Skip to main content
  • Ruling Expected Soon in Fresno Elephant Rights Case
  • Happy the person (AEON)
  • NhRP Supports New Bill to End the Capture And Breeding of Whales for Public Display
  • LA Times: “For too long, we’ve salved our consciences with tepid animal welfare laws”
  • Legal Fight to Free Happy Continues in New York
  • “The most important animal-rights case of the 21st century”
  • NhRP Seminar Series
  • NhRP Interview Series
<
>
Blog

Back to nonhumanrights.org

  • Donate
  • Shop   ↗

Back to nonhumanrights.org

  • About NhRP
    • Meet the Team
    • Our Story
    • FAQ
    • Unlocking the Cage
    • Media Center
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Litigation
    • Legislation + Advocacy
    • Education
    • The Fight to #FreeTheFresnoElephants
    • Free Happy Now
  • Progress
  • Blog
Photo: Newspapers

News

Tommy’s Owner Speaks

By Michael Mountain on October 9, 2014
Share this story:

patrick-lavery-tommy-appeal-100914
It was probably a good idea for Patrick Lavery, the “owner” of Tommy the chimpanzee, not to make an appearance at the appellate court in Albany, NY, yesterday. Check out what he told a TV reporter.

ABC News10 talked to Mr. Lavery at the used trailer lot where he keeps Tommy in a cage in a barn with a TV for company. News10 aired two versions of the report. in this first one, Mr. Lavery who describes Tommy as “a wild, dangerous animal”, and says Tommy is better off in with him than at one of the nation’s best sanctuaries:

NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Mr. Lavery embodies all the reasons why it is so urgent that animals like Tommy be recognized by the courts as having certain fundamental rights – specifically the right to bodily liberty.

The second version aired later in the day with a little more detail about the hearing itself:

NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Must Reads

  • Why Happy needs and deserves sanctuary in Campaigns, Cases
  • Amicus Support for the Fight to #FreeHappy in Cases
  • Where is Tommy the Chimp? in News
  • Why We Fight for Nonhuman Rights: Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut’s Story Part 1 in Stories
  • “The key is ending injustice, period” in Interviews

Get Involved

Subscribe to our email list to receive updates and learn about events and volunteer opportunities in your area.

Nonhuman Rights Project

We are the only civil rights organization in the United States dedicated solely to securing rights for nonhuman animals.

5195 NW 112th Terrace
Coral Springs, FL 33076
Tax ID #: 04-3289466

Sign up to receive updates

© 2023 Nonhuman Rights Project, all rights reserved.

  • Privacy

Follow us to get updates