Viral star Peanut the squirrel euthanized.
Peanut the Squirrel, a social media icon with 550,000 followers, is making headlines—but not for his usual antics.
This time, it’s a heart-wrenching story of euthanasia at the hands of New York state authorities.
Peanut’s story explained.
Peanut’s story began seven years ago when Mark Longo, his caretaker, found him orphaned after his mother was struck by a car.
Longo raised Peanut in his Norwalk, Connecticut, home, hand-feeding and nurturing him through a traumatic early life.
After trying to release Peanut back into the wild, Longo was surprised when the little squirrel returned to his doorstep—minus half his tail.
From that day, Peanut became a permanent fixture in Longo’s life, forging a unique bond with his rescuer.
Peanut wasn’t alone in the Longo household; he shared his home with a cat named Chloe and became an unofficial mascot of Longo’s sanctuary.
In 2023, Longo founded P’Nuts Freedom Farm, a sanctuary in Pine City, New York, dedicated to giving homeless animals a second chance.
Over time, Peanut grew into an Instagram sensation, bringing smiles and laughs to fans across the globe.
Shocking NY raid explained.
However, things took a shocking turn when New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided Longo’s home.
DEC officers seized Peanut and another animal, a raccoon, reportedly after anonymous complaints about potential rabies risks.
Authorities claimed that having wildlife as pets exposed both humans and animals to rabies, a longstanding issue in the region.
During the raid, a DEC officer reportedly suffered a bite, escalating the situation’s urgency.
Following the seizure, the DEC confirmed that both Peanut and the raccoon were euthanized to test for rabies.
According to the CDC, rabies testing requires euthanizing animals to sample brain tissue, as there’s no test for live animals.
Peanut’s euthanasia sparks outrage.
News of Peanut’s euthanasia sparked outrage, with thousands of fans rallying in support of Longo’s fight for justice.
Heartbroken, Longo shared his sorrow online, calling Peanut “the center of his world” and condemning the individuals who reported him.
“I’m in shock, disbelief, and disgusted by the people who did this to Peanut,” Longo posted on Instagram.
Outraged fans launched a Change.org petition and a GoFundMe campaign, calling for accountability and raising over $95,000.
Longo says he’s determined to find out who filed the complaints, noting plans to file a motion to uncover the complainants’ names.
He also plans to continue advocating for wildlife rights, calling Peanut’s story a tragic lesson in outdated policies.
New York’s wildlife ownership policies in question.
Animal advocates, led by Longo and Peanut’s followers, are now questioning New York’s wildlife ownership policies.
The DEC maintains their stance, highlighting the rabies risk in the Southern Tier as a public health priority.
Rabies has been documented among wildlife in this area for over 30 years, with periodic surges in reported cases.
But fans argue that Peanut, an Instagram celebrity known to live peacefully with humans, deserved special consideration.
Some supporters questioned whether Peanut was euthanized out of caution or due to broader pressures to regulate exotic pets.
Longo’s sanctuary, meanwhile, remains a refuge for animals, even as he grieves the loss of his cherished companion.
The DEC has advised anyone who interacted with Peanut to seek medical advice for rabies exposure.
Peanut’s legacy will live on.
While Peanut is gone, his story has ignited a firestorm on social media, sparking debate over animal euthanasia practices.
Fans have flooded Peanut’s Instagram with tributes, remembering his quirky personality and his role in Longo’s sanctuary.
For now, Longo says he’s focused on honoring Peanut’s memory and ensuring the sanctuary lives on in his name.
In a final post, Longo told his followers, “Peanut may be gone, but his legacy will remain in every animal we save.”