Peanut, a beloved squirrel known for his substantial Instagram following, has tragically been euthanized shortly after being taken by New York state officials. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducted a raid on Mark Longo’s residence following complaints regarding the animal’s living conditions.
Earlier in the week, Mr. Longo expressed his distress on social media, pleading for Peanut’s safe return and criticizing the DEC, stating there was a “special place in hell” for them. Unfortunately, the DEC announced that Peanut was euthanized after he bit an official during the seizure. Additionally, a raccoon named Fred, also removed from Mr. Longo’s home during the raid, was euthanized by the authorities.
The news of Peanut’s passing emerged just as a petition advocating for his return had attracted over 30,000 signatures by Friday afternoon. Mr. Longo indicated he was fundraising for legal fees to combat the DEC’s actions, with approximately $13,500 raised through a GoFundMe campaign. He described the situation as a “terrible nightmare” in a post made on Friday morning.
In response to Peanut’s death, Mr. Longo took to Instagram to share the DEC’s contact number and urged his followers to voice their opinions about the situation. He stated that they would not allow Peanut’s passing to be his final memory. In another Instagram story, he expressed gratitude for the support from Peanut’s fans and called for donations to assist other animals on his “freedom farm.”
The DEC explained that they began investigating after receiving numerous reports concerning unsafe housing conditions for wildlife that could potentially carry rabies and illegal possession of wild animals as pets. Mr. Longo had taken Peanut in seven years prior after finding him abandoned near his mother, who had been killed in an accident. He nurtured Peanut back to health until he was ready for release; however, Peanut returned to Mr. Longo’s porch shortly after with part of his tail injured.
Peanut’s Instagram account gained considerable popularity over time, amassing over 500,000 followers who enjoyed videos showcasing him engaging in playful antics with Mr. Longo—often wearing hats and enjoying waffles together.
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