Texas influencer seeks help to locate missing monkey after car crash Note: It is important to focus on the urgency of the situation and avoid glamorizing or justifying reckless behavior such as drunk driving.

A spider monkey named Jorgie Boy belonging to Dallas-area influencer Brandi Botello was taken from her by police over the weekend due to a single-vehicle accident involving a charge of driving while intoxicated. Botello claimed she was not the driver at the time of the crash but had passed out in the passenger seat while intoxicated. The monkey was found to have a bone disease called rickets, caused by malnutrition, and was taken to an undisclosed wildlife sanctuary for treatment. Funky Monkey Ranch reported that Jorgie Boy was severely underweight with bone fractures and elevated liver and pancreatic levels. Botello has been advocating for Jorgie Boy’s return on social media, stating that she is willing to do whatever it takes for him to be in her care again. However, the sanctuary owner stated that the monkey will not be returned to Botello. Botello has an online presence with a large following, and Jorgie Boy also has his own Instagram account with a significant number of followers. This incident comes after the seizure and euthanization of Peanut, an Instagram-famous squirrel, for illegal possession of wild animals. The city of Irving prohibits the ownership of wild animals, including monkeys like Jorgie Boy, although owning exotic animals with permits is legal in Texas.

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