Texas influencer seeks help to reunite with lost monkey following drunk driving incident

Over the weekend, a spider monkey named Jorgie Boy belonging to Dallas-area influencer Brandi Botello was taken by police due to a single-vehicle accident involving a charge of driving while intoxicated. Botello claimed she was not the driver, but had passed out in the passenger seat holding the monkey during the crash. The driver, a male acquaintance, was charged with public intoxication. The monkey was found to have rickets, a bone disease caused by malnutrition, and has been transferred to an undisclosed wildlife sanctuary for care. The sanctuary reported that Jorgie Boy was severely underweight and had fractures in his bones. Botello, who has a large social media following, is advocating for the return of the monkey, sharing the hashtag “#FreeJorgieBoy” online. Jorgie Boy has his own Instagram account with a significant following, featuring photos of him in various outfits and activities with Botello. This incident comes after the seizure and euthanization of Peanut, an Instagram-famous squirrel, due to reports of illegally keeping wild animals. Despite the legal ownership of exotic animals with permits in Texas, the city of Irving prohibits owning wild animals, leading to the sanctuary’s decision to not return Jorgie Boy to his previous owner. Botello remains committed to fighting for the return of Jorgie Boy, claiming to be a good caregiver for the monkey.

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