Cash appeal to help keep Joe

Mary Stanton is devastated by the thought of losing her Capuchin monkey, Joe, who has been allowed to roam her Harrison Street home for the past 13 years.

Last month she was refused a dangerous wild animals licence by the council, after an environmental health officer deemed her house unsuitable.

The monkey, which Mrs Stanton describes as "placid", lives in a cage in her terrace home, with her husband, John, 76, five macaws, three Amazon birds, two cockatoos and two dogs.

Mrs Stanton, 73, said: "To appoint a barrister to fight the case will cost £1,600, but to get a monkey specialist will cost even more. I just don't have that kind of money."

Since the Lancashire Evening Telegraph first spoke to Mrs Stanton, she says she has received money from all over the country, including Liverpool and Devon. Madeleine Fish, one of Mrs Stanton's friends and neighbours, has now started the Monkey Appeal with Mrs Stanton and would welcome any donations.

Mrs Stanton's case is backed up by a 1,400-signature petition, which has been collected by Mrs Fish.

She said: "They are willing to sacrifice everything that they have themselves in order to help keep Joe, even selling their birds, jewellery and other personal possessions.

"As they are both pensioners this would leave them without anything at all and they actually have very little anyway."

Mrs Stanton was refused the licence, even though she had previously held a licence for five years and has owned monkeys for more than 50 years.

Council officials told her that Joe could easily escape from his cage and attack someone. They want to rehouse him at the Monkey World sanctuary in Dorset.

Mrs Stanton's case will be heard on September 21 at Blackburn Magistrates' Court.

To donate money to his cause, make cheques and postal orders, payable to Monkey Appeal, and post them to Mrs Stanton, 53 Harrison Street, Blackburn, or Mrs Fish, 45 Harrison Street, Blackburn.