TV Chimp attacks & gravely injures woman.

[arielilane]

I have never liked a circus or a zoo. Cruelty to animals and they in turn will be cruel to us.

The crazy weird owner should never have been permitted to have the chimp as a “roommate”.

 

[capoly]

Victim of chimp attack improving, responding to doctors’ commands

...She lost her hands, nose, lips and eyelids in the Feb. 16 attack in Stamford, the clinic said more than three weeks ago. Hospital officials said then that she might be blind and brain damaged, and that her potential for recovery, if any, was unclear.

But now, Nash can sit in a chair, listens to country music and tells her nurses if she is cold, tired or wants to be left alone. She moves her arms and head to help nurses when they change her bandages, and may soon be moved from an isolation room, according to her brothers.....

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/04/01/news/a7-chimp.txt


Mauled woman shows improvement

Her progress has left her family thinking that one day the independent woman who once rode the rodeo circuit could live on her own again.

"I think it's going to be a long, hard recovery, but she is a strong person," Michael Nash said. "I think she'll never be 100 percent. She will adapt and work hard to be independent. Steve and I will both make it possible when she's ready to do that."

http://www.connpost.com/ci_12039643?source=rss_viewed

Incredible!

 

[scrabble]

God bless and be with the poor woman -- she is in my prayers daily.

 

[Hopeful One]

Thanks so much for the updates. I think of her daily. It was such a tragic incident.

 

[Kathiega]

The Today Show also had an update this morning. There is video if you missed it.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

 

[capoly]

Chief says DEP failed in chimp case

HARTFORD -- The failure of Connecticut environmental protection officials to act on a biologist's warning that a 200-pound chimpanzee posed a threat in Stamford highlights both a communications problem and a lack of expertise in exotic animals at the agency, its commissioner said.

"We needed to really do a better job at tracking calls that came in, concerns that are raised and raising issues up to the highest level," Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Gina McCarthy told the Associated Press in an interview.

http://www.connpost.com/ci_12049081?source=rss



McDonald: Taxpayers to pay in chimp attack

HARTFORD -- A top legislative leader says Connecticut taxpayers will likely wind up paying a large sum to the woman mauled in February by a chimpanzee in Stamford.

State Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the legislative committee that handles legal claims against the state, says a recently revealed memo from a state Department of Environmental Protection biologist warning about the chimp could prove the state was negligent.

http://www.connpost.com/ci_12048112?source=rss

 

[wildTrose]

she's a little better...she's awake and communicating...completely blind tho.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30085871#30085871

 

[Lovejac]

UPDATE!!!

http://www.wowowow.com/money/owner-chimp-sandra-herold-charla-nash-10-m-assets-frozen-288158

Owner of Chimp That Mauled Friend Gets $10M of Assets Frozen

 

[arielilane]

Conn. chimp that mauled woman had Xanax in system
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN – 7 hours ago

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A chimpanzee that mauled a Connecticut woman had the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in its system, toxicology test results show, but investigators haven't determined whether the drug played a role in the attack, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhxw9fUjruFRAJbzmlxU7kG1sdvwD985FKAG0

 

[JMO8778]

sounds like she was already trying to calm him..so either it wasn't enough,or he had a reaction to it,IMO.

 

[lizzybeth]

I know wikkipedia isn't always the most reliable, but look at some of the side effects of Xanax (take special note of rage, hostility and agression):

• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphoria"]euphoria[/ame]<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference">[27]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somnolence"]drowsiness[/ame] , [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizziness"]dizziness[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightheadedness"]lightheadedness[/ame] , fatigue, unsteadiness and impaired [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordination"]coordination[/ame], vertigo<sup id="cite_ref-drftb_27-0" class="reference">[28]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-acmirttoadom_28-0" class="reference">[29]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_rash"]skin rash[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_depression"]respiratory depression[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constipation"]constipation[/ame] <sup id="cite_ref-drftb_27-1" class="reference">[28]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-acmirttoadom_28-1" class="reference">[29]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disinhibition"]disinhibition[/ame] )<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference">[30]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicidal_ideation"]suicidal ideation[/ame] (rare)<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference">[31]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference">[32]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinary_retention"]urinary retention[/ame] (infrequent)<sup id="cite_ref-ase_32-0" class="reference">[33]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucination"]hallucinations[/ame] (rare)<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference">[34]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataxia"]ataxia[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slurred_speech"]slurred speech[/ame]<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference">[35]</sup>
• short-term memory loss and impairment of memory functions<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference">[36]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterograde_amnesia"]anterograde amnesia[/ame]<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference">[37]</sup> and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration"]concentration[/ame] problems
• decreased or increased [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libido"]libido[/ame]<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference">[38]</sup>

• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_mouth"]dry mouth[/ame] (infrequent) <sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference">[39]</sup>
• increase in appetite<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference">[40]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaundice"]jaundice[/ame] (very rare)<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference">[41]</sup>

Paradoxical Reactions
Although unusual, if the following [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradoxical_reactions"]paradoxical reactions[/ame] occur, the prescribing physician or other healthcare profressional should be alerted and the medication gradually discontinued:

• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_twitching"]muscle twitching[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremor"]tremor[/ame]<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference">[42]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggression"]aggression[/ame] <sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference">[43]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rage"]rage[/ame], hostility<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference">[44]</sup>
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mania"]mania[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agitation"]agitation[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperactivity"]hyperactivity[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restlessness"]restlessness[/ame]<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference">[45]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference">[46]</sup>

I wonder if a vet told her it was okay to use this on the chimp, or did she just have some and decided to give it a try. I know reports were that the chimp was already agitated when she called her friend to come over.

 

[Kat]

I find that interesting lizzybeth thank you.

I have thought of this and I wonder if Xanax is ever given to animals during vet practices? I don't know if it is or not.

I wonder because even though chimps are closely related to humans, they might have metabolic differences from us when given meds. I wonder if his caretaker, who by all description had an unnatural relationship with this chimp, decided what was good for her was good for him. She treated him as a human and basically denied him what it was that made him what he is...an animal.

I'm curious to know if anyone with vet med experience knows if this drug is prescribed for animals? If so, what are the precautions when giving it to an animal and if not...is there a reason why?

I would call this an accident but I just can't... I think that the chimp's owner is far more culpable than to explain the chimp got out of her control. She set up a perfect storm with her behaviors towards this chimp and quite possibly gave him meds that are not for animals...ever.

 

[lizzybeth]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/travis-the-chimp-on-xanax_n_203253.html

According to this blog, the owner admitted that Travis hadn't been prescribed Xanax, even though she gave it to him. It also says she gave contradicting accounts of whether she did or didn't give him the drug.

http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-family-corner/news-you-can-use/xanax-and-chimp-attacks-why/

"More key to the point is that the owner of the chimp (Herold, a 70 year old), supposedly put Xanax in the chimp's cup of tea, as he had been acting "rambunctious. Remember that drugs interact very different in humans vs. animals. While humans use Xanax, a benzodiazepine (valium-like) for panic attacks, it causes different side-effects in animals. In cats, toxicity causes "fly biting" or "striking for flies" type of neurologic behavior, irritability, and CNS agitation. In dogs, Xanax toxicity results in CNS stimulation AND AGGRESSION! Let's keep that in mind before we self-treat patients. When in doubt, call a PET POISON HELPLINE to find out about drug and animal interactions."

 

[arielilane]

It is tragic that Ms. Nash's daughter is without her mother. As well, as Ms. Nash's life is forever changed... The "chimp crazed lady" and there are other's need to be held accountable for this tragedy.

 

[scrabble]

My heart breaks for the poor victim and her daughter and family.

 

[arielilane]

Heads-up!

Exclusive Interviews: The Woman Mauled by a 200-Pound Chimp and the Heroes of Fort Hood

Today's Show

<!-- show description and rating -->The exclusive interview with the Fort Hood hero sergeants who took down the alleged gunman. Then, chimpanzee attack victim Charla Nash in her first interview.
http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow-20091111-newsmakers

 

[scrabble]

God bless her.

 

[kk's mom]

if you go on abcnews.com, it has an article about her being interviewed. It also has a picture of her without her hat/veil. I cried when I saw the pic. This poor woman......I don't think I would want to go on.............her poor family as well.

 

[Carla Lashelle]

She seems in pretty good spirits all things considered. I was surprised that she looks "as good" as she does. I've seen worse, although that person had died... I'm not an Oprah fan but its probably an interesting interview...

 

[SleuthyMama]

This poor woman just found out recently that she doesn't have eyes anymore. Just writing that makes my heart ache for her. What a horrible tragedy to have befallen her.

God bless her and her family. She has already traveled a long road and still has so much more ahead of her.

I haven't followed this in awhile, do we know what happened to the chimp's owner? Has she been punished?