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WHEN animal inspectors complain about the putrid stench of urine burning their nostrils, alarm bells begin blaring.
Watching the horrors unfold in HBO’s Chimp Crazy, it’s clear that some people’s desire to keep exotic animals outweighs their ability to care for them properly and hygienically.
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But when the investigators began to close the net on Connie Casey’s depraved set-up at the Missouri Primate Foundation (MPF), which ultimately led to Tonia Haddix, the subject of the four-part documentary, taking control over some of the chimps, their findings were beyond revulsion.
PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – is the largest animal rights organization in the world, and was desperate to shut down Casey’s business where 42 chimps lived – and were exploited – in depraved, filthy conditions, according to USDA inspection documents seen by The U.S. Sun.
The U.S. Sun was also shown secret bodycam footage from raids on Casey’s home and detailed investigation reports from the federal agency from animal welfare officers detailing the disgraceful conditions.
The USDA, however, did not revoke or terminate the Missouri Primate Foundation’s (MPF) Animal Welfare Act (AWA) license. Citations were issued, which was the extent of the penalty.
PETA wanted the facilities closed and was at pains to point out that certified sanctuaries for endangered species like chimpanzees estimate that it costs around $25,000 a year to care for the primates properly.
FILTH EVERYWHERE
PETA attorney Brittany Peet spoke at length to The U.S. Sun about the investigation, which left her horrified.
Peet said she interviewed a volunteer at the facility who told her that Casey had complained about money problems.
The volunteer said Casey emphasized how difficult it was to run the facility on a budget that amounted to little more than her Social Security checks.
“It’s clear she was in over her head,” said Peet, who is based in Michigan and was consulted by producers for Chimp Crazy.
Peet has seen countless, similarly sickening situations over her career and equates the desperation to care for the animals and treat them like children of their own as a mental problem akin to hoarding.
Many cases involve cats or dogs overwhelming someone’s living conditions.
With chimpanzees, however, it takes only a short time for them to become far too physical and powerful for their owners to cope with.
Cleaning them and their surroundings properly becomes impossible.
UNIMAGINABLE STENCH
The USDA’s reports on the Missouri Primate Foundation chillingly detail the sight of “organic fecal matter” smeared onto the walls, gruesome piles of “days-old” feces, and the urine smells overwhelming in its strength.
“It’s not unusual to find horrific conditions for captive animals in the United States, but the conditions at the Missouri Primate Foundation were especially horrific,” Peet said.
“One inspector claimed the urine smell was so bad it burned their nasal passage.”
The USDA inspection report noted that the animals had noticeably pulled their hair out, a common sign of distress.
Meanwhile, Casey continued to live amongst the madness, supplying the chimps for use in the entertainment industry and keeping them wrapped up in a warped, misplaced sense of maternal love.
“Instead of seeking help, she let them live in filth. People won’t admit they’ve neglected animals they claim to love,” Peet said.
DARK HISTORY
Before Haddix arrived, Casey ran her Chimparty company – which ceased operation in 2008 – out of the sanctuary in Missouri. The animals were rented out for birthday parties, photo shoots, and even movies.
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At one point, the Missouri Primate Foundation was one of the largest breeders of animals in the country, with their animals worth around $50,000 each.
Missouri Primate Foundation was in existence as early as 2008. Haddix didn’t take over ownership of the chimpanzees until the end of 2018.
PETA, however, was on their case. The U.S. Sun has seen numerous USDA inspection reports documenting investigations into the welfare of the chimps beginning in 2008.
Haddix came onto the scene and had the chimps until 2021, when they were finally taken away and placed in legitimate, professionally run sanctuaries.
After PETA’s push for action, Casey canceled the license herself. A USDA license is only required for certain activities, including exhibiting and selling animals.
BATTLES WON
In 2019, because the Missouri Primate Foundation was no longer exhibiting or selling animals to the public, it was not required to have an AWA license.
Possession of exotic animals alone does not require an AWA license.
PETA’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) lawsuit against MPF, Casey, and Haddix was based in part on the AWA citations in the USDA reports and on the footage.
It was also based upon the personal knowledge of co-plaintiff Angela Scott, a different former MPF volunteer who worked under Casey, and additional evidence gathered over the years.
What followed became the basis of the HBO documentary produced by the director of the smash-hit show Tiger King.
The documentary also portrayed inappropriate methods of caring for exotic animals. It touches on several issues that PETA works tirelessly to eradicate.
Numerous roadside zoos have been shut down in recent years, although the battle for exotic animal safety is constant.
“People from outside the United States look at some of the situations here and are appalled by the regulations,” Peet said.
DISGUSTING DETAILS
The U.S. Sun has seen USDA reports from the MPF when run by Casey.
They warn about the “repeated failure of providing regular and frequent collection, removal and disposal of animal food wastes, bedding, dead animals, debris, garbage, and water” and “not providing a plan addressing the special needs of a non-human primate that shows signs of being in psychological distress through behavior and appearance.”
“Even though the USDA has the authority to suspend facility’s licenses for 21 days, to pursue termination of licenses and civil penalties, deny license applications, and to refer serious violations to the U.S. Department of Justice, it rarely takes these actions, even against the worst violators, and it never pursued such action against MPF,” lamented Peet.
