This undated picture offered by Mark Longo reveals his pet squirrel Peanut, which was seized by brokers with the state Division of Environmental Conservation, at Longo’s dwelling in rural Pine Metropolis, New York, on October 30 2024. | Picture credit score: Mark Longo.
A person who took in an orphaned squirrel and turned it right into a social media star vowed Saturday that New York state’s choice to confiscate and euthanize the animal “is not going to go unnoticed.”
“We are going to take a stance on how this authorities and the state of New York use their assets,” Mark Longo mentioned in a phone interview.
He declined to specify his potential subsequent steps, however mentioned authorities would quickly hear from him about what occurred to Peanut the squirrel and Fred, a rescued raccoon that was additionally confiscated and euthanized.
The state Division of Environmental Conservation eliminated the animals Wednesday from Longo’s dwelling and animal sanctuary in rural Pine Metropolis, close to the Pennsylvania border. The company mentioned it had obtained complaints that wildlife was being saved illegally and doubtlessly unsafely.
State regulation requires folks to acquire a license in the event that they want to personal a wild animal. Longo has mentioned he was working to have Peanut, often known as P’Nut or PNUT, licensed as an academic animal.
The DEC and Chemung County Well being Division mentioned Friday that the squirrel and raccoon have been euthanized in order that they might be examined for rabies after Peanut bit somebody concerned within the investigation.
Longo mentioned Saturday that he didn’t see Peanut chew anybody throughout what he described as an hours-long search. Authorities haven’t spoken to him since they left the property, he mentioned.
“Actually, this nonetheless feels a bit surreal, that the state I stay in truly attacked me and took two of essentially the most beloved animals on this planet, not even quarantining them. “They took them out of my home and simply killed them,” he mentioned.
A request for remark was despatched to the DEC on Saturday.
Longo mentioned she started caring for Peanut after the animal’s mom was hit by a automobile in New York Metropolis seven years in the past. Tens of hundreds of customers on Instagram, TikTok and different social media platforms noticed the animal sporting little hats, doing tips and nibbling on waffles it held between its tiny paws.
Longo mentioned they left Fred the raccoon on their doorstep a couple of months in the past. After serving to the animal recuperate from its accidents, Longo mentioned, he and his spouse deliberate to launch the creature into the woods.
Printed – Nov 4, 2024 12:58 pm IST
