There is no denying it: monkeys are adorable. But does that mean they should be kept as pets?

The Humane Society of the United States strongly urges against it, citing the monkey’s wild nature. Often, when people do keep monkeys as pets, they eventually become too aggressive and unpredictable to handle, and they need to be rehomed.

Monkeys can also become orphaned after being retired from research or severe abuse. And when they are orphaned, there are very few places for them to go.

To curb this issue, Skip and Polly Schultz of Longview, Washington have been running OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary, previously known as Oregon Primate Rescue, for the last 26 years.

Skip told KATU that when he proposed to Polly, she said, “Only if I can have a baby monkey.”

She was completely joking, and yet, 31 years later, their love story revolves around monkeys.

“I never dreamed in my wildest nightmare that we’d be doing this, still, at our age!” Polly said.

And as fun as it may look to be around monkeys all day, Skip and Polly’s work comes with its share of challenges.

It’s not like housing cats or dogs. The 20-some-odd lifespan of these primates means that each monkey they take in is a long-term commitment. Many of them also need constant and specialized care. Not to mention that many of the monkeys come from abusive situations, which can severely impact their physical and mental health.

“We tend to take the worst of the worst,” Polly said. “The ones that we wouldn't be able to sleep at night if we didn’t take them.”

The Schultz’s dedication runs so deep that, in the 26 years they have been doing this, they have taken exactly one -- yes, one -- day off.

“They don’t rest -- ever,” said Bonnie Gallegos, a volunteer for OPR. “I don’t know how they do it; I really don’t.”

And for the monkeys, it pays off.

Gallegos also said, “What I love about this place is that she lets them be monkeys, that they’re not pets. They’re not on show, it’s not open to the public, for people to come and gawk at them. She lets them live their best monkey life, which is what they need.”

The work Skip and Polly put in goes not only to the day-to-day of running the sanctuary, but also to making sure the sanctuary will outlive them.

“The future for OPR, I believe, at this point, is going to be here long after we’re gone,” Polly said. “And I’m gonna spend the rest of my life, every day of my life, making sure that happens.”

To learn more about OPR Coastal Primate Rescue, visit www.oregonprimaterescue.com.