Sign: Hold Officials Accountable For Killing Rescued Squirrel and Raccoon

Published: November 03, 2024 at 11:44 AM Author: PENNY EIMS
Screenshot collage via Peanut_the_squirrel12

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.

Stock image of raccoon via Pixabay/Not Fred

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.

Screenshot via X

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.

Targets

  • New York Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Kathy Hochel, New York State Governor
  • Christopher Moss, Chemung County Executive

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:

Associated Press

Fox News

MSN/Indy100

New York Post

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.

Hold Officials Accountable For Killing Rescued Squirrel and Raccoon

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Latest Signatures
20,454 Ruth F. Shame on them for killing these innocent animals. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,453 Jacqueline M. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,452 Lindsey L. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,451 Michelle D. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,450 JENNY B. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,449 Jill S. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,448 Sandra A. This was an absolutely unnecessary show of force and abuse. There should be a new process to investigate and give the person an opportunity to make their case. It is clear the people running these departments are not well educated individuals in these matters and just need to show their force to hide their lack of knowledge. There was no need for this outcome, and they should be held accountable. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,447 Natasa J. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,446 Elexas A. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,445 Theresa R. Government has no regard for anything, and it's now trying to take people's rights away 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,444 Melissa S. 0 Nov 20, 2024
20,443 Bill S. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,442 Paul F. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,441 Cindy G. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,440 Nora C. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,439 Kelly K. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,438 Emily E. These people take care of animals and they are punished and the animals too, while there are others torturing and starving animals that never get punished by the laws. Make it make sense. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,437 anna d. what could these animals possibly have done to deserve this or the owner. This is uncalled for and should be addressed 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,436 Lisa P. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,435 Sue S. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,434 Eugene g. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,433 Elisabeth N. 0 Nov 19, 2024
20,432 Donna F. I think it’s absolutely horrible. What they did to Peanut and Fred. So sad shame on those people responsible… 🥲 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,431Anonymous If I could sign this ten times I would. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,430 Candace C. They raided an American citizen's home with guns, seized their animals, killed them and did so without due process while wasting tax payers money that could have been spent on real threats. Something must be done to hold these government officials accountable. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,429Anonymous 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,428 Cynthia E. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,427 Mimi E. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,426 Norrie E. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,425 Brian E. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,424 Lisa E. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,423 Janine E. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,422 Kathy G. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,421 Miriam I. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,420 rose m. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,419 Sandra M. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,418 Daniela T. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,417 Ana B. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,416 Carla L. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,415 Janice K. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,414 Emily E. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,413 Silvia G. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,412 Linda t. It wasn’t like he had an alligator or a cheetah!!!! And they were Kept in His house!!!! Not Right!!!!!!!!!He Saved 2 animals lives!!!!!! They Need to go after people who Commit Crimes!!!! 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,411 Janine V. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,410 Marina A. 0 Nov 18, 2024
20,409 Mary D. This is taking gov power too far. The squirrel had been no problem for seven years. I would have bit the a$$hole too! He felt threatened for God's sake!! I'm sure there were more important and pressing things that they could have been tending to! 0 Nov 17, 2024
20,408 Shana G. 0 Nov 17, 2024
20,407 Jerry T. 0 Nov 17, 2024
20,406 Melanie Y. 0 Nov 17, 2024
20,405 Anastasia A. 0 Nov 17, 2024