yankdownunder – What you, and Feivel, describe is more good reasons not to own a dog.
I believe the legality of the Chimp is unique to that smallish jurisdiction. And even there, because she owned it prior to its being banned, she was grandfathered in to the old law and allowed to continue maintaining it. Owning such a creature is illegal in the vast vast majority of jurisdictions in the U.S.
I _think_ the victim has stabilized, but is still in very serious condition.