Pine City, N.Y. (Oct. 30, 2024) — A social media-famous squirrel named Peanut, along with a raccoon named Fred, was euthanized by New York state officials on Oct. 30 after being seized from the home of Mark Longo, an animal rescuer.
The incident has ignited a public outcry from animal welfare advocates and supporters of Peanut, who amassed tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok.
ALSO READ: How to sneak your sex toys past airport security without dying of embarrassment
ALSO READ: Online orders are frequently delayed and can sometimes take years to arrive!
The decision to euthanize Peanut and Fred was reportedly made to test the animals for rabies.
New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County’s health department executed a five-hour search at Longo’s residence in Pine City following a complaint lodged by a local woman, Monica Keasler.
The complaint alleged that keeping wild animals in the home could pose a public health risk, which led a judge to issue a search warrant.
Authorities stated that during the raid, Peanut bit a DEC officer, escalating concerns over rabies transmission.
DEC and Chemung County confirmed the euthanization in a joint statement: “The animals are being tested for rabies, and anyone in contact with these animals is encouraged to consult their physician.” Longo, however, refuted the account, asserting that he witnessed no such bite.
Peanut’s Instagram account, frequently updated by Longo, featured videos of the squirrel performing tricks, snacking, and donning miniature hats.
The squirrel was a staple of Longo’s broader mission through his animal rescue organization, P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, which he founded with the hope of expanding into a licensed nonprofit.
Longo stated he was pursuing certification for Peanut as an educational animal before the raid disrupted those efforts.
He criticized authorities’ approach, saying, “Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away. They didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them.”
Outrage among Peanut’s fans and animal rights activists erupted online.
A post from the squirrel’s social media account condemned the euthanization as a “devastating decision” that left the rescue community in shock.
Longo expressed frustration at not being allowed to feed his other rescued animals during the lengthy raid, adding that the officers reportedly asked about his wife’s immigration status despite her legal residency.
Longo described the raid as “traumatizing,” noting the deployment of a 10-member team to search his home.
“They treated me like I was a terrorist. They treated this raid as if I was a drug dealer. They ransacked my house for five hours,” he said.
Under New York state law, individuals are prohibited from keeping wild animals as pets unless licensed as wildlife rehabilitators.
Longo claims he was in compliance, stating he was actively filing necessary documentation to meet state requirements.
However, he highlighted the shortage of rehabilitators in urban areas as a reason many citizens end up caring for animals such as squirrels.
Peanut’s death has taken on a political dimension as well, with critics calling the raid and euthanization an example of government overreach.
Billionaire Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr., son of the presidential candidate Donald Trump, voiced their condemnation of the state’s actions.
Musk, a known supporter of limited government intervention, posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, saying, “The government should not be allowed to barge into your house and kill your pet! That’s messed up. Even if it is illegal to have a pet squirrel (which it shouldn’t be), why kill PNut instead of simply releasing him into the forest!?”
In another post, Musk added, “President @realDonaldTrump will save the squirrels,” aligning himself with Trump’s campaign.
Trump Jr. similarly weighed in, tweeting, “It’s time to vote out a government that will kill a pet squirrel but will gladly allow 600,000 criminals with 13,000 murderers & 16,000 rapists knowingly into their country. Maybe P’nuts murder will be the catalyst for real change & awakening as to our govts broken priorities!”
Following the raid, Longo’s post on Peanut’s social media account accused detractors of contributing to the squirrel’s death.
He wrote, “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness…For the last 7 years, Peanut has been my best friend… I don’t know how to process this, emotionally.”
Longo also announced a break from social media to mourn Peanut’s loss but promised to continue P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary’s work, hoping to keep Peanut’s memory alive through future rescue efforts.
Longo further alleged that state authorities used excessive force, recounting that he was barred from feeding his other rescued animals, including horses, during the raid.
Longo indicated that Peanut’s unique case should be a catalyst for changing regulations surrounding rescued wildlife, noting, “animals rescued young and kept with humans for a long time can’t be released to the wild as they become adapted to domestic life and can’t survive in the wild.”
Despite the outpouring of anger from Peanut’s supporters, New York DEC defended their actions, pointing to the need for public health protections and rabies testing, given Peanut’s reported bite incident.
Longo’s supporters have called the incident a miscarriage of justice, emphasizing that no quarantine period was observed before the animals were euthanized.
Wildlife rehabilitators, including one named Tindal, voiced concerns that such events might discourage others from pursuing licenses, fearing similar consequences.
“Pet squirrels are rarely a good idea…they’re aggressive, difficult to care for,” Tindal commented, adding that exceptional cases, like Peanut’s, can challenge existing perceptions about such animals.
The sudden and tragic death of Peanut just days before the U.S. presidential election has added an unexpected flashpoint to debates on government regulation and individual rights.
Name those responsible, you cowards, you scumbags !