Peanut, a cherished pet squirrel known for his social media fame, was put down by wildlife officials in New York state.
Peanut’s devastated owner, Mark Longo, has come forward to share his anger over the incident.
Longo took Peanut in after he lost his mother to a car accident in New York City.
He shared his feelings on social media saying, “Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us.”
Peanut’s playful antics like climbing on Longo’s shoulder and wearing adorable tiny hats gained him thousands of followers on Instagram.Ezoic
The incident occurred on October 30, 2024 at P’nuts Freedom Farm, an animal sanctuary that Longo and his wife Daniela started in April 2023.
The refuge now cares for over 300 animals including horses goats and alpacas.
Longo described the raid as a five-hour nightmare with many officers searching through his home.
He questioned why so many police were needed asking: “Do you really need that many officers to come to my house just to search my closets?”
“They treated me like I was some kind of criminal. They acted like I was dealing drugs. They tore apart my house for five hours,” Longo told The New York Post.
“They even asked my wife about her immigration status because she is of German descent. They wanted to know if I had cameras inside. They wouldn’t let me use the bathroom without an officer checking behind the toilet first.”
The DEC stated that they took Peanut and another pet raccoon named Fred due to anonymous complaints about them.
In an official statement reported by The Guardian, they said: “On Oct. 30th, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel living with humans which could expose people to rabies. Also someone involved got bitten by the squirrel so both animals were euthanized for rabies testing.”
They also advised anyone who interacted with these animals should see their doctor.
Longo mentioned he was trying to get permits so he could keep Peanut as an educational animal when this all happened.
To rescue squirrels legally in New York you must be licensed as a wildlife rehabilitator which can take months!
Also any wild animal kept domestically needs registration as an educational animal according to law.
Longo said they were ready follow all rules stating “We were prepared… We just needed some help from DEC.”
Despite a huge online petition with tens of thousands supporting Peanut’s return , NY law sees wild animals as property .
This means public outcry may not change decisions made by wildlife officials .
The DEC confirmed both Peanut and Fred were euthanized on November second leaving Longo’s family shocked & sad .
In a touching post shared via Peanuts account , Longo wrote : “It is with deep sadness we announce our beloved Peanut & Fred have been euthanized due too DEC decision.”
Alongside this message was video showing happy moments spent together .
Longo has since said he plans legal action against what he believes is excessive force used during the raid bringing attention towards wildlife laws & animal rights issues in NY .
