This is Cappy, my oldest friend ... we've been together since 1977. He was found in a cage tied to the doorstep in our Newark office. We opened the Forked River shelter that year and he was sent out of the city and down to us.

At that time we were just an animal care center and had no idea it would turn into Popcorn Park. Cappy was young and friendly so if I was going to spend some time in my office I would let him out of the cage he was in and he'd play around the office. Sometimes I would put a leash on him and we would go on a walk around the grounds.

We've been though a lot together, Cappy and me. He has outlived his first mate, Pepe, who was introduced to him in 1980, and since then, a lot of others. He now lives with Willie, who is also a capuchin monkey and about the same age. We believe they are both in their mid to late 30's. Amongst the staff, we kind of think of them as the `dirty old men’ of the park.

Until a couple years ago if Cappy saw me walking within 100 yards of his area he would scream out until I came over and talked with him, Now as he’s gotten older, he sometimes recognizes me and sometime not. But when he does, I'll sit and chat with him for a while. It's always hard when you know that time is getting short, so I try and spend as much time as possible around him and talk about the old times. He's been a good friend, always has a smile when he sees you and is always ready to tell you a story.

He'd be happy to know I was telling you his story ........