Esquire ran the definitive Moe story on its Web site today. The tale, by Richard Shapiro, tells the story of Moe through the words of St. James and LaDonna Davis. It’s a touching tale much of it familiar to residents of West Covina and the San Gabriel Valley.
Here’s the final paragraph of the piece titled “St. James, LaDonna and Little Moe: The Worst Story I Ever Heard.”
After all the years St. James and LaDonna shared with Moe and everything they’ve endured, how could he be gone forever? How could they not someday see their boy again?
I believe too that Moe is “missing” and didn’t escape. Someone nabbed him. I wonder if friends and family of the couple have checked in on other wildlife sanctuary places to see if he had been taken to another place. Why? I dunno. Maybe someone thought the place he was at was not treating him right? Maybe they thought they were doing St. James a favor? Who knows…
I am very familiar with all parties involved. I was called to animal haven ranch to help recapture the escaped chimps and to help deal with the St James Davis attack the day it happened. I am so sorry for the Davis family. The attack was the most vicious mauling I have ever witnessed, and it changed my perception on exotics forever. In fact it was after this attack, that made me decide to get out of the exotic animal business after 25 years, forever. The last time I saw La Donna I was picking her up from the hospital after the attack and sent her off to sit watch on St James. My prayers continue for the Davis family and I want everyone who reads this to know
CHIMPANZEES ARE NOT PETS.
Just my opinions but; Anyone who knew Moe knows full well that no one came and took him from the sanctuary he escaped from for any reason. To suggest at all that Moe wouldn’t have the finest care in the world at Jungle Exotics is just plain stupid. No one, no other sanctuaries that the Davises had Moe shipped off to over the years went and snuck in and took Moe. Moe is big and one does not just one day all of a sudden HAVE a chimp in their sanctuary.
Fish and Game are involved with all things concerned with Chimps and you have to be qualified to have a chimp.
Also, Anyone that knew Moe should know that a human has not had physical contact with him since he was removed from the Davises for biting and escaping a good ten years ago. The city had good cause to remove him.
Yeah, Shapiro wrote a good story based on what he was told which is one version. Someone else could write another good story based on the other version. Oh it may not be a gorey one, but it would hold your interest. I notice the “Son” drama is played pretty high in his story and would bet it is simply a prelude of what is to come.
I had to laugh to myself where he wrote that Ladonna wanted to see his cage before it had been cleaned so she would know what he was thinking….GET REAL! Like this woman would know that!
I wish just once, the people that write these stories for news, would look father than the sensationalism and actually point a finger where it should point, right back at the Davises. Let’s ask ourselves, why is it that he was removed in the first place? So now that your body has been a bit ripped up, do you see how things should have been different?
I believe that I emailed Mr. Giradot before with some facts regarding all this mess and I never heard from him, but I do see that this comment of his is really a short one and only quotes from Shipiro’s story. Good job Frank.
There is a petition to not allow Chimps as Pets, please sign it so we can put a stop to these people that can’t figure out that human primates make the best sons and daughters and when you can’t have one, adopt one, don’t get a chimp or tiger to fill your needs and put the entire comunity in danger.
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/HSLF_2009_primates_pets/i3e8de62l7ienxjn?
You are right Kent, Chimps are NOT pets!!!
I just read the story it just ruined my day so sad for moe and the davises… But i do believe he should have grown up with other chimps because now he’s missing and doesn’t know about wild life… My heart goes out for moe I wish i hadn’t read that story, it makes me wonder where’s moe will we every know??? Do you have answers about moe please let me know… Deeply concern.
Moe the chimpanzee is not a pet!!!!!! he is a living breathing WILD animal. He already bit your husband up and now you want him back?! Next time you wont be so lucky! He might acually kill you! CHIMPS ARE NOT PETS! Consider a nice golden retriever or something.
Dee dee, if you read the story you would know that it was NOT Moe that attacked St. James. The attack would never have happened if they didn’t take Moe away from St. James & LaDonna in the first place. My heart goes out to the Davis family and I pray Moe is safe, well cared for and loved.
Dee dee, if you read the story you would know that it was NOT Moe that attacked St. James. The attack would never have happened if they didn’t take Moe away from St. James & LaDonna in the first place. My heart goes out to the Davis family and I pray Moe is safe, well cared for and loved.
dee dee, you really should read the article in question before making comments on it. its just a good idea if you don’t want to look like an idiot. i feel so sorry for moe. if you are up with the whole story you would know that the reasons that moe was removed from the davis family are in serious question. the police officer who’s hand was ‘mauled’ may have been because of an electrical shock that a careless construction worker caused to moe. there seems to be no real concrete information out there on the officer, no name, no details about the 1999 incident, nothing. the woman who’s fingertip was bitten off had stuck her fingers into moe’s cage AFTER being warned not to. she had long red fingernails, which looked just like moe’s favorite candy, red licorice. please don’t misunderstand, i am NOT an advocate for having chimps in captivity, i think that they should be left in the wild, but this is a very sad, special case.
I would be looking at animal testing and experimental facilities. Someone would have paid a good price for him. Pharmacutical co?? Just a thought.
Chimpanzees are very strong, intelligent, tool-using, social structured primates.
They use dominance and submission to establish social order…not love and compassion.
They are not human.
They eat other primates as easily as we eat fruits and veggies.
They commit murder, infanticide and cannibalism.
They breed for the survival of their species, not because they didn’t use protection.
Non-human primates should be left in their natural environment.
Keeping an adult, male chimpanzee in a confined space with another adult male primate and female primate is an IDIOT’s recipe for someone(chimp included) to get hurt or killed unnecessarily.
It couldn’t end any other way.
I love animals. Let wild animals be wild.
Ted
When I was a little girl Moe bit me, I used to play (through the cage) with a pair of caged monkeys that were housed at a garage in Baldwin Park. One day while talking with the little Monkeys; Moe ran out at a gallup, rapped all fours around my leg and bit my knee. I remember a little blood but no scar remains. The Davis couple were very, VERY nice people and let my brother sit in their race car many times, we never had any ill will towards them at all. Hind sight; I do believe they knew early on that Moe would bite.
When I was a teenager I ran into Moe again at Irwindale raceway, I found out then I had a fear of non-human primates and have always steered clear of all them as I did Moe on that day our second meeting.
I am sad for the family that Moe went missing… love is love and they did love him.
moe never attacked you twit it was two other chimps pls learn to read
The last time I saw La Donna I was picking her up from the hospital after the attack and sent her off to sit watch on St James. My prayers continue for the Davis family and I want everyone who reads this to know..
I think someone knows where Moe is. I think it’s tragic and believe Moe was sold, sold, sold. How could they do that to that poor couple!!
Unfortunately, the world is full of “Dee Dees”—people who conveniently ignore facts. The latest example is this morning’s ABC Morning News crew who lambasted Christine O’Donnell for claiming the US Constitution does not mention “separation of church and state”. Even though she is absolutely correct, this did not stop the douchebag talking heads from pretending se was wrong. While I’m not really fond of her as a person or candidate, being objective means, in part, admitting when you’re wrong or, conversely, when someone you really don’t respect is right but I suppose it’s to much to expect objectivity from Lauer and the dopey, dorky, women who do the news with him, not because of their journalistic prowess but because of their ability to sexually arouse male viewers.
This whole stroy hurts my heart.I think Moe should befound and givin back! i feel so sorry for them, they loved him,feed him, scheltered him, huge and kissed him, the bought him, he is theirs. i mean no one would take my babies away if i had one. this is so wrong. he is somewhere, someone knows something! im so sorry to you both i will pray that GOD helps your hurtin hearts and for MOE also.