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“Feels So Unjust”: Fans Devastated After Famous Squirrel Is Seized And Euthanized By Authorities
Peanut the Squirrel, a social media sensation who captured the hearts of thousands of fans on social media, was euthanized earlier today (November 1).
“It has been a terrible nightmare for me,” said Mark Longo, Peanut’s owner, after uploading an update video on Instagram, where more than 534,000 fans of the squirrel joined him in expressing their sorrow over the pet’s untimely passing.
Highlights
- Peanut the Squirrel, loved by thousands, euthanized due to rabies diagnosis.
- Fans raised over $12,500 on GoFundMe for Peanut's return and DEC reform.
- Mark Longo found Peanut as a baby, turning him into a social media star.
- DEC justified actions citing rabies risk and illegal wildlife ownership.
Peanut was taken from Longo’s house in Pine City, New York, on Wednesday (October 30), alongside another one of his pets, a raccoon, after a rabies diagnosis forced the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to confiscate them for testing.
According to a statement released by the Chemung County Department of Health, the decision to put both pets down was made after a person involved in the operation was bitten by Peanut.
RELATED:
Peanut, the squirrel who became a social media sensation, was forcibly euthanized after being diagnosed with rabies by New York authorities
Image credits: Peanut The Squirrel
The squirrel had become a beloved figure online, delighting its fans by appearing in videos enjoying waffles, playing with hula hoops, and greeting Longo after a long day of work.
Mark and Peanut’s story began seven years ago when the former had found out that the latter’s mother had been struck by a car, unable to leave the baby squirrel to fend for himself. Mark took him home and gave him his now-famous name.
Despite Mark’s attempts to release the squirrel back into the wilderness, Peanut returned home every time, eventually becoming part of the family.
Image credits: Peanut The Squirrel
Upon Peanut’s seizure, his supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign petitioning for the squirrel to be brought home, and for the DEC to be reformed. As of today, the website has accumulated over 28,000 signatures and raised over $12,500 in funds.
Image credits: Peanut The Squirrel
Before the squirrel’s fate was confirmed, Mark expressed his concern and uncertainty on social media, hoping that his pet would be returned to him safely. After the news broke, he uploaded a tearful video holding a hand-drawn portrait of his pet, whom he referred to as his “best friend.”
View this post on Instagram
“Thank you for the best 7 years of my life. Thank you for bringing so much joy to us and the world,” he wrote, confessing to feeling guilty about not being able to protect Peanut. “I’m sorry I failed you but thank you for everything.”
Both his owner and fans of the pet were left angry by the DEC’s decision, believing it to be unjust. The organization replied, stating it was acting in accordance with the law
Image credits: Peanut The Squirrel
Peanut’s followers reacted with a mix of rage and frustration, feeling that the squirrel’s life had been taken unjustly and shaming those responsible for reporting the pet’s illness to the authorities.
View this post on Instagram
“I’m shell shocked by this. I hope those behind the reports don’t sleep at night,” one viewer stated. “I hope time heals as much of this pain as it can for you both, Peanut was wonderful, I loved watching his videos all the way from the UK.”
“This sweet squirrel was living his best life. What the f–k is wrong with people!?” another asked.
Image credits: Peanut The Squirrel
As Mark announced through his non-profit, P’nuts Freedom Farm is going to demand accountability from the DEC but gave no specifics as to which measures they intend to take.
“Despite our passionate outcry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief,” Mark wrote. “To add to our anguish, they informed the media of their decision before even notifying P’nuts Freedom Farm, his loving home.”
View this post on Instagram
For the DEC, the decision was justified due to the prevalence of rabies in raccoons across New York’s Southern Tier. Due to the high risk of contagion, animals displaying symptoms are euthanized to collect their brain tissue samples for testing.
The department also stressed that keeping wild animals as pets is illegal in New York and that they were acting in compliance with guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Bored Panda has reached out to Mark Longo and the P’nut Farm for comment.
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What do you think ?
Angrykitten 1 month ago (edited)
If the animal had rabies what else could be done but euthanize? I think I'm missing something because I don't understand
Sunny Day 1 month ago
The squirrel was not showing any signs of being sick. Normal procedure is "quarantine & observe" to see if it is getting sick. They euthanized immediately to avoid the inevitable "return the squirrel" court order after public outcry. No way to return = no egg on their faces.
