WRITING about Mary Stanton and her monkey (Letters, October 24), R Jeeves said: "Anyone with any intelligence can see that a terrace house is not a suitable or safe environment for a creature that has evolved over millions of years to living in a jungle."

I would ask him what about dogs? Haven't they? Don't they too, when living with people, live in a very artificial environment?

He further wrote: "Aren't we talking about a monkey that only has superficial human characteristics anyway?"

I would ask, what sort of human characteristics does a dog have, superficial or otherwise?

Descended from wolves, which are not noted for having any human characteristics, dogs occasionally, for no good reason, attack their owners or someone nearby.

And Mr Jeeves wrote about "...animal welfare groups with the principal concern being one of public safety."

Tell that to those who have more dangerous animals in their homes and leave Joey with the person who has shown how well she can look after him.

Don't blame Mrs Stanton for a problem created out of ignorance by those who don't appear to understand the situation.

ALBERT MORRIS, Clement View, Nelson.