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

Hold Officials Accountable For Killing Rescued Squirrel and Raccoon

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Latest Signatures
15,829 Ganine S. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,828Anonymous These creatures were being taken care of. They were not being abused or exploited - absolutely no reason whatsoever for the blinkin government to seize these animals and destroy them...so sick of government overreach!!! Someone needs to answer for this! 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,827Anonymous Disgusting abuse of power. If these animals had been in the home for years and months without incidents, there was no reason to think that they were rabid. Quarantine would make sense if there were any doubts about their health. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,826 Heather B. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,825 Shelley P. This is absolute nonsense and what about these poor critters! Does the DEC have nothing better to do with their time than terrorize this guy for looking after a couple of orphan creatures? And then, killing them for no good reason. What a disgrace this agency is. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,824 Cathy H. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,823 Kimo C. Horrific! Animal Abuse! 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,822 Lisa N. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,821 Colleen D. Such an embarrassing WASTE of tax dollars to invade this home and then to be so stupid as to get BIT by one of the animals you KNEW was there. Then to have to KILL animals that have raised enough funds to actually support animal rescue so that TAXES don't have to. Get a real job. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,820 Lisa B. Karma will get those horrible people. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,819Anonymous 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,818 William B. Shame on those thugs who call themselves 'environment conservation officers!' 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,817 Susan L. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,816Anonymous 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,815 Frances R. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,814 Sandy D. Shame on the unbelievable show of force and murder of two beloved pets, just beyond comprehension. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,813 Shelly S. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,812 Shawna M. Prosecute to the full extent of the law. They violated that man’s civil rights and committed animal cruelty. The squirrel was safe and happy and healthy. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,811 J B. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,810 Fabiola T. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,809 Gabriella C. The NY DEC is completely out of line and should be doing their work which does not involve ransacking homes and kidnapping pets. The management and entire staff should be replaced with a knowledgeable and compassionate workforce. Your priorities are despicable and confused. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,808 Cindy A. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,807 Amanda M. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,806 Mike R. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,805 Lorig B. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,804 Linda L. Total overreach and heartbreaking stupidity 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,803 Nancy D. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,802 Lisa C. Fucking psychopaths you gonna get what is coming 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,801 Patricia C. The people who did this need to be held accountable. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,800 Mindy G. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,799Anonymous 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,798 Deborah G. This was an outrageous abuse of government power 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,797 Kelly S. What a horrible display of authority. Compassion out the window! Tax payers money at work! Woke up that day and decided there was nothing more important than to cause heartache and death of an innocent. Disgusting! 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,796 Jim M. How can our government officials be so cruel and heartless. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,795 Laelonnie B. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,794Anonymous 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,793 Christine D. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,792 Raymond M. Never been so angry!! 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,791 Joni K. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,790 Susan W. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,789 Leslie H. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,788 Karen H D. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,787 Gisele M. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,786 Dawn M. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,785 Peter F. Justice for Peanut 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,784 Ann B. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,783Anonymous 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,782 Bob B. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,781 Linda H. 0 Nov 06, 2024
15,780 Terri C. 0 Nov 06, 2024