Thursday, 26 December 2024

State Officials Seize Internet-Famous Rescue Squirrel From Guardian, Euthanized Alongside Raccoon

100 Percent Fed Up
Hits: 20

A pet squirrel who became an internet sensation was euthanized after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) seized him from his guardian.

Peanut the Squirrel, referred to as “P’Nut” on social media, was put to death alongside Fred the raccoon so that the animals could be tested for rabies.

“New York wildlife officers raided Mark Longo’s home, seizing his rescue squirrel Peanut after complaints about ‘unsafe squirrel housing’ and ‘wildlife gone wild’ hit the department. Peanut is an internet sensation known for donning cowboy hats and sharing waffles with cats. The raid, which Longo describes as ‘overkill,’ also led to the confiscation of Fred the raccoon,” Mario Nawfal explained.

WATCH:

WETM shared a statement from the DEC:

The Chemung County Department of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are coordinating to ensure the protection of public health related to the illegal possession of wild animals that have the potential to carry the rabies virus. On Oct. 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized. The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has been in contact with these animals is strongly encouraged to consult their physician.

From the New York Post:

Peanut’s guardian Mark Longo took to Instagram to memorialize his beloved pet in a video.

Through tears Longo, with his girlfriend at his side, said, “Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us.”

“RIP MY BEST FRIEND. Thank you for the best 7 years of my life. Thank you for bringing so much joy to us and the world. I’m sorry I failed you but thank you for everything,” Longo wrote in a caption to the post announcing Peanut’s death.

Longo also asked fans for financial help for a “legal battle” and for his non-profit P’Nut’s Freedom Farm.

The DEC claims that Peanut, who was notably docile and friendly over the course of his very public facing life, bit one of the investigators on the hand while being confiscated from his Elmira home on Wednesday.

Longo rescued Peanut after he witnessed the squirrel’s mother hit by a car.

“Seven years ago, a tiny, fluffy baby squirrel entered our lives and changed everything. ‘Peanut the Squirrel’ quickly captured hearts and became a household name. Despite being reintroduced to the wild, Peanut faced adversity, losing half of his tail in a severe attack. Without developing essential wildlife instincts, Peanut became an indoor, non-releasable squirrel. Remarkably, Peanut went on to become the first squirrel to amass over 1 million, and then 2 million, followers on TikTok, with a combined social media following of over 3 million,” P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary says on its website.

“Thanks to the overwhelming love and support from our dedicated followers, we established ‘P’nuts Freedom Farm.’ This sanctuary is a haven where neglected and homeless animals receive a second chance at life. Join us on this incredible journey as we rescue animals in desperate need of care and provide them with the highest quality of life. At P’nuts Freedom Farm, we believe in transforming lives and creating a future full of hope and compassion for every animal we save,” it adds.

“Social media star Peanut the squirrel was taken by authorities in New York and euthanized. His owners Mark & Daniela Longo came on TMZ Live to talk about the insane raid on their home, how they found out Peanut was killed and what this means for their animal sanctuary,” TMZ Live wrote.

WATCH:

WATCH:

Per NBC News:

Longo brought Peanut him home, ultimately caring for the squirrel for eight months before trying to release it back into the wild. He said Peanut returned to his porch a day and a half later with a broken bone sticking out of its tail, at which point Longo determined Peanut couldn’t survive in the wild alone and instead would move in with him.

Since then, Peanut has won over the internet’s hearts, amassing 537,000 followers on his Instagram page run by Longo. Videos on the page show Peanut snacking on waffles and welcoming Longo home when he walks through the front door.

Fred, the raccoon, was a more recent addition to Longo’s home.

In a tearful video posted to Peanut’s Instagram account Friday, Longo held a portrait of his pet and thanked followers for their support.

“Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us,” Longo said through tears. “I want to continue to fight this fight as much as I can but we need all of you to come together and help us.”

The caption of the video reads: “RIP MY BEST FRIEND. Thank you for the best 7 years of my life. Thank you for bringing so much joy to us and the world. I’m sorry I failed you but thank you for everything.”

Multiple anonymous complaints led DEC officers to Longo’s house in Pine County, New York, on Wednesday, prompting Longo to plead for his pet’s release.

“Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you,” Longo wrote on Peanut’s Instagram Wednesday.

Longo and his wife moved to Upstate New York last year to start P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, which is named for his pet and officially opened in April 2023. The sanctuary houses more than 350 rescues and has been relying “heavily” on donations from Peanut’s online followers to help more animals, Longo said in the Instagram post Wednesday.

WATCH:


Source link

Search