Aw, nuts.
A rescued pet squirrel that sat atop a social media and charity empire has been seized by New York state — with its proprietor saying it’s slated to be euthanized, in line with an Instagram put up.
Peanut the Squirrel was taken from his Elmira, NY, dwelling Wednesday by officers from the Division of Environmental Conservation, who served a warrant to Peanut’s guardians after receiving complaints of “unlawfully possessed” animals, in line with the put up.
“Effectively web, you WON,” the caption from account Peanut_The_Squirrel12 reads. “You took probably the most wonderful animals away from me due to your selfishness. To the group of people that referred to as DEC, there’s a particular place in hell for you.”
A DEC spokesperson confirmed to The Submit that officers took away Peanut the Squirrel and a pet raccoon.
platforms. Instagram
The squirrel’s proprietor, Mark Longo, claimed that he was in “shock” and “disbelief” that DEC was going to allegedly euthanize his pet and pal, in line with the social media put up.
The DEC stated that the animals have been seized in coordination with Chemung County Well being division “as a result of presence of a rabis vector species (raccoon) within the dwelling.”
The state company didn’t touch upon whether or not the animals might be euthanized.
Longo took in Peanut seven years in the past, when he was only a package, after seeing its mom get hit by a automobile, in line with social media accounts.
Peanut boasts 532,000 followers on Instagram, greater than 423,000 followers on Fb, and over 2 million views on TikTok.
in line with social media. Instagram
Longo, a Connecticut native, moved to Elmira in 2023 to begin an animal sanctuary named P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, a 501.C.3 authorized nonprofit.
“Final yr we moved to NY in hopes of beginning a NONPROFIT animal rescue in PNUT’s Identify. [P’Nuts Freedom Farm] will ceaselessly dwell in PNUT’s reminiscence,” Longo wrote within the put up saying Peanut’s seizure.
“With over 350 rescues, we’ve relied closely on PNUT and his web household to father donations to assist extra animals. I don’t even know the way will [sic] proceed to fundraise for this nonprofit.”
P’Nut’s Freedom Farm is a corporation made up of veterinarians and caregivers who’re devoted to rescuing animals from abusive or dire conditions, in line with the group’s web site.
Following the announcement of Peanut’s seize, Longo posted a number of telephone numbers for the Division of Environmental Conservation onto his feed – asking supporters to name in protest in opposition to the federal government’s actions.
group devoted to rescuing abused, deserted, and uncared for
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There’s additionally a petition to return Peanut to his rightful dwelling.
This isn’t the primary time the DEC is in public relations scorching water over confiscating a beloved pet.
Earlier this yr, the division confiscated a 750-pound alligator from a Hamburg, NY, dwelling, which was outfitted with a large room and pool for the reptile’s consolation.
“Albert” the alligator had lived in his dwelling for 34 years and was raised from a hatchling by guardian Tony Cavallaro, who’s now suing the division to regain custody of his longtime pal.