“That was one of the reasons it was so crucial for PETA to step in – if it didn’t move to help the chimpanzees, it was clear that nobody was going to.”
The footage, meanwhile, showed the chimps bounding around dirty rooms or being held back in gruesome-looking cells.
“They were real jail cells,” Peet revealed, citing a local media report in St. Louis from 1991. “Connie acquired the bars from jail cells from a nearby old jail and used them for the chimpanzee enclosures.”
PETA learned through eyewitness investigations and discovery that Casey could not shift the chimpanzees between enclosures, preventing many from accessing the more spacious outside enclosure.
“By the time PETA got involved, most of the chimpanzees were stuck in those enclosures 24/7,” said Peet.
“They were finally taken to sanctuaries, but their living conditions were appalling.”
SAD SITUATION
According to Peet, the second part of HBO’s four-episode descent into the nightmare unraveling at the MPF is when the awful situation “really hits home.”
Watching the animal owners in federal court defend their actions stunned the attorney, who struggles to understand why, despite her conduct, Haddix still retains a USDA license to run an animal welfare facility and has opened a new roadside zoo at her home in Sunrise Beach, Missouri.
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Many of the conditions alleged in PETA’s lawsuit against Casey and MPF (to which Haddix was ultimately added as a defendant) persisted after Haddix took over ownership of the chimpanzees.
The lawsuit detailed how the animals had inadequate housing and nutrition issues. Haddix posted photos and videos on social media showing her feeding the chimpanzees McDonald’s, sugary drinks, and candy.
Issues with veterinary care were also a huge problem, according to the lawsuit.
“Haddix’s veterinarian, Casey Talbot, was not an experienced chimpanzee veterinarian, and there was a dearth of veterinary records produced in response to discovery requests,” added Peet.
ANIMALS FAILED
The U.S. Sun reached out to Talbot and also contacted Sondra Scott, an animal welfare compliance consultant working with the legal team representing Haddix.
“PETA believes all private zoos should be shut down,” Scott said via text message. “I inspected her zoo two weeks ago and it was immaculate. I also went through her inspections from USDA and she doesn’t have any citations on any reports in her history of being licensed.
“I combed through her Program of Veterinary Care and her Primate Environmental Enhancement Program and found it to be well above standard. I looked for any faults I could find and found none.”
“USDA isn’t doing its job,” countered Peet. “It’s failing animals, and animals are dying. That’s one of the real struggles of working in this industry. We have to fight against the government agencies that are supposed to be helping the animals and trying to push them to do their jobs, and it’s absurd.”
Talbot did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun.
The chimps Casey gave to Haddix may now be safely thriving in sanctuaries maintained by professional animal carers, yet new fights are being waged.
PETA’s issues with Connie Casey
Connie Braun Casey owned the Missouri Primate
Foundation (MPF) , a former
chimpanzee-breeding facility in Missouri.
MPF has repeatedly failed to meet minimum federal
standards for the care of animals as established
in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited MPF
for multiple violations, including failing to keep
enclosures clean, failing to have proper
ventilation in enclosures housing animals (there
were strong odors of feces and ammonia), and
failing to have effective “pest”-control programs
to control numerous roaches, flies, and rodents
observed throughout the facility.
MPF has also been cited repeatedly for failing to have an
adequate enrichment plan for multiple primates,
including a singly housed baboon, two
chimpanzees, and a capuchin.
The baboon was housed alone for over two years and had areas of
total hair loss over most of her arms, legs, and tail
from plucking her own hair out, which is often a
sign of distress.
In 2001, three chimpanzees escaped from an unlocked cage and one of them was shot and killed by a neighbor.
In 2009, a chimpanzee named Travis, who was bred and
sold by MPF, escaped from his owner’s house and attacked a woman, inflicting massive injuries to her face and hands, and was ultimately shot
and killed by police.
In 2015, the USDA issued an official warning to MPF for violations of the AWA.
JUSTICE SERVED
Last year, a federal court ordered Haddix to pay PETA $224,404.24 in attorneys’ fees and costs after she repeatedly committed perjury and submitted false information to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
The settlement agreement signed by PETA, Haddix, and Casey included a provision that neither Haddix nor Casey could ever again own, possess, or exhibit chimpanzees. The federal district court that oversaw the case approved and issued the agreement as an order.
The PETA attorney claims her organization has tried to bring up their allegation that Haddix should have her licenses revoked – Haddix obtained her current Animal Welfare Act license in 2022 – in the wake of her association with the MPF in “multiple” meetings with the USDA and the case against her involving Tonka the chimp, which is extensively covered in Chimp Crazy.
“PETA has submitted multiple complaints to the USDA about Tanya’s license, urging them to terminate it,” continued Peet.
“We also included a warning that Chimp Crazy was coming out and how bad it would be if they didn’t do something about her license in advance.
“But it’s been almost a year and they’ve done nothing.”
PETA says requisite assistance from the executive branch of the United States government has been lacking.
However, USDA spokesperson Richard Bell told The U.S. Sun they “take the mission to ensure the humane treatment of animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) very seriously.”
“We continue to conduct inspections and work with facilities to ensure they are in compliance with regulations under the AWA,” Bell said.
The U.S. Sun also reached out to Casey, but has yet to hear back.
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