Tue Nov 05 16:04:38 UTC 2024: ## Social Media Star Squirrel Euthanized by New York State, Owner Vows Action
**Pine City, NY** – A man who rescued and cared for a social media star squirrel named Peanut has vowed to fight back against the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after the agency seized and euthanized the animal.
Mark Longo, Peanut’s owner, claims the DEC took Peanut and a rescued raccoon named Fred from his home and animal sanctuary on Wednesday. The DEC states they received complaints about illegal and potentially unsafe wildlife keeping. New York law requires licensing to own wild animals, and Longo was in the process of certifying Peanut as an educational animal.
However, Longo maintains that the DEC’s actions were extreme, accusing them of a heavy-handed search that lasted hours. He claims to have witnessed no bite from Peanut during the search. Furthermore, he disputes the DEC’s reason for euthanizing the animals, which they claim was to test for rabies after Peanut allegedly bit someone involved in the investigation.
Longo states he and his wife were planning to release Fred the raccoon into the woods after he recovered from injuries. Peanut, who had gained a large social media following with over tens of thousands of fans, was featured in videos wearing tiny hats, performing tricks, and enjoying treats.
“It’s surreal that the state I live in targeted me and took away two beloved animals, didn’t even quarantine them, and just killed them,” Longo said. He vowed to take action against the DEC, stating, “We will make a stance on how this government and New York state utilizes their resources.”
The DEC has not commented on Longo’s accusations or the euthanasia of the animals.
First Piper 