Peanut the Squirrel was an internet sensation, captivating hundreds of thousands of internet followers with videos of his charming antics with his owner, Mark Longo. That changed last Wednesday, when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided Longo's home, seizing Peanut and another pet, a raccoon named Fred. The two animals were euthanized soon after. Longo claims that DEC informed the media about the animals' deaths before they told P'nuts Freedom Farm—Longo's animal sanctuary nonprofit, named after Peanut.
"Despite our passionate outcry for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, leaving us in deep shock and grief," Longo wrote on Instagram. "To add to our anguish, they informed the media of their decision before even notifying P'nuts Freedom Farm, his loving home. This demonstrates a troubling lack of respect and empathy. Their lives were precious, and we refuse to accept this loss in silence."
