Permit denied for local chimpanzee owner
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A local man is asking for a permit to keep chimps at his house in a residential neighborhood Video by ktnv.com
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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Clark County commissioners denied a permit Wednesday that would allow a local chimpanzee owner to keep his pets in a southwest Las Vegas home.
Mike Casey asked the county board of commissioners for a zoning permit through the end of next year, but commissioners sided with neighbors and activists who were vocally opposed.
It wasn't until two chimpanzees escaped in a northwest Valley home in an unrelated incident back in March that attention was focused on Casey's pets.
That's when animal control officials told Casey he'd need to obtain a zoning permit for his chimpanzees.
"All of a sudden I'm in violation and everything had been fine before. So, I felt that that could have been handled differently," Casey told Action News.
Neighbors also feared that Casey's pets could be a danger if they were able to escape. They held a small demonstration earlier in the fall to urge the county not to grant the permit.
READ MORE: Protesters want chimps out of neighborhood
Animal activists had a different argument -- that Mike Casey was a danger to his animals. PETA released a booklet alleging Mike Casey mistreated his pets.
Casey refuted those claims, saying he would "absolutely not" abuse his chimps.
READ MORE: Chimps' owner denies abuse allegations
"I do not have children, these are my family," Casey said.
It was not immediately clear how long Mike Casey will have to find alternate boarding for his chimpanzees.
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