Ten New York State Division of Environmental Conservation places of work had been hit with bomb threats Monday as outrage over the killing of web sensation P’nut the squirrel boiled over.
The DEC places of work from Tarrytown to Buffalo confronted bomb scares tied to the controversial determination to euthanize P’nut after the company raided the property of the furry creature’s proprietor in Elmira final week, law-enforcement sources mentioned.
The threats prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to lastly break her silence on the scandal — although she didn’t really handle the raid or P’nut’s demise.
“During the last 48 hours at the least 10 bomb threats have been known as in to the Division of Environmental Conservation,” Hochul’s workplace mentioned in a press release.
“Governor Hochul strongly condemns these outrageous threats of violence and is grateful to the New York State Police for his or her work to research these threats and help the state workforce.”
The governor’s workplace has been much less forthcoming on P’nut’s demise — neither Hochul nor the DEC have responded to repeated requests for remark over the previous week.
House owners Mark and Daniela Longo, who gave their furry pal the run of the 350-acre upstate unfold they named “P’nut’s Freedom Farm,” have been moreover themselves because the intrusion by the state, which was apparently sparked by complaints over a racoon named Fred that the couple had additionally taken in.
P’nut and Fred had been each euthanized to be examined for rabies after they had been seized by DEC brokers throughout the raid.
The incident has sparked widespread indignation from some sudden corners of the universe — together with Capt. Kirk himself.
“I simply heard about #PeanutTheSquirrel,” actor William Shatner, beloved for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk on the sci-fi traditional “Star Trek,” wrote on X. “He was 7 years outdated & a pet for 7 years. How may he be thought of a wild animal when all he knew was being a pet?
“You’ll be able to say that about any animal, then within the State of NY. Disgrace on the @NYSDEC.”
Ohio Sen. JD Vance, former President Donald Trump’s working made in Tuesday’s presidential race, threw his hat into the controversy at a rally on Sunday.
“I do know Don’s fired up about P’nut the squirrel,” Vance mentioned of Trump.
“He was like, ‘, is it actually the case that the Democrats murdered the Elon Musk of squirrels?’” Vance continued.
“Have you ever seen the movies of this squirrel? He’s, like, a genius. Or he was,” the VP hopeful mentioned on the rally in Sanford, North Carolina. “The identical authorities that doesn’t care about lots of of hundreds of unlawful immigrant criminals coming into our nation, doesn’t need us to have pets. It’s the craziest factor.”
Others have additionally made their displeasure recognized — and have thus far donated greater than $180,000 to a Gofundme web page gathering money for the Longos known as “in honor of P’nut and Fred: Help P’nut’s Freedom Farm.”
Mark Longo and his spouse have mentioned P’nut’s enormous on-line fan base helped drive site visitors to the profitable porn content material the couple publish on their spicy OnlyFans web page.
He Longo continues to mourn the lack of his long-tailed companion.
Longo broke down in tears throughout an unique interview with The Put up, saying he discovered an almond in his pocket — P’nuts’ favourite snack — and it introduced again painful recollections.
“P’nut put his almonds throughout my home, throughout my pants and my garments,” he mentioned. “It’s just a bit reminder of, you realize, him all the time being right here.”
Regardless of the silence from the statehouse, one lawmaker in Albany was additionally impressed to suggest new laws to beef up animal rights within the Empire State.
Titled “Peanut’s Legislation: Humane Animal Safety Act,” the proposal from state Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz would mandate a 72-hour ready interval earlier than animals from sanctuaries will be put to sleep and units up an attraction course of for his or her homeowners.
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