The photograph in question was taken by my colleague and dear friend Donna Socha. I'm the one in the green dress.
Aila is the capuchin monkey who is sitting with me. She works for an organization called Helping Hands, and a couple of years ago, she and her humans visited my office.
Helping Hands is a nonprofit organization in Boston that matches monkeys with people who are living with quadriplegia. For more information about the organization, please click here. For more about Aila herself, please click here.
Sometimes people who have seen this photograph but have not met me in person ask the following questions, and I am happy to provide answers.
Q: Are you living with quadriplegia?
A: No, I am merely an ardent fan of Aila and of Helping Hands.
Q: Is Aila your monkey?
A: No. In the photo you have seen, she is only visiting the office.
Q: I love capuchin monkeys. Do I need a special permit to have one living with me at home?
A: Local laws may vary, but it's safe to assume that the answer is YES.
Q: Does Helping Hands ever need people to help raise baby capuchin monkeys until they are old enough to be trained and placed in households with quadriplegics?
A: Yes, but it is a tremendous commitment for an entire family over the course of about four years. For example, one adult in the family has to be the monkey's full-time, stay-at-home surrogate parent. If you're really serious about it, you should contact Helping Hands.
