Justin Bieber risks losing his pet monkey

The animal shelter officials who are babysitting Justin Bieber's monkey have given the pop star until 17 May (13) to provide them with his pet's paperwork - or risk losing his furry friend.

German customs authorities, who seized Mally, a 17-week-old capuchin monkey, on 28 March (13) when the teenager failed to produce the required papers after landing in Munich while on tour, have refused Bieber's requests to rehouse the monkey in a zoo.

And now he faces losing his pet, who has been quarantined at a Munich Animal Protection League shelter.

Customs spokesman Thomas Meister tells the Associated Press, "If by May 17 there is nothing, then he loses ownership of the animal and it becomes the property of the Federal Republic of Germany."