Let us begin with a moment of silence for Chico, the South Hill monkey euthanized Monday. Now let us move on to some common sense. The Spokane Regional Health District showed a lot of it by choosing the well-being of humans over animals.

Chico might have had rabies. If he did, the three people Chico bit nearly two weeks ago were at risk for the fatal illness. The only way to know for sure was to test Chico’s brain tissue. He had to be put to sleep for this to happen.

The three human victims have been fairly ignored in this controversy. Imagine their pain and distress. First, they were bitten by an exotic animal that had no business dwelling in the city. Then they had to wait several days to see if they needed anti-rabies medication. The antidote to rabies is not as painful as it once was. But it’s still no walk on a tree-lined street – which is what an exchange student from France happened to be taking when Chico swooped out of the bushes and took a bite.

As Chico’s fate was being decided, outraged citizens protested. They picketed. They are now calling for the resignation of Dr. Larry Jecha – who, as acting county health officer, is doing the job voluntarily as favor to our community.

The Chico controversy is an example of misplaced emotions and energy. A tortured cat story often garners more letters to the editor than stories of neglected and abused children.

To be fair to Chico, he was a victim, too. Monkeys and other exotic animals don’t belong in urban areas, which is why it’s against the law to have them there. Chico should never have been living in the South Hill home from which he escaped. His medical history records were suspicious, too.

Animals that hurt people are almost always victims of humans’ bad choices and misbehavior. Inner city youth, feeling powerless because of poverty and crime, buy tough-breed dogs and abuse them into meanness. The dogs maul children and joggers. Some men and women with obsessive-compulsive hoarding tendencies collect strays and raise them in filth.

Chico will rest in peace. The health district can rest easily, too, at a sound decision that should have been made even earlier. To the monkey-bite victims, our condolences.

Chico did not have rabies. This means his human victims won’t undergo any further distress. That’s the good news we should all be focused on.