A Brazilian influencer whose beloved pet duck who she treated like her child was stolen during a break-in has taken down her GBP 4,770 reward offer after receiving thousands of hate calls and messages.
Julia Olympio, who boasts millions of online followers, took to Instagram to reveal that her beloved pet that she called Patolino, had gone missing from her home in Mogi das Cruzes on 12th April.
But she said that after she received more than 10,000 calls and 6,000 messages in less than two hours, she had decided to take down the BRL 30,000 (GBP 4,770) reward offer banners she had put up around the city.
Julia said that she had received countless hate calls and messages and that netizens also made prank calls that could disrupt the police investigation.
She said that numerous people sent her pictures of ducks claiming that it is her beloved Patolino, adding: “There are thousands of calls and messages every day and it only started after I put up the banners.”
The distraught influencer said: “In the two hours that I had my cell phone turned off, I received 10,000 calls and more than 6,000 messages. Unfortunately, this ends up hindering the investigations more than helping.”
The young woman, who boasts over 500,000 followers on Instagram alone, said that lots of people had sent her hate messages, saying: “So many unnecessary comments… How difficult is it for people to understand that I look after Patolino like a son?
“Just by looking at our videos together, you’ll see that he always reciprocated all the affection I had for him.”
The authorities in Brazil are investigating after the influencer’s home was allegedly broken into and her beloved pet duck Patolino was stolen.
They are reportedly analysing CCTV footage in a bid to track down the culprits.
Julia initially wrote online: “With a lot of faith in God, we will find whoever has my Patolino.”
Julia spoke of her anguish, previously telling local media: “I treated him like he was my own child. He’s been to the beach and the countryside with me.
“It’s been terrible being without him, it’s such a big void. It feels like I’m going through a nightmare and at any moment I’ll wake up and he’ll be there waiting for me.”
Julia had left her home on 13th April and returned home to find Patolino gone. She said: “I moved to another house five days ago [13th April]. I chose this house to give him more comfort, there was a pond and I was going to get a female to stay with him.”
The influencer got in touch with a company specialising in locating lost pets. However, searches for the missing duck have so far failed to bear fruit.
