In a distressing incident in June 2021, Tamara Burgoy made a harrowing 911 call, requesting Oregon police to shoot her pet chimpanzee named Buck. The call was prompted by Buck's unprovoked attack on Burgoy's 50-year-old daughter, leaving her severely injured.
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The call captured the urgency and fear in Burgoy's voice as she described the situation, expressing the need for immediate assistance. Locked in the basement with her injured daughter, Burgoy felt compelled to seek the shooting of Buck to ensure their safety.
Buck, a 200 to 300-pound chimpanzee, had been a part of the Burgoy family for 17 years. Despite exotic animals, including chimpanzees, being outlawed as pets in 2010, Buck, and others owned before the ban, were allowed to remain with their owners. Burgoy possessed a pre-2010 permit for Buck, making her actions legally permissible but ethically questionable.
The tragic incident sheds light on the risks associated with keeping exotic animals as pets. Britney Pete of PETA criticized Burgoy's direct contact with the dangerous ape, referring to it as a "ticking time bomb." Pete emphasized that such incidents are foreseeable and urged for the transfer of such animals to accredited sanctuaries.
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The attorney for PETA highlighted Burgoy's failure to provide the highly social animal with companionship from other chimpanzees. The ethical treatment of animals is a crucial concern, emphasizing the need to avoid treating wild animals as domesticated pets.
Burgoy declined to comment on the incident, urging reporters to respect her family's privacy during this devastating time. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and dangers associated with keeping exotic animals in domestic settings.