Debby Rose isn't monkeying around anymore.

Rose has been fighting the Springfield-Greene County Health Department for two years over whether her Bonnet Macaque monkey she owns is considered a service animal, like a seeing eye dog.

Rose says her monkey Richard relieves an anxiety disorder she suffers and is trained to assist her. The Health Department has held the monkey creates a health risk.

Friday Rose took her fight to Greene County Circuit Court. She filed a lawsuit against the department, CoxHelath and the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 2826 N. Kansas Expressway in Springfield.

She says those entities have discriminated against her by denying her and Richard access to their establishments.

Rose says CoxHealth violated her rights by prohibiting her from attending nursing classes with the monkey.

She says Wal-Mart managers discriminated against her by denying her entry into the store.

Springfield Assistant City Attorney Jan Millington says the city hasn't been formally served the suit.

She says she is familiar with the case.

She says Rose filed a similar complaint back in 2006 with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.

“They looked into her claim that her rights were violated. The commission could have offered her remedies but they found the health department did not deny her rights.” Millington said, “They told her she could file a civil suit and that's what she did.”

Millington says because of that ruling she thinks the city and health department will prevail.

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Watch KSPR's past story on Debby Rose

Watch an ABC News story on Debby Rose