Load More Replies...
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 month ago
So... an animal that is illegal to keep as a pet and BIT A PERSON was seized and euthanized due to it displaying symptoms of rabies? Why is that creating a frigging lynch mob mentality? The squirrel BIT someone. And it is NOT legal to keep them as pets in New York. I absolutely feel for the Longo family, as I understand loving a pet (even one that is a wild animal - I used to catch lizards in my backyard and keep them as pets when I was a kid) but he has no leg to stand on, in my opinion, when the animal was illegal to keep as a pet in the first place. Raccoons are also illegal to keep as pets in NY. It sucks that Longo's animals were seized and euthanized, but he wasn't allowed to even have them in the first place. And, again, the squirrel bit a human. Since it was displaying rabies symptoms, that person now has to have expensive and painful anti-rabies treatment. I love animals more than I love people, but an animal that bites/attacks humans is a risk to human life.
BoredPangolin 1 month ago
I agree with you but for one point: there is literally no way to manipulate a roden (rats, squirrels, even rabits) that don't know you without risking a bite. When scared and stressed, rodents bite. It's hardly a cause for concern in itself, I'm hoping the bite wasn't the one reason for euthanasia and that they actually tested him. It's not like dogs.
Load More Replies...
Ryan-James O'Driscoll 1 month ago
Rabies is a horrific disease that is universally fatal once symptoms develop. People rallying behind this squirrel need to rethink their priorities.
ALonelyHeart 1 month ago
Neither animal was exhibiting any symptoms of rabies and they were kept inside. A squirrel outside is highly unlikely to contract rabies anyway. The typical procedure is to quarantine an anima, such as a dog when they bite someone - even if there is evidence of a rabies shot. This agency acted over and above what they say is the law and did wrong on every level, all because someone complained from hundreds of miles away about the dangers that did not exist.
Load More Replies... Angrykitten 1 month ago (edited)
If the animal had rabies what else could be done but euthanize? I think I'm missing something because I don't understand
Sunny Day 1 month ago
The squirrel was not showing any signs of being sick. Normal procedure is "quarantine & observe" to see if it is getting sick. They euthanized immediately to avoid the inevitable "return the squirrel" court order after public outcry. No way to return = no egg on their faces.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 month ago
So... an animal that is illegal to keep as a pet and BIT A PERSON was seized and euthanized due to it displaying symptoms of rabies? Why is that creating a frigging lynch mob mentality? The squirrel BIT someone. And it is NOT legal to keep them as pets in New York. I absolutely feel for the Longo family, as I understand loving a pet (even one that is a wild animal - I used to catch lizards in my backyard and keep them as pets when I was a kid) but he has no leg to stand on, in my opinion, when the animal was illegal to keep as a pet in the first place. Raccoons are also illegal to keep as pets in NY. It sucks that Longo's animals were seized and euthanized, but he wasn't allowed to even have them in the first place. And, again, the squirrel bit a human. Since it was displaying rabies symptoms, that person now has to have expensive and painful anti-rabies treatment. I love animals more than I love people, but an animal that bites/attacks humans is a risk to human life.
BoredPangolin 1 month ago
I agree with you but for one point: there is literally no way to manipulate a roden (rats, squirrels, even rabits) that don't know you without risking a bite. When scared and stressed, rodents bite. It's hardly a cause for concern in itself, I'm hoping the bite wasn't the one reason for euthanasia and that they actually tested him. It's not like dogs.
Load More Replies... Ryan-James O'Driscoll 1 month ago
Rabies is a horrific disease that is universally fatal once symptoms develop. People rallying behind this squirrel need to rethink their priorities.
ALonelyHeart 1 month ago
Neither animal was exhibiting any symptoms of rabies and they were kept inside. A squirrel outside is highly unlikely to contract rabies anyway. The typical procedure is to quarantine an anima, such as a dog when they bite someone - even if there is evidence of a rabies shot. This agency acted over and above what they say is the law and did wrong on every level, all because someone complained from hundreds of miles away about the dangers that did not exist.
Load More Replies...
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