations were issued regarding inadequate sanitation for squirrel and monkey enclosures and for housing a rabbit and a primate in the same primary enclosure.
On Aug. 29, 2006, the USDA cited the company for not providing handles or handholds on a chimpanzee transport enclosure in order to allow the enclosure to be moved easily in case of emergency. The company was cited for failure to provide adequate veterinary care when it could not provide documentation a 6-year-old chimpanzee was receiving preventive care prescribed in the facility’s written program of veterinary care. "With a primate, such as this chimpanzee, many bacteria, viruses, and parasites can be shared with human beings and vice versa. This chimp is used in exhibition work (in which) it interacts (with) and touches human beings. Therefore, (preventive) vaccinations and appropriate diagnostic testing ... are essential for the protection of both the chimp and the humans." Amazing Animal Productions also was cited for failure to provide adequate environmental enhancement for a chimpanzee that was housed in isolation while traveling for several days at a time.
On Aug. 14, 2006, the USDA cited Amazing Animal Productions for failure to provide an adequately ventilated enclosure to transport chimpanzees, failure to maintain a current written program of veterinary care, failure to provide a permanent primary enclosure for a tethered dog and failure to provide a veterinarian-approved environmental enhancement plan for primates.
On July 12, 2005, the USDA cited Yost's company for failure to provide environmental enhancement to promote the psychological well-being of primates. It was unclear if modifications to the environmental enrichment plan were approved by the veterinarian, and the schedule provided during the inspection did not reflect the actual enrichment being provided to the animals.
On March 3, 2004, the USDA cited the company for failure to properly handle dangerous animals used for public exhibition. The USDA said, "There is no documentation of the knowledge and experience of (the) employees to allow for the determination that they have sufficient knowledge and experience to ensure the safety of the animals and the public." The inspector also notified Amazing Animal Productions it was prohibited from using a chimpanzee with a history of biting, as well as two large adult exotic cats in situations involving potential public contact.
In 2003 in California, Yost pleaded no contest to possessing a prohibited species — a bear — and was sentenced to 20 days actual time in jail, to three years of probation and to pay a fine of $1,600.
In 2002 in California, Yost pleaded no contest to illegal possession of a lion cub. The California Department of Fish and Game confiscated the cub. Yost was fined $1,000 and put on three years of probation.
In March 2003, for bankruptcy fraud, Yost was sentenced to two years of probation, 180 days home detention, to perform 100 hours of community service and undergo treatment for drug or alcohol dependency.
On July 24, 2001, the USDA cited Yost's company for failure to handle chimpanzees in a way that minimizes the risk of harm to the animals and the public and failure to provide the required itinerary to enable an animal welfare inspection for animals used in filming. The USDA said, "Both chimps exhibited by licensee have documented incidents of biting members of the public. The older chimp in Tennessee in 2000 and the younger chimp in Simi Valley, (Calif.) in April 2001. The fact that bites occurred indicates that exhibition was not done in such a way as to minimize risk to the public and demonstrates a violation of regulations." The inspector also noted violations identified during a July 17, 2001, inspection had not been corrected.
On July 17, 2001, the USDA cited Yost's company for failure to correct a previously identified noncompliance of not providing minimum space to chimpanzees stored in a transport vehicle. The company also was cited for failure to have an adequate environmental enhancement plan to promote the psychological well-being of primates and failure to provide primates with a veterinarian-approved diet.
On April 22, 2001, according to a Ventura County California Animal Bite Record, a 2 1/2-year-old male chimpanzee named Mr. P belonging to Sid Yost was ordered to be quarantined for 30 days after lunging at and biting a 12-year-old boy on the hand.
On Sept. 12, 2000, the USDA cited Yost's company for failure to have a complete program of veterinary care and failure to provide minimum space to chimpanzees stored in a transport vehicle, and failure to have adequate ventilation in a shipping container for a chimpanzee.
On April 9, 2000, Yost, also known as Ranger Rick Kelly, took a chimpanzee named Angel to a Blockbuster Video in Franklin, Tenn., to promote a "Critter Gitter" movie. The chimp bit a 9-year-old girl on the hand after posing for a photograph. Yost left the state before the chimpanzee could be quarantined and was issued a citation for violating Tennessee’s exotic animal law. Yost failed to appear in court and never paid the fine. The girl’s parents filed a $50,000 lawsuit against Yost, Critter Gitters and Blockbuster, claiming the defendants should have been aware of the danger inherent in subjecting a chimp to a crowded area with so many children. The USDA fined Yost $2,000 for violations associated with this incident.
On Nov. 19, 1999, in a federal district bankruptcy court in Florida, Yost was ordered to pay $20,000 and interest to settle a bankruptcy proceeding related to Lifestyles Vacation Travel Club, co-owned by Yost.
On June 18, 1999, the USDA cited Yost's company for failure to have a program of veterinary care, failure to provide documentation of experience and qualifications to exhibit animals to the public in direct-contact situations and failure to have an environmental enhancement program to promote the psychological well-being of primates.
On Aug. 1, 1998 the USDA cited Yost's company for exhibiting a chimpanzee at Gatorland Zoo in Florida without a valid USDA exhibitor license.

