August 11 - Leading online poker room, PokerShare.com has been targeted by
animal activist group, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for
using a cute chimpanzee called Mikey to help generate publicity for the poker
website.
It has been reported that PETA sent PokerShare.com a letter asking the online
poker room to stop using the 5-year old chimp as a publicity stunt.
PETA Director Debbie Leahy, was quoted as saying that most trained chimpanzees
are typically removed from their mothers which can be a traumatic experience
both for the mother and the baby.
In addition, PETA accused the company that provided Mikey to PokerShare.com of
repeatedly being cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for having
'insufficient knowledge and experience' regarding the handling of chimpanzees in
public.
It is unclear at this time whether PokerShare.com will continue to use little
Mikey as professional poker player (under government approved supervision of
course) or put him out to pasture so that he enjoy
the good life with as many bananas as he can eat!
