Blonde By Nature

We’ve heard of therapy dogs and their power to help the sick and the elderly, we’ve also heard of farm and equine therapy, and cat therapy, but have you ever heard of monkey therapy?

The capuchin monkey originates from Central America and is a New World monkey whose lifespan sits between 25-45 years. They live high in the trees, in rich, thick forests with their some 6-40 monkey family. They only come down from the trees for water as all food is hunted on the treetops - leaves, fruit, insects and tiny creatures. Interestingly, they keep their sense of direction by peeing on their hands and feet to create a trail. The capuchin is said to be the most intelligent of the New World monkeys.

In 1979 the very first trained capuchin helper was donated to a paralyzed individual. Since then Helping Hands has placed hundreds of monkeys into homes of those with sever mobility impairments. The monkeys are bred and born in the Helping Hands facility at the Southwick Zoo in Massachusetts. Post-Zoo, they are placed into foster homes where basic lessons of potty training and good manners are tought. (Let’s hope they break them of their pee-instinct of way-finding). Afterwards, the foster parents must give the lil’cutie up and trust that the fruits of their labour will be the sparkle in someone else’s life.

The capuchins go through an intense program that trains them to do basic tasks that we normally take for granted such as changing a CD, scratching our noses and turning a light off. They really are great little helpers and you can see them in action at Monkey College.

Special thanks to my older bro who brought this to my attention with the suggestion that he wants to get a monkey helper to fetch his beer while he’s playing World of Warcraft.

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