The Times spoke by phone with a spokesman for Yost's company Monday morning. On Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning, The Times left follow-up phone messages at the company.

James White, a California attorney representing Yost, returned the messages late Wednesday morning, saying Yost has been the target of an "ongoing smear campaign" by well-financed animal rights groups, with their effort stemming from Yost's work with chimpanzees. These groups oppose the use of chimpanzees in films and similar productions.

White went on to say Yost "absolutely denies" any accusations he has abused animals.

"He loves his animals," White said of Yost.

White further said the USDA continues to issue animal permits to Yost, which indicates their satisfaction with his care of his animals.

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January's Article

From the Fall of 2008 Through 2009 – The Chimpanzee Year in Review

This past year has been one of sadness, sorrow, change, and hope. I would like to take this opportunity, as we begin 2010, to reflect back and highlight the changes that we now, hopefully, are really beginning to see as the world’s attitude towards privately owned chimpanzees, and primates in general, change in a positive way.

The highlights begin, actually, late in the fall of 2008 when our chimps, Mikey and Louie, the two busiest and most popular working chimpanzees in America, retired to Little Rock Zoo. I wanted them to have a future as part of a family of chimps, and to have a safe and permanent home that they could live their life as chimpanzees, not a member of the human society.

In November of 2009, Connor and Kramer the chimpanzees owned by private pet owner Jeanne Rizzotto escape from her home near Red Lodge, Montana. They spent over an hour running loose, crossing highways and entering neighbor’s property. Connor, a habitual biter as described in court papers filed after the incident, bites a woman on the arm as she tries to keep him out of her home, losing 6-8 inches of skin from her arm. Rizzotto is told to keep the chimps in quarantine at her home while health officials investigate the incident. Rizzotto claims the chimps were let out by a vandal that had cut a lock, however that remains unproven. All of these articles have been posted on this Simian Library.

In February, 2009, tragedy strikes, and the world’s attention turns to the issue of private ownership of chimpanzees. On a cold afternoon in Stamford Connecticut, Travis the Chimpanzee attacks a long time friend of owner Sandra Herold named Charla Nash in Herold’s driveway. Travis is shot and killed by a patrol officer as the 14 year old, 200 pound male chimpanzee; tries to pry open the door of his patrol car as he responded to the tragedy. Nash is rushed to the hospital, and remains in a coma for months.

Weeks later, in early March, the US House of Representatives passes the Captive Primate Safety Act, banning sales of all primates across state lines. The bill moves on to the senate, where it still sits, not being acted on, to this day.

