Monkey breaks out of cage in Hamilton County: adult, dog injured

A Hamilton County family barricaded themselves in their home Wednesday morning, but they weren't hiding from criminals, they were hiding from their pet monkey. One family member suffered minor injuries, but the owners say it could have been much, much worse.

For the past seven years Bobbi Phelan has raised a monkey named Eujo. Eujo is a Patas monkey, which is the fastest primate and can reach speeds of up to 34 miles per hour. That means, as Eujo grew, so did Bobbi's house. It also means when things went wrong, they happened fast.

"Two of the kids came running out saying the monkey is loose," Bobbi said.

Eujo's indoor cage is actually more like his own wing of the house. The room was built specially for the monkey, featuring a special drainage area and a specially made iron fence that separates the room from the rest of the house. The door to the cage has two sliding bolt locks, and has always succeeded in keping the monkey isolated. The problem is, Bobbi says the locks didn't have pins holding them in place on Wednesday morning. She thinks Eujo actually slid open both locks and let himself in to the house.

"He just wanted out," Bobbi said.

Bobbi instructed her kids to barricade themselves in their rooms while she called 911. Before first responders arrived, she was able to coax the animal out of her kitchen and back in his cage.

During his short time on the loose, Eujo scratched the forehead of Bobbi's 15 year old son, while he was sleeping in a recliner chair. The monkey then tore the ear of the family dog. Bobbi says both injuries are minor and says they're lucky they weren't much worse.

"He didn't intend to attack anyone because, had he, they wouldn't have been able to get out," Bobbi said.

Full grown Patas monkey's are very dangerous. Bobbi says neither she nor anyone else gets in the cage with monkey now that he's past pueberty because she says he knows how to attack the jugular and go in for the kill.

"We're talking seconds that he can do that," Bobbi said. "It's fatal."

Despite, that danger, the state does not require permits to own pets like Eujo, so he's back in Bobbi's care. She'll tell you, despite the risk, she wouldn't want it any other way.

"He's my son," Bobbi said. "I've had him seven years. Even though I didn't give birth to him, we've bonded... bottles, diapers, playing, naps, grooming. I have him because he's part of the family."

After Wednesday's mishap, the state DNR plans to categorize the monkey as a "vicious" animal, which means the state could intervene if there is another incident in the future. Bobbi says she understands the designation and vows that the cage is more secure than ever.