Since the death of social media star Peanut the Squirrel, authorities have announced an investigation into the raid that led to his death. The squirrel, as well as a pet raccoon, was taken in a seizure back in late October. Peanut’s owner has also spoked out about the situation.
Peanut Garnered Nearly One Million Followers On Instagram
The Eastern gray squirrel had been found and rescued by Mark Longo in 2017. Reportedly, his mother had been killed by a car. He then became the subject of a popular Instagram account.
In various posts, Peanut, also known as “P’Nut,” could see seen having fun with Longo, occasionally holding little signs, in a variety of videos. The account proved popular, garnering nearly one million followers.
This past October, however, Peanut was seized from his home by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. A pet raccoon named Fred was also similarly seized, who was taken in a few months prior to the seizure. Days following the incident, it had been tragically announced that both animals had been euthanized and decapitated.
Allegedly, the animals were being tested for rabies. As the New York Post noted, it was alleged that Peanut had bit one of the agents on the hand during the raid. As the publication noted, Longo was “unconvinced” by this, as the authorities wore protective gloves.
An Investigation Will Be Launched Into Peanut & Fred’s Deaths
A spokesperson for the DEC told the Post that, “An internal investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we continue serving this core mission.” At the time, the DEC and similar departments refused to share the results on any testing the animals underwent.
As the publication noted, Longo was quoted saying, “What happened in my house, if you think that was an educational [action] — I don’t know.” The publication also noted Longo had plans to sue the DEC.
In a statement with TMZ, Longo also confirmed an “internal investigation” as to why the pets were seized and killed was ongoing. At the time, Longo claimed not to know much else about the investigation but was happy that the situation was being taken seriously.
In a video released by Dubai Eye on Instagram, Longo talked about his lost pet. As he was quoted sharing, “That squirrel was my family, he was my best friend.”
Since Peanut’s death, a bill called “Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act” has been proposed. According to Syracuse.com, this amendment would help limit government animal seizures.
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