In late November, 2008, neighbors turned in a couple in Houston, Texas for a chimpanzee living in a garage in a suburban neighborhood. Fred Henry, now known simply as Henry, was over fifteen years old and had been living in the garage in a cage for 15 years. Weighing only 65 pounds, about 100 pounds underweight, the emaciated chimp is taken to the local SPCA where veterinarians and animal officials nurse him back to health. On Feb 23, 2009, Henry is moved to Chimp Haven in Shreveport, LA to live out the rest of his life with other chimps in a safe and enriching environment.

Later in March, a chimpanzee named Timmy escapes from his owners’ home in rural Missouri. The owner, Mary Overton, was a former director of The Simian Society of America, a group that promotes and encourages private primate ownership. Timmy is shot and killed by a police officer as he attempts to pry open the door to the officer’s patrol car. Investigators charge all residents of the home with animal cruelty, as they find a “puppy mill” on the premises, with dead dog carcasses scattered throughout the property and over a hundred sick and undernourished animals, including several monkeys.

On March 4, 2009 Nightline on ABC airs over fifteen minutes of footage taken by a HSUS undercover worker at the University Of Louisiana Lafayette National Primate Research Center. The video shows acts of cruelty and inhumane treatment of chimpanzees, including scores of baby chimpanzees in a holding cell with no enrichment or even a blanket. The video brings new awareness to the plight of research chimpanzees, and turns up the pressure on the labs. A follow up investigation by the USDA, following the issuance of a 108 page complaint by the HSUS against the lab, reinforces the findings of the video taken.

Carole Noon, founder and director of Save the Chimps in New Mexico and Fort Pierce Florida passes away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 59. Noon, perhaps the world’s most famous chimpanzee advocate, founded Save the Chimps in 1997. She led the purchase of the former troubled Coulston Foundation research facility near Almagordo, New Mexico in order to rescue over 250 chimpanzees that had been used by the government for research, mostly from the space program in the 60’s and 70’s. The chimpanzees in her care, now numbering over 270, were being moved from New Mexico to the Florida facility, hailed as the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. Noon left a legacy of care, compassion, and love for the species that will never be duplicated. The chimpanzee community misses her dearly.

In June, a news story from a Tampa Florida television station airs a story about a baby chimpanzee now residing at Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota, Florida, home of the Rosaire family of circus trainers. The chimpanzee, named Eli, was supposedly rejected at birth by his mother and is being raised by Kay Rosaire and Gini Valbuena. Valbuena, a long time buyer of baby chimpanzees that once described herself as being “addicted to chimpanzees”, is advertised in the news story as the chimps’ “full time nanny”.

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The Rosaire’s had a coming out baby shower for the chimp in June, asking the public to donate toys and diapers, as well as pay the price of admission.

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In early September, Gini and the baby chimp are spotted at a winery in Florida, drinking mimosas and schmoozing with the public.

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Later in September, “chimpanzee encounters” with the baby chimpanzee and Gini Valbuena, are being advertised on a play for fee basis on the Big Cat Habitat home page. The addiction continues.

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On December 10, 2009 Tom, a 44 year old chimpanzee that lived the last 14 years at the wonderful Fauna Foundation in Canada, passed away. Tom had been a research chimpanzee for the first thirty years of his life, languishing in a five foot by five foot by seven foot high stainless steel cage. He was the victim of countless laboratory tests, biopsies, injections, and suffering. Tom was the face of Project R&R, aimed at releasing all chimpanzees from biomedical and invasive research, and the driving force behind the Great Ape Protection Act now before Congress. There are still 1400 chimpanzees used in biomedical research in the United States today.

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On December 17^th, 2009, ten more chimpanzees arrived in Fort Pierce Florida as part of the Great Chimp Migration continues. Save the Chimps, the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world, transfers ten chimps at a time to the islands in the Florida facility as funds allow. An anonymous donor gave the $25,000 for this trip, and the Arcus Foundation has agreed to match all funds donated to Save the Chimps up until April of 2010. Start your year right – and donate to the Great Chimp Migration today!

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Ex-Chimpanzee Owner, Sid Yost, Had Another Animal Bite

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