PRIMATE PLACEMENT

Procedures for Handling a Primate Placement

Follow the procedures listed below when you first become aware that a primate needs placement.

1.  Assess the situation to determine if it is an emergency.

a.      If it is an emergency, do the following:

·         Get someone there ASAP and take possession of the primate.

·         Have the person taking the primate and complete a Primate Profile Form and have a viral panel run.  (They can be reimbursed for this once the primate is out of their care.)

·         If crossing state lines, you must get a health certificate from the vet.

b.      If it is not an emergency, do the following:

·         Direct the person caring for the primate to complete a Primate Profile Form and have a viral panel run on the primate.

·         If you will be crossing state lines, have the owners get a health certificate from their vet.

2.  Keep the primate away from all other primates and take all precautions necessary for health and safety.

    (It usually takes two weeks to get viral panel results.)

3.  Contact SSA National Placement (go to contacts) about the primate, and let them know if you are

     handling the placement or need help.  Viral panels will be run at SSA expense for any primate taken into

     the SSA Placement Program.  (This enables us to develop and maintain a database about the health

     and placement of the primates.)

4. When possible, provide the person placing the primate the names of three or more homes approved to care for this kind of primate.  (An approved home is one with a person who preferably has had experience with adult primates of the same species.  This provides an opportunity for the person to decide where he/she would like the primate placed.

5.  Make sure that the approved homes are in a city, county, and state where it is legal to have this primate.

6.  If the viral panel results are negative you can place the primate in an approved home.

·         Make follow-up visits to the new home.  Provide support and assist with any problems.

      If the situation is not successful, you will need to find another home.

7. If the viral panel results are positive, another panel must be run.  Inform everyone that the test was

    positive, but it could be a false positive.  Inform them that they must keep the primate away from

    other primates and people.  If the second panel is positive, all primates who have been around this one

    must be tested.

 Note:   Exposure to certain viruses can result in the death of other primates.  We must be responsible primate

 owners and have at least two negative panels on each primate in our care.

  August 2004