Helping Hands monkeys transform the lives of their mobility-impaired companions every day. They not only provide a helping hand, but they also give the gift of love and companionship, which empower the lives of disabled individuals all over the country.
A monkey's natural antics and playfulness lead to the synergy between a monkey helper and his or her companion. Our monkeys use their hands to perform functional tasks that no other assistance animals can accomplish. We have found that the joy and emotional bond between a monkey and a person is equally strong and fulfilling for both. Monkeys are nurtured, stimulated, educated, rewarded and loved, as is the person. Our commitment is to provide lifetime support for all monkeys in our program.
There is extensive research being done to seek a cure for spinal cord injuries. For those of us who work with and care deeply about paralyzed individuals, a cure would be the miracle we seek. Until that miracle occurs and all individuals with mobility impairments are able to benefit, many paralyzed individuals will need help doing things they cannot do for themselves. Our monkeys provide that help.
Early in the development of the Helping Hands program, we determined that capuchin monkeys are especially well suited to be monkey helpers. Capuchin monkeys (species Cebus) are indigenous to South America, where they are common and prolific, and their small size (averaging six to ten pounds) is well suited to a home environment. Capuchins are natural tool users in the wild and have an active curiosity and a natural enjoyment for manipulating objects. Capuchins also undergo natural transitions in their living situations in the wild, and these instincts help them adapt to new surroundings and new people in their lives.
Capuchins need only positive reinforcement to help them learn tasks. Training is accomplished simply by rewarding the monkeys for doing activities that already come naturally to them.
The first Helping Hands monkeys were donated to the program. Once it was decided that capuchins were capable of being effective helpers and wonderful companions, Helping Hands began a selective breeding program to influence the health and behavior characteristics of monkeys in the program, and to ensure that no monkeys would be taken from the wild for this purpose.
Monkeys' Lifetime Milestones
- Monkeys are born at our closed colony at Southwick's Zoo in the Boston area.
- Monkeys are raised in volunteer foster homes until they move to the training center.
- Monkeys are monitored by foster family advisors, who regularly review the monkey's behavioral and developmental status and provide health, nutrition, and behavioral support.
- Monkeys are educated at the Helping Hands Carvel Foundation Training Center in Boston where they are taught the essential helping tasks, then matched by personality and needs to a particular recipient, and finally prepared for tasks specific to the needs of the selected recipient.
- Monkeys are placed in the home of the recipient during a special placement week that includes 5-7 days of set-up and on-site training by the placement team, which also furnishes customized equipment and adaptations to the recipient's living space.
- Each monkey is supported post-placement by a placement specialist (including life-long health and behavioral support) and training for new tasks, when needed.
- Monkeys are provided with lifetime medical care overseen and paid for by Helping Hands, including all necessary care for chronic illnesses and geriatric care, by a specially selected network of veterinary and human doctors.
- Monkeys are given all necessary respite and retirement care, if needed.