Why send monkeys to space?

Monkeys, and other animals for that matter, are no longer sent into space. The last time a monkey was sent into space was in 2009. The monkey's name was Able, and she was sent into orbit on May 28th, 1959. Able survived the trip, but unfortunately she died four days later after surgery to remove an electrode that had been implanted in her brain. There are no plans to send monkeys into space in the future. Animals' lives are much too important and valuable. Sending animals into space is no longer part of the future of space travel.