A spider monkey named Jorgie Boy was taken from his owner, Brandi Botello, by Dallas police after a single-vehicle accident involving a male acquaintance of Botello who was charged with public intoxication. Botello, who was charged with DWI but claims she was not driving at the time of the crash, had passed out in the passenger seat holding the monkey. The monkey was found to have rickets, a bone disease caused by inadequate nutrition, and is now receiving care at an undisclosed wildlife sanctuary in Texas. The sanctuary owner stated that Jorgie Boy weighed only 6 pounds, less than half of an average spider monkey, and had fractures in his bones and elevated liver and pancreatic levels.
Botello, who has a large following on Instagram, has been campaigning to be reunited with Jorgie Boy, even though the sanctuary has stated that he will not be returned to her. Botello has expressed deep regret for the incident and insists that she is a good mother to the monkey. Jorgie Boy, who has his own Instagram account with a significant following, is known for his cute photos and playful antics with Botello.
This incident comes in the wake of the seizure and euthanization of Peanut, an Instagram-famous squirrel, due to reports of wild animals being illegally kept in his owner’s home. The legality of owning exotic animals in Texas with permits is mentioned, as well as the city of Irving’s prohibition of wild animal ownership.
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