That is nuts.
An upstate man whose beloved squirrel was cruelly killed by the state mentioned he was handled like a “terrorist” when 10 authorities brokers descended on his dwelling throughout a five-hour raid.
Mark Longo, whose pet Peanut captured the hearts of three million social media customers, was shocked when a convoy of autos carrying officers from the state departments of Environmental Conservation and Well being arrived at his Pine Metropolis dwelling Wednesday.
They served him with a shock warrant permitting them to grab away Peanut the squirrel and Fred, a raccoon he’d taken in.
“They handled me like I used to be a terrorist. They handled this raid as if I used to be a drug supplier. They ransacked my home for 5 hours,” Longo informed The Publish Saturday.
“They requested my spouse, who’s of German descent, what her immigration standing was. They requested if I had cameras in my home. They wouldn’t permit me to go to the lavatory with out a police escort, who then checked the again of the bathroom to see if I used to be hiding something there.”
However worse than all of that, they delivered his grey fur child to its demise.
The state claimed it needed to euthanize each animals Friday in order that they may very well be examined for rabies — as a result of the squirrel sunk its tooth into the hand of an official throughout the disturbing raid. The check outcomes should not but identified.
Longo, 34, cared for “P’Nut” for greater than seven years, rescuing him when his mom was hit by a automotive.
“We rehabbed him for eight months, we launched him for a day and a half, however he ended up getting attacked. He by no means developed the instincts to outlive outdoors,” Longo informed The Publish.
Peanut slept in his personal room of their home in Pine Metropolis, simply south of Elmira, NY.
Fred arrived 4 months in the past, after being dropped off at their entrance door, and cut up time between an out of doors enclosure and a room of their residence.
Peanut and Fred have been focused, and never different animals dwelling on the 350-acre property, as a result of they lived indoors.
Peanut was a star on Instagram, Fb, and TikTok. Even Elon Musk paid tribute to him on X in the present day.
One publish mentioned, “President @realDonaldTrump will save the squirrels” and one other lamented, “Authorities overreach kidnapped an orphan squirrel and executed him.”
“My cellphone is blowing up from individuals across the nation saying how a lot they beloved Peanut,” Longo mentioned. “I’ve individuals who name me and cry greater than I do.”
The Connecticut native moved to upstate New York final April to begin “P’Nut’s Freedom Farm,” a nonprofit animal rescue he operates along with his spouse, Daniela. The sanctuary is dwelling to 300 rescue animals.
Longo was shocked that the gang of so-called authorities conservationists looking out his dwelling Wednesday stored him from tending to his different animals throughout their raid.
“I used to be not even allowed to fill their water,” he mentioned.
Longo defined it’s unlawful to accommodate a squirrel and raccoon, however he didn’t have the “coronary heart” to maintain them outdoors.
The DEC mentioned in a assertion obtained by WETM that the raid was in response to complaints about Fred, the raccoon, however Longo claimed they used him as an excuse to get Peanut.
“The one time I ever talked to the DEC previous to this was once they received complaints from nameless individuals on the web for Peanut about 5 – 6 months in the past and that was earlier than Fred,” he mentioned. “They used Fred as their go-to to get into my home.”
The DEC claimed Peanut bit one in every of its officers on the hand throughout the raid, however Longo mentioned he didn’t witness that and that the officers’ fingers have been closely protected.
“I watched all people put gloves on earlier than they entered my home. That they had gloves that you simply get an eagle to land on,” he mentioned.
Longo is demanding an investigation into the declare they have been checking the animals for rabies, and submitting a movement to get the medical information of the officers in his home to see if they really received examined for the illness.
“Peanut and Fred didn’t have rabies or I wouldn’t be right here speaking to you proper now. I’ve been round them lengthy sufficient, performed with them, cared for them and I didn’t foam on the mouth,” he mentioned.
Longo, who solely came upon his animals have been put down by way of his native information station, mentioned the state should reply for its actions.
“Why was there a lot pressure dropped at my home for a racoon and a squirrel?” he requested.
“We have now so many different issues that we have to give attention to. We use our authorities to do that s–it after we can’t even repair the issues we now have in every day human life.”
Gov. Hochul, together with the state DEC and Well being Division, didn’t reply to messages searching for remark.
One elected official blasted state authorities for its over-the-top response.
“With all of the crime in our migrant shelters, good to know we now have the time and assets for a squirrel swat crew,” scoffed Metropolis Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island). “I can’t wait to fulfill the brand new senior advisor to the governor, Elmer J. Fudd.”
