A woman has defended keeping two pet monkeys in her home despite strangers calling her an "abuser" who "ripped them from the wild"."

Animal lover Madeline Bennett, 22, says she is giving squirrel monkeys Oliver and Oakley "the best life". "

She got them from a breeder in the past year and feeds them baby formula out of bottles, puts them in custom-made tiny nappies, and teaches them commands and tricks.

The content creator from Ann Arbor, Michigan, US, takes them out for day trips to pre-friendly restaurants, on boat rides and on gold GOLF cart rides.

Madeline, a content creator, said they can be messy and naughty and are a "full time job" - but it's worth it for the love they share. "

She is accused online of being an "abuser" by people who say they'd be happier in the wild, when they see her videos on TikTok."

Madeline says she caters to their every need - and the "loving bond" she shares with them is evidence they're happy. "

She said: "Monkeys are the most affectionate type of animals, the bond you can have is amazing. "

"Squirrel monkeys are full-time kids - I don't cage them so they have my whole house to live in. "

"It can be a lot of work and you need lots of patience but it can be so rewarding. "

"People say they would be happier in the wild but I give them the best life possible." "

Madeline, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, got her first monkey, Ripley, when she was 18, after reading about how strong the bonds can be between humans and monkeys.

But he passed away due to an undiagnosed inherited disease after just 18 months.

Then she got Oliver in June 2023 and Oakley in January 2024 from an ethical breeder who does it from their home.

Madeline gives them full freedom in the house.

They don't sleep in the bed with her due to the risk of accidents, but they have their own sleeping cots - with heated blankets.

And she loves to play with them, share kisses and cuddles, and has even taught them to dance on command.

She said: "I take them to pet-friendly restaurants and have taken them on boat rides and golf cart rides. "

"They can catch a ball or do a dance swinging off my arm when I ask them to. "

"They know simple commands and even run over to give me a kiss if I say 'kisses!'." "

She said they require a lot of attention and make a lot of mess.

Madeline said sometimes steal things while she is using them - but she doesn't mind as she knows it's their nature.

She said: "I'm very lenient with them because I know they're monkeys."

"If they make a mess, I clean it, they haven't done anything wrong. Although I do set boundaries with them."

"They never damage anything, although they do get sassy and not listen to me!"

Madeline said she gets people who accuse her of being an "abuser" or tell her that she "ripped them from the wild" -"

but she disagrees.

She reckons she gives them everything they could want for, and more.

She said: "I give them everything they need."

"They don't have toys in the wild, and here they never have to worry about other animals, they know they're safe in my home."

"Here, they never have to look for their next meal, and they sleep under a heated blanket - they wouldn't get that in the wild."

"People say I'm an abuser but you can see how untrue it is by the way the monkeys act towards me."

Despite the controversial response, Madeline says the monkeys are the best companions ever.

She added: "The bond you can have with them is different than any other animal can show you, it's special."

"They're so affectionate, you can tell their emotions and I feel like they can tell your emotions as well. "

"And they're always entertaining, you could sit and watch them all day."

"I know I can give them the life they deserve."