Man bitten by monkey speaks to WAVY.com

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Friends of the Chesapeake man who was bitten Wednesday by his pet monkey say he is still in the hospital recovering from the injuries to his hand, but that he'ss expected to be fine. Joseph "Babe" Hamric, the monkey's owner spoke with WAVY.com from the hospital Friday afternoon.

Hamric said, "I messed up and he [the monkey] knows he messed up so it's sort of a mutual thing. He'll listen to me and turn his head down when he knows he messed up." When asked if he plans on keeping "Noah," Hammeric said he "would rather die." He said Noah is as important to him as his life.

Hamric is a disabled Vietnam combat veteran who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Police tell WAVY.com the monkey is a certified service animal with the proper permits.

"Babe loves that monkey like you would love any child or pet you have," said fellow Vietnam vet and friend, Richard Lantz who lives nearby. "Babe was 19 years old when he was injured in Vietnam. He was hit by an RPG and had severe burns over 90 percent of his body. He lost an eye and part of his hand. He's been disabled ever since."

Chesapeake Police say Hamric believes he accidentally stepped on the monkey's tail Wednesday and the animal bit him. Hamric went to a neighbor for help and then to the hospital.

Lantz says the monkey, Noah, a Capuchin monkey , is the only family Hammeric has.

"Those monkeys are known to be with vets and quadriplegics because they can be trained to do many things that humans do. The greatest thing for Babe is that Noah is his companion. He's had him for more than 10 years and if Babe gets an anxiety attack the monkey senses that and helps him. He will actually sit on his shoulder and rub him and pet him and make him feel better."

Lantz also said Hamric's hearing and vision are impaired and that Noah helps him find things and alert him when someone rings the doorbell.

Noah has his own bedroom with a TV so he can watch cartoons. He loves to drink chocolate Yahoo drinks right out of the can and munch on green grapes, according to Lantz.

"Babe even tells Noah when to take a bath and the monkey will sit on the sink and cut the water on, get the soap, get washed and then dry himself off," said Lantz.

Lantz said Hamric is very anxious to get home to the monkey. Friends say the vet could be in the hospital for another day or two so doctors and nurses can make sure there is no infection.

Hamric was released from the hospital on Monday, March 22.