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[Josh Greenman <joshg1973 AT yahoo.com>]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/9941636.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

Posted on Sun, Oct. 17, 2004  
 
Moe the chimp celebrates reunion with owners at SoCal shelter

Associated Press

CALIENTE, Calif. - Puckering his lips for a kiss and leaping in his cage, Moe 
the Chimp
celebrated the latest reunion with his owners, who raised the chimpanzee for 
more than 30
years before authorities banned the primate from their home.

During a four-hour visit Saturday with La Donna and St. James Davis, the 
38-year-old
chimp drank chocolate milk and ate cake with a spoon he held in his left 
hand. It was the
first time he had seen his "parents" since January.

"It was a long wait to see him," La Donna Davis said. "My day is complete 
after seeing
Moe."

The Davises will now be able to check in at least once a week with Moe at 
Animal Haven
Ranch in Kern County, following permitting problems that had prevented them 
from visiting
at another wildlife shelter.

The Davises and other visitors to the Wildlife Waystation in the eastern San 
Fernando
Valley hills have been barred because of code violations at the animal 
refuge. Moe was
moved to the Waystation in September 1999 after he bit the finger of a 
visitor at the
West Covina home of the Davises.

The owners said Moe thought the red fingernail polish on the woman's finger 
was licorice.

On Saturday, St. James Davis decried Moe's grooming.

"His teeth are yellow and dirty," he said. "He hasn't taken a shower in five 
years. He
use to take a shower once a week."

But they said they were happy with Moe's new home, which also houses six 
other chimps.

"We are glad he has friends," La Donna Davis said.