Monkey escapes Michigan City home

Police retrieve it after its Curious George-style adventure.

By STAN MADDUX
Tribune Correspondent

A Michigan City area woman might have to "monkey proof" her home since the escape of her primate, who figured out how to unlock the windows.

"They're pretty smart,'' said Shawne Sheldon, an employee of Washington Park Zoo. "If they figure something out, they'll keep doing it,'' she said.

Thursday about 3 p.m., LaPorte County police officer David Pflughaupt responded to a call in the 3000 block of West Shorewood Drive in Springfield Township.
According to police, a neighbor complained that "a baboon was running at large.''

Upon arrival, the officer quickly learned the animal with a short leash on freedom was not a baboon.

It was a monkey that had already returned home.

The monkey was occupying the open second floor window it climbed down from and had a play toy in its hand.

"Apparently, the monkey figured out a way to unlatch the window and open it,'' said Pflughaupt, who said the animal seemed in good spirits and was very friendly.

"I think the monkey was more scared of us than we were of it,'' Pflughaupt said.

Pflughaupt said how long the monkey had been on the loose that day was not known.

The owner was at work and her daughter on the main level of the house did not know the monkey had escaped, he said.

"He was just out strolling around,'' Pflughaupt said.

Police and animal control remained at the residence until the owner returned from her job.

Pflughaupt said the monkey is among one or two others kept as pets in a room with cages.

The name of the owner of the monkey was not available from police Friday.

Indiana is among the states where permits are not required to have monkeys as long as they're not used for exhibits or commerce, said United States Department of Agriculture animal care specialist Rick Kirsten.

USDA has jurisdiction over monkeys and certain other wild animals.

"If it's just a pet monkey, you don't need any permits of any kind,'' Kirsten said.