Pet spider monkey attacks South Florida Home Depot employee

SOUTH FLORIDA -- (WBBH) -- A woman left her pet spider monkey in the truck while she shopped at Home Depot, but the animal escaped and attacked an employee, the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office said.

The Home Depot employee, Marilyn Howard, said she was in the break area outside of the store when she heard a coworker yelling about a monkey. Howard thought it was a joke, but then she saw the monkey walking through the parking lot.

Howard grabbed the monkey's leash, and the animal crawled up her back. The monkey bit Howard twice on her back and crawled off of her.

Next, Howard said she grabbed hold of the animal's leash once more and walked into the store to see if she could find its owner. The monkey bit Howard again, this time on her arm and hand, when frightened by the sliding glass door opening. The monkey then scratched her down the left side of her face.