Peanut, a squirrel who became a social media sensation after being rescued by a New York couple seven years ago, was seized by New York State authorities and euthanized earlier this week.
Peanut’s owners, Mark and Daniela Longo, told TMZ Live on Friday that several New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers arrived with a warrant to search their home, where they confiscated the famous squirrel and a raccoon that the couple had rescued. Both animals were euthanized, according to Mark.
“Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us,” Longo told TMZ, with his wife by his side.
“It not only tears my family apart, but Peanut was the cornerstone of our non-profit animal rescue,” he added. “And ten to twelve DEC officers raided my house as if I was a drug dealer. I sat outside my house for five hours. I had to get a police escort to my bathroom. I wasn’t even allowed to feed my rescue horses breakfast or lunch. I sat there like a criminal after they interrogated my wife to check her immigration status.”
An Instagram account dedicated to Peanut has over 565,000 followers. Asked why the DEC targeted him and his wife, Longo said they don’t “have a clue.”
“We have no idea who made the complaints. Again, Peanut was an indoor squirrel, not harming anybody. He’s been with us for seven years. Not a single complaint was ever filed,” he added.
The owners of #Peanut the squirrel are going nuclear on government officials in New York, accusing the state of abusing power and wasting taxpayer funds to seize and kill their pet. Watch their full interview on @TMZLive here: https://t.co/1rXzVTABx1 pic.twitter.com/rtHpBOl14x
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 1, 2024
The Associated Press reported that New York’s DEC took both Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon from the Longos’ home in Pine City on Wednesday. The agency reportedly said it received complaints that wildlife was potentially at risk and being kept illegally. The Longos told TMZ that they have had Peanut for seven years, after rescuing the squirrel when its mother was killed.
The DEC said that Peanut bit an investigator on the hand while the squirrel was being confiscated.
“In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized. The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has been in contact with these animals is strongly encouraged to consult their physician,” the DEC said in a statement, according to WETM.
“Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them,” Longo told the AP.
