The proprietor of P’Nut, the world’s most well-known and tragic squirrel, has opened his coronary heart and residential to a brand new fur child, he revealed to The Publish.
Mark Longo stated he not too long ago adopted a miniature dachshund named Howard — and believes the pet “will be the reincarnated model” of his beloved squirrel.
“Simply to see him run round exterior and be greatest pals with the cat jogs my memory of P’Nut,” stated Longo of Howard.
Longo, 34, and his spouse, Daniela Bittner, 28, determined to undertake Howard from a neighbor two weeks in the past, after being hesitant.
“It’s been an emotional time for me and my household … I used to be on the fence about getting any new private animals due to what occurred,” Longo instructed The Publish.
They each nonetheless grieve for P’Nut, who was cruelly seized by state Division of Environmental Dialog brokers throughout a now-infamous Oct. 30 raid on Longo’s dwelling and animal refuge in upstate New York.
P’Nut was delivered to his demise — because the state claimed it examined him for rabies, which requires decapitation, after P’Nut allegedly bit one of many brokers on the hand. One other pet, a raccoon named Fred, was additionally euthanized following the troubling DEC operation.
On the time, through the warmth of the presidential election, P’Nut’s demise turned a nationwide image of presidency overreach.
Longo has maintained that the pets didn’t chunk the brokers, who wore heavy security gloves whereas dealing with the pets.
P’Nut, who was 6 years outdated, had been saved by Longo as a child after his mom was hit by a automobile. He allowed the squirrel to reside inside the home, the place P’Nut would put on hats, eat waffles, and play “guard squirrel” on the window.
Howard, who’s solely 11 weeks outdated, helps Longo heal — and might be a “important character” on his social media going ahead, Longo stated.
“He stole my coronary heart,” he continued in regards to the three-pound pooch he calls Howie.
“He actually introduced a little bit little bit of a spark again into my life…and put a smile on my face.
Nonetheless, no pet will ever evaluate to P’Nut, whom Longo referred to as his “greatest pal.
“Due to the bond I had with P’Nut, I’ll by no means have the ability to replicate that,” he stated.
Longo has but to get closure within the disturbing case. As of December, the headless our bodies of his useless pets have been being preserved as proof in a refrigerated room someplace upstate, based on a DEC spokesperson.
Testing confirmed neither animal was contaminated with rabies.
The Publish later revealed paperwork exhibiting the animals had been slated for demise and decapitation not less than seven days earlier than the raid on Longo’s 350-acre property.
The state has stated it was investigating the raid, however has by no means launched its findings. DEC officers didn’t reply to a number of requests for remark.
Nora Constance Marino, Longo’s lawyer, stated that her workplace has “made a requirement for the our bodies and several other Freedom of Info requests” to the state because the incident, to no avail.
“It’s been an uneasy feeling not understanding what occurred to P’Nut in his final moments on this earth, and to not have the ability to correctly bury him and Fred right here on the sanctuary” Longo stated.
The torturous limbo is particularly troublesome as P’Nut’s birthday approaches. On March 13 he would have turned 7.
“Yearly we had a birthday celebration for him,” Longo lamented.
To mark the event this 12 months, Longo, family and friends will collect to gentle over 100 candles donated by on-line supporters at P’Nut’s Freedom Farm in his reminiscence.
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