If you’re active on social media, you may have come across Peanut the squirrel, a beloved pet who quickly rose to internet fame along with his dad, Mark Longo.
Mark has spent the last seven years sharing his adventures with Peanut with the world under the Instagram handle @peanut_the_squirrel12.
Mark posted adorable videos of Peanut featuring him wearing a tiny cowboy hat, jumping through a hula hoop, riding around in the pocket of Mark’s pants, and enjoying a waffle.
Mark also had a raccoon named Fred, who frequently appeared in social media posts alongside Peanut.
Peanut joined Mark’s family after Mark witnessed Peanut’s mom get run over by a car in New York City.
Mark spent the next eight months taking care of Peanut, and he tried to release him back into the wild without success.
Less than two days after Mark released Peanut, he showed up on his porch with half of his tail gone, and Mark realized Peanut wouldn’t make it out in the wild. It was then that he re-welcomed Peanut into his home.
Mark and his wife moved to upstate New York and were inspired by Peanut to start P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary last year with a mission of helping homeless and neglected animals.
Last Wednesday, officers with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation showed up at Mark’s home in Pine City, and they confiscated Peanut and Fred.
Instagram – @peanut_the_squirrel12 – pictured above are Mark and Peanut
Peanut and Fred were later euthanized so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit someone who was a part of the investigation.
“Animals showing signs of rabies should be immediately euthanized by a professional and specimens submitted to a qualified rabies laboratory for testing,” the CDC states on their website.
“A diagnosis of rabies can be made after detection of rabies virus from any part of the affected brain, but to rule out rabies, the test must include a full cross-section of tissue from both the brain stem and cerebellum. Rabies testing requires that the animal be euthanized. There are no approved methods for ante-mortem rabies testing of animals.”
“In the U.S., the results of a rabies test are typically available within 24 to 72 hours after an animal is euthanized.”
It has not yet been publicly disclosed whether Peanut or Fred tested positive for rabies.
In a recent Instagram video, Mark asked that people send memories of Peanut to a newly created P.O. Box so that he can create a tribute to Peanut in his room.
“So if you want to send a letter, if you want to send a photo, I want to frame each and every one of you guys’ stuff and make this room so memorable for him,” Mark said.
A petition seeking justice for Peanut has been launched on Change.org, addressing the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Governor’s Office, and the New York State Legislature.
“We, the undersigned, are outraged and heartbroken by the recent events surrounding Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the raccoon, whose lives were senselessly ended due to bureaucratic actions by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC),” the petition reads.
“Recently, the DEC dispatched 10 officers over several hours to capture and ultimately euthanize these harmless creatures, despite community pleas and the lack of any significant threat posed by the squirrels.”
“This action not only represents a misuse of public resources but also highlights the disregard for ethical treatment of wildlife that citizens expect from their governing agencies. Peanut and his friend were cherished by nearly 3 million people worldwide, who viewed them as symbols of nature’s innocence and beauty. Their deaths have left a profound emotional impact on the neighborhood and beyond.”
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)’s website, it is illegal for New York state residents to keep wildlife as pets.
You can view the website for P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary here and see the petition for Peanut here.
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