For whatever reason, monkeys have long captivated the cultural imagination. Perhaps you read the children's book series "Curious George," and fell in love with the curiously furry critter (who, as it turns out, may not actually be a monkey). Or maybe you cried when Ross Geller gave away his pet Capuchin monkey, Marcel, to the San Diego Zoo on the television sitcom "Friends."

Yes, primates of all kinds are adorable, especially dressed in human clothing and performing whatever cute little tricks we might have taught them to perform. But, let's be clear: It's really, really not a great idea to purchase a pet monkey.