Maryland Woman Must Give Up Pet Monkey

May 23, 2007 - 10:57am

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The owner of a monkey in Montgomery County is being denied the return of her pet by Maryland officials.

Authorities say Elyse Gazewitz broke the law by keeping "Armani" in her house. Gazewitz received a letter from the state on Monday saying she has until Saturday to appeal the ruling to animal officials, and until May 31 to appeal to District Court.

A new state law says anyone who owned an exotic animal prior to May 31 of last year can keep the animal. But after Oct. 1, it became illegal.

Gazewitz says she took the monkey into her home before the law took effect. A county police animal control officer tells Channel 4 documentation says Armani wasn't born before December of last year.

The monkey is now being kept at a zoo in Frederick County.

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The owner of a monkey in Montgomery County is being denied the return of her pet by Maryland officials.

A new state law says anyone who owned an exotic animal prior to May 31 of last year can keep the animal. But after Oct. 1, it became illegal.

Gazewitz says she took the monkey into her home before the law took effect. A county police animal control officer tells Channel 4 documentation says Armani wasn't born before December of last year.

The monkey is now being kept at a zoo in Frederick County.

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