New York – Animal lovers across the globe are reeling from an egregious display of government overreach that resulted in the deaths of a beloved squirrel and recently rescued raccoon. Peanut, aka P’Nut the squirrel, was a beloved social media star who resided with Mark Longo, the man who saved his life after the baby squirrel’s mom was struck and killed by a car seven years ago. And Fred the raccoon was taken under Longo’s wing after being dropped off at Longo’s Pine Hurst residence four months ago.
On October 30, officials with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided Longo’s home with a startling show of force involving nearly a dozen agents who had one goal – seize Fred the raccoon and Peanut the squirrel.
The officials were at Longo’s residence for hours. He told the New York Post how he was treated during the ordeal, “They treated me like I was a terrorist. They treated this raid as if I was a drug dealer. They ransacked my house for five hours.”
In the midst of the chaotic raid, DEC officials claim Peanut bit one of the agents. The alleged bite prompted the agency to kill Fred and Peanut in order to test them for rabies; a deadly choice made in lieu of quarantining the animals. The agency killed little Peanut, a domesticated squirrel who had lived indoors with his family, even though a squirrel has NEVER transmitted rabies to a human.
Now Peanut and Fred are dead and animal lovers across the world are devasted, and angry. News of the killings has sparked an uproar on social media, where Peanut had amassed hundreds of thousands of fans. X giant Elon Musk posted multiple times about the nonsensical raid to his 202+ million followers.
And Congressman Nick Langworthy wrote the following statement on the X platform:
“The NYS DEC needs a serious reality check on their ridiculously mistaken priorities. Instead of focusing on critical needs like flood mitigation in places like Steuben County, where local officials have to struggle just to get permits from the DEC to clear debris-filled waterways, they’re out seizing pet squirrels. NY taxpayers deserve better.”
Adding insult to injury, Peanut’s wildly popular Instagram account helped fund Longo’s animal sanctuary, P’Nuts Freedom Farm, where more than 300 animals are being cared for. Now that Peanut is dead, Longo fears that he will not be able to sustain the farm because the friendly little squirrel was the cornerstone of the wildly popular social media account.
It is too late to save Peanut and Fred, but it is not too late to ensure this never happens again. Government officials should not be allowed to enter your home and kill your pets without due process. Please add your name to the petition today.
WHY THIS PETITION MATTERS:
We, the undersigned, demand accountability from government officials. This appalling display of government overreach should NEVER happen again. Why did the DEC officials need to ransack the home? Why was Mark Longo treated like a hardened criminal? Why were the seized animals not quarantined rather than being killed? These are all questions that MUST be addressed. What happened to Mark Longo, Fred the raccoon, and Peanut the squirrel is disgraceful, and we demand change.
Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.
Note: Peanut’s owner had tried to release him into the wild years ago, but the young squirrel got hurt and returned to the man who raised him – apparently unable and unwilling to be a wild animal.
News:
Update 1/25/2025: Animal Victory sent petition to New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Governor Hochel, and Chemung County Executive.
Update 11/13/2024: In a news conference, Chemung County Executive Chris Moss said that the rabies tests on Peanut and Fred came back negative. According to a New York Post article, Peanut and Fred were destined to be euthanized even before the alleged bite. The news agency said that a timeline shows that the animals were slated for testing as of Oct. 23, a week before they were seized. The only way to test for rabies is to decapitate an animal and test the brain. “Wildlife cannot be confined like domestic animals, and if there was an exposure, the animals would need to be tested for rabies,” the State Department of Health wrote the county on Oct. 23. In a statement, the DEC said an internal investigation is being conducted and the agency is reviewing internal policies and procedures.
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Whether it’s a one-time or monthly gift, you will provide the support needed for abused animals seeking justice as well as the help needed to raise the bar for animal welfare in the courtroom.
Be their CHAMPION today.
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