Following the story of Gizmo’s early life shared in part one of our three-part blog series on Gizmo the vervet, Gizmo’s former owner “M” shares the events which led to what she describes as “the worst day of her life” and her ultimate decision to rehome Gizmo into Born Free USA’s care.
The Worst Day of My Life
We diapered Gizmo and during this time he ended up getting an abscess on his rear so we tried to take him to the vet. Tha’s when we found out the vet we had originally set up had left the practice and no one else there would see primates. We called all the local vets and not one would see him. We even called the local zoo to ask them for advice because they had monkeys. She said that outside of the zoo she will not see any primate. Thankfully we were able to find a vet a couple of hours away who would see him in case of an emergency.
When he turned around one year old, he started fighting to get his diaper on. His long teeth had not fully grown yet so it was uncomfortable, but he couldn’t cause open wounds at that time. As time went on, I had to make a barrier between him and I so I could change him. Eventually during these past 2 years when I did diaper him, I would wear a hockey helmet and leather gloves and a huge thick jacket so when he did bite – and I could be sure he was going to bite – it did not break the skin.
Over the years Gizmo got more aggressive and I was less able to handle him. He spent more time in his cage because I could not bring him out as I didn’t know what would happen. He was really bonded with me and, after time, I was the only one who could enter his cage to clean and to get him ready for bed.
All of my kids eventually moved out and a few of them found significant others and would bring them to the house. Gizmo grew to hate this and some days he would not like my children who he had grown up around being there. We started having grandchildren and worried because he had bitten me and my family several times, causing deep lacerations. We had a couple ER visits that were not easy to explain to the doctors. I would lie and say my cat did it.
Over time, I began to notice that he was missing something, so I tried to give him new enrichment toys and things to keep him busy. At first, he would use them but eventually I could tell he needed more. So, I thought a bigger cage and more toys might help, but he stopped playing with them too.
One day my daughter and her boyfriend came over to visit for the weekend. We were on our way out to the store on Saturday when I told them to wait a minute so I could quick clean out Gizmos cage because he had just gone to the bathroom. As I was opening the door he slipped through. This quickly became the worst day of my life. Gizmo slipped past me ran into the living room and right at my daughter’s boyfriend, attacking his head and arm – it took my husband and daughter all their might to pull him off.
I felt so bad for letting it happen and for putting Gizmo in that position. I knew he could never be out when we had company, but I messed up. We took the boyfriend to the ER and he required 18 stitches on his shoulder and head. I told them I was so sorry, and they both looked at me and said: “I know. It’s okay, he’s a wild animal, it’s not his fault.”
That’s when it all clicked – what I knew this whole time but did not want to admit. He did not belong to me, he did not belong in a cage, he did not belong being forced to do what I thought he should be doing.
The next few weeks were horrible as I tried to do what hurt my heart so much. I thought for sure I would give up and try to figure out a way to keep him because I usually always try to find the easy way out, but I could not this time. When I look at Gizmo, I see something inside that deserves so much more. All these years I have been breaking the spirit of this little being for my own wants and he does not even know how wrong I have been to him, keeping him in that cage with very little interaction with anything other than me.
This is part two of a three-part blog series recounting Gizmo’s story in his former owner’s own words. Be sure to go back and read part one and finish the series by reading part three.
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