Ore. lawsuit may give chimps legal rights

BEND, Ore., July 2 (UPI) -- A lawsuit started by an Oregon animal sanctuary may soon give chimpanzees and other animals additional rights in the U.S. legal system, a report said.

The Portland Oregonian reported Monday a lawsuit initially filed by Oregon's Chimps Inc. against a Texas animal sanctuary could potentially be a landmark legal case.

Chimps Inc. had received two chimps from Texas' Primarily Primates Inc. last fall when the San Antonio sanctuary was found to have unfit conditions for its inhabitants.

When officials at the Texas sanctuary upgraded their facility and asked for their animals back last month, Chimps Inc. filed suit to keep the chimps.

Other animal sanctuaries that took in animals from Primarily Primates Inc. quickly joined in, alleging the animals are much happier in their new homes.

One legal expert told the newspaper the case could potentially impact future animal rights cases if the presiding judge decides to take into account the animals' best interests.