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Chemung County resident Mark Longo, of Elmira, took to Instagram Wednesday, Oct 30, telling his 581,000 followers that Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers had seized the animal, which he rescued in 2017 after its mother was struck by a car.
“Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” he wrote. “To the people who called (DEC), there’s a special place in hell for you.”
In an emotional update shared on Friday, Nov. 1, Longo confirmed that “Peanut” had in fact been euthanized.
“We got confirmation that (DEC) put him down,” he said, fighting back tears and holding a portrait of the squirrel. “I just want to say thank you to all of you. ‘Peanut’ was the best thing that ever happened to us…”
In a separate post, Longo said state wildlife officials also seized and euthanized his pet raccoon, Fred. He added that he has since hired a legal team to sue New York State, and asked his followers for donations.
“I’m in shock, disbelief, and disgusted at the people who did this,” said Longo, who operates the nonprofit animal rescue, P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City.
A DEC spokesperson told NBC News that “Peanut” and “Fred” were seized after the agency learned the animals were “sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies.”
The animals were then euthanized to test for rabies. The results of those tests were not immediately available.
Officials are "coordinating to ensure the protection of public health related to the illegal possession of wild animals that have the potential to carry the rabies virus," the agency told NBC News. It encouraged anyone who has been in contact with the animals to speak with their doctor.
In New York State, it is illegal to possess wild animals as pets, according to the DEC.
Among those angered over the state’s handling of the situation is State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, a Republican whose 15th district on Long Island represents parts of Nassau County. In a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, he demanded a “full investigation” into what he called a “tragedy” wrought by the DEC.
Blumencranz also introduced new legislation, called “Peanut’s Law,” which would institute a mandatory 72-hour waiting period during which time animal owners could appeal their euthanization.
“This tragedy can be an agent of change for our process and system in which there is animal seizure,” he said in a video on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Longo and his wife Daniela continue to mourn their beloved “Peanut,” who left traces of his seven-year presence throughout their home.
“Every second hurts. Pnut hid almonds EVERYWHERE in our house,” Mrs. Longo wrote. "I was always annoyed but thought it’s funny. When we lay down and open the blanket, when I open cabinets, even in my flowers it brings me to tears seeing them now.”
You can learn more about Longo's animal rescue on his Instagram page and his website.
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