The 5-acre nonprofit sanctuary in Fort Myers which rescues and houses primates who have been abused, the Talkin’ Monkeys Project, is facing a nuisance lawsuit that claims that the organization has violated Florida’s Sunshine Law by approving them.

Neighbors Mary and James Harrison complain that the noises from the monkeys cause “discomfort, distress and inconvenience” that will greatly drive down the valuation of their home. Another suit that was filed last year also states that the county approved the sanctuary without first taking a poll of the opinion of the rest of the community.

However, Deborah Misotti, director of the Talkin’ Monkeys Project, argues that, “county code enforcement and the sheriff’s department have done decibel checks of the noise levels of our primates and they were all within the acceptable range. They are confined to night houses at night and they sleep from dusk to dawn.”

Misotti goes on to further defend the sanctuary by arguing that, “we are an educational primate sanctuary. We are a service learning center for colleges and universities all over the world, as well as Florida schools. And we’re basically here as an educational facility. We do not breed. We rescue only.”

Students from Florida Gulf Coast University also volunteer and intern there as part of the school’s program.

Commission chair, Karson Turner, shows his support for the program by stating that “the community they’re located in is overwhelmingly proud of that facility and what it does…as a destination for students for around the world.”