I’m not sure why I thought of this today. Maybe it’s because The Share the Chimp Love heart is a photo of Missy and Jody kissing or maybe it’s because I was watching Missy and Foxie play today, or it could be because Debbie posted a photo of Annie and Missy on Instagram and Facebook earlier.
In any case, you may not have heard the story of how Missy almost didn’t make it to sanctuary. I use the phrase, “second chance at life” when talking about chimpanzees going to sanctuaries, but for Missy she very literally got a second chance at living.
About a month before the chimpanzees left Buckshire in Pennsylvania (the private facility that owned them and leased them to different laboratories for decades), all of the chimps had health check-ups. During these check-ups, the veterinarian discovered that Foxie and Missy had uterine tumors.
Buckshire quickly arranged for both of them to have hysterectomies. The surgeries went fine, but when they were transporting Missy back to Buckshire, she crashed. She was brought back to the veterinarian under manual ventilation and had a very weak pulse. From what we were told, they “worked on her for 10 minutes and brought her back.”
We didn’t find out about this until later, and it came as a shock to know that she was so close to not having her chance to enjoy a sanctuary home. It remains a reminder to me that each moment of sanctuary, each moment of life, is invaluable.
Missy seems to have embraced this notion too. She certainly has a special zest for life.
Here is a look back at some photos of Missy over the last few years:
Missy in the transport cage on the truck that transported the chimpanzees from Pennsylvania to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest:
Missy (left) and Burrito on the day they arrived to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest (Missy’s belly is shaved, and you can see the scar from her hysterectomy that was done before she came:
being groomed by her BFF Annie:
in action – leaping towards Jamie:
Missy (left) and Annie demonstrating chimpanzee smiles (notice their top teeth do not show at all):
doing a headstand before she lays down in her nest:
looking a bit like a football player as she runs bipedal back to the greenhouse with a mouth and hands full of food:
walking on the fire hose like a tightrope walker:
riding the bamboo down after climbing up, with Jody looking on from below:
a very familiar sight: Missy running across Young’s Hill
at the top of a post near the tall bamboo:
just hanging out:
using a tool to get treats from the “termite mound” on Young’s Hill
playing a raucous game of chase with Foxie (Foxie’s on the left):
with all of her activity, Missy does make time to rest too:
We have a special way for you to celebrate Missy and all of the lives of the chimpanzees by Sharing the Chimp Love this month. We’re now 21% towards our goal of raising $10,000! Watch and share the Share the Chimp Love video below and on the fundraising website.
Thank you to those who have made donations and set up fundraising pages! Check out the donors, their messages of love, and the fundraisers on the Share the Chimp Love site.
To have not had the privilege to enjoy Missy’s unquenchable love of life would have been tragic for her, and all her various primate friends. I had never heard the whole story before. I find it so strange and hypocritical that we humans (at least some humans) can perform unspeakable procedures on our “next of kin” and perhaps for that very reason also feel the responsibility to their lives that might not happen for another species. The vet who saved Missy saved a very special soul who teaches all of us everyday about embracing life and living it to the fullest.
Thank you, Diana. We all love a story with a happy ending, especially when the beloved heroine cheats death. 🙂
I had never heard this story about my special friend. Thank you for sharing the story with us, Diana. I’m sure Missy knows this is her “second chance” and like many humans who have gone through a tragic event, she doesn’t waste a day showing her enthusiasm for life. Love, love, love the last photo of her!
Oh my gosh, that was an eye burner followed by tears. I just can’t image the story of the Cle Elum Six. Missy is so important to this group. What would Annie be without her. Thank you for sharing. I am so glad she is here.
That’s my Missy! She is so beautiful and I adore her rounded, arched profile. There something about the way her head molds into her back. Such a beautiful shape. Endearing.
I did know this story about Missy and I discovered it when I was bidding on the beautiful “Missy Necklace” that was in the “Bidding for the Seven Auction”. There was a lovely little story all about Missy by the wonderful artist who made the necklace. I was so touched by the story I cried. As you stated Diana, the thought that Magnificent Missy could have lost her chance to live in sanctuary at the very last minute is Shakespearean.
I took a screen shot of Missy’s story from the auction website and filed it away with all of my favorite Missy photos. I keep it as a reminder to enjoy life with gusto, always make time for your best friends and laugh often.
I send Missy breathy pant hoots, wishes for a very long and healthy life, and endless love. XOXOXO
A beautiful blog with a happy ending plus it was so interesting to see the daily workings of the sanctuary. It is amazing how much work it is to take care of these chimp kids, much like a human household with kids minus hosing the poop! Thanks for the great blog and video!
Diana, thank-you so much for sharing this story about Missy…one that I did not know either….which makes us love her even more! Love, love, love that video…almost as much as that last photo of gorgeous Missy!