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(727) 943-5897Visit WebsiteMap & Directions4600 Alt 19Palm Harbor, FL 34683Write a Review

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General Info
The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization home to over 70 animals including Chimpanzees, Orangutans, Monkeys, Reptiles, Tropical Birds, and more! Whether coming to the Sanctuary after being a personal pet or retiring from the laboratory and film industries, the Sanctuary is here to provide these magnificent animals with a safe haven to spend out the rest of their lives in peace and with dignity.The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization home to over 70 animals including Chimpanzees, Orangutans, Monkeys, Reptiles, Tropical Birds, and more! Whether coming to the Sanctuary after being a personal pet or retiring from the laboratory and film industries, the Sanctuary is here to provide these magnificent animals with a safe haven to spend out the rest of their lives in peace and with dignity.
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TollFree: (800) 435-7352

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Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Parking: Street, Free

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Robert K.

05/25/2014

Overall

My Name is Robert Kettler . I urge everyone to go visit the Sanctuary there is so much you can learn from such a place . This Business is ran entirely on donations and the Sanctuary and its Volunteers do such a Great Job with the animals and public .

I have had the Privilege of working as a Volunteer for over a year at SPS and if you took the time to Visit and find out the real stories behind each of its residents you would really understand why places such as the Sanctuary need to exist.

The cages are cleaned and bleached more than once daily the animals are Well cared for and they are well fed three times daily.

I give this business five stars if I could leave more I would they do a job not for themselves but for the animals.

By the way I am also the parent of a ( Male ) primate named Joey that if it was not for the Sanctuary he would be not be alive today .they came to my home from Fla to Ky to save Joeys life because of a permit issue and asked for nothing in return they also cared and housed my ( Female ) Anna for over a year also and returned her after all the dust had settled. A+ Business I highly Recommended Them.

zariadawn

09/24/2013

Overall

This sanctuary provides no chance for the primates to forage as they would do in the wild. The animals live in a prison-like environment comprised of cement and chain link fencing. No comfortable places to sleep are available. The lady who runs the organization is Debbie Cobb who has a less than honest reputation. She was referred to in legal documentation where Suncoast was denied a license to exhibit animals under the Animal Welfare Act, as "not the most forthcoming of witnesses, to say the least, and her demeanor was quite defensive throughout her testimony." Here is the link to the legal document: http://www.dm.usda.gov/oaljdecisions/060607_AWA-D_05-0002.pdf



The sanctuary is under a different name, because "The Chimp Farm", as it was previously known by, lost its license in the 1990's after PETA said it was one of the worst roadside zoos in the country. The USDA "stripped the sanctuary of its license for public exhibitions, citing small, rusty cages used to house the apes.



They also don't seem to take very good care of their volunteers. The woman referred to in the story linked below, was snuck out of the sanctuary after no one there called 911. The sheriff's report said "Looking at the time line, it appears Andrea (Maturen) was at the sanctuary with severe and potentially life-threatening injuries while I was outside trying to find out what happened and check on her," the deputy wrote. "She went over an hour before receiving medical treatment at (a clinic). I believe I was intentionally misled about her condition, about what happened and her location." Another instance of deception by Debbie Cobbs.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/civil/volunteer-attacked-by-chimp-sues-suncoast-primate-sanctuary-foundation/1162582



This assessment by Betsy Stewart illustrates how The Chimp Farm was when Debbie Cobbs grandparents ran it and it doesn't seem like much has changed: http://www.animal-rights-library.com/texts-m/swart01.htm. The most telling statement in that story was that the animals "looked like mental patients."

Details

Phone: (727) 943-5897

Address: 4600 Alt 19, Palm Harbor, FL 34683

Website: http://www.spsfi.org

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