The Bronx is Up, With Monkeys in Town

Orlando Lopez and monkeys; Photos: NY Post (l) and Newsday (r)

New York loves a stories about animals in tiny NYC apartments...throw in a hipster and some cute monkeys, and this story can go far! Animal control seized six monkeys living in the ~~Bronx~~ Inwood yesterday, from the apartment of 26 year-old Orlando Lopez, a veterinary technician. The monkeys, two capuchins, two marmosets and two squirrel monkeys named Mandy, Michael, Marley, Chucky, Lulu and Belle, were purchased by Lopez from a breeder in Florida and kept in cages in the main room of his apartment. Animal control received an anonymous tip, but the Times reports that there were only mild noise complaints from neighbors, one of whom said, "Every night, my sister says, 'What on earth is all that crying?' We thought it was a baby, or maybe someone fighting. But a monkey? No. We never thought that it was that." And as it turned out, the BBC filmed the seizure because they were filming one of the animal control officers.

The Post captures a great photo of Lopez, looking forlorn, wearing a Von Dutch hat. He was distraught, calling them his "kids," "Could you imagine if someone came into your apartment and took everything you loved and cared for? Some vengeful, hateful person did this to me." Lopez: Did you break up with anyone lately? Annoy a neighbor with your youthful, Generation X ways? Animal control also seized Lopez's pet tarantula (no name given), which is also against the law to own as a pet, but he still has a Great Dane and some fish. And if anyone knows Orlando Lopez, Gothamist wants Andrew Krucoff to interview him for the Young Manhattanite Interview.

The last big animal incident in the city was the discovery of Ming the Bengal Tiger and Al the alligator in a Harlem apartment.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts and Events, News on March 10, 2004 8:18 AM

Comments [rss]

Jay

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larry dvm

I think Orlando is a little less "hipster" and a little more "extremely, flamingly gay."

But I don't say that in a judgmental way--there was a big Human Rights Campaign sticker on his front door.

mike c

For the sake of the entire building I hope they also confiscated that Von Dutch hat!

Jen

Striver, you're so right. I blame myself and having only gotten three hours of sleep and spending yesterday on the road for misreading the Newsday article last night.

Striver

The most amazing thing is that according to Gothamist, Washington Heights has miraculously been transported to the Bronx! I can't believe no newspaper has commented on this incredible event.

karatechimp

I love Monkey stories. Keep em coming.

harDCore

what a von douchebag

Jen

I hope my neighbors don't complain about the loud arguments between my stuffed animals and myself. "Bad, Jeero...bad!"

HIDTA Newark Police Observer

"The Feds never admitted that he was under investigation. It just began, one day, without warning. Joe knew what investigations usually entail. After all, he too, was in law enforcement. However, what he endured went far beyond the definition and intent of a criminal investigation. They wanted more than evidence. They wanted to break him mentally and physically, strip him of all dignity, make an example of him..."

Read more at http://angelfire.com/blog/thecrime/

Sometimes, the only way to reveal the truth is through a work of fiction . . .