Peanut squirrel owner says he was treated like a ‘terrorist’ during ‘raid’ to seize pet

The the owners with Peanut protein spoke out after the pet was captured and euthanized authorities.

Mark and Daniela Longo suspect that someone jealous of their success may have called the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to have the animal removed from their shelter.

“Maybe someone thinks I’m using this place to make a lot of money,” Mark said The New York Post after Peanut was discontinued on November 1st.

“They treated me like a terrorist. They treated this raid like a drug dealer. They robbed my house for five hours.”

Mark Longo shares details of operation to remove Peanut squirrel from his New York animal shelter

Authors of the image: Squirrel peanuts

Mark said the beloved pet’s virality helped drive traffic to his adult content site. “Did it do wonders for my OF? Absolutely. It makes a lot of money out of it.”

Peanut resided on the couple’s 350-acre property, P’nut’s Freedom Farm, near Elmira, New York, which they purchased with money earned from publishing X-rating content online.

“I’m angry, I’m sad, I’m disgusted,” Mark said in the video, fighting back tears after the squirrel’s death.

“We struggle and work every day to pay our state taxes and they come back and do it with family.”

Authors of the image: console

In addition to Peanut, the DEC seized a raccoon nicknamed Fred. Both animals were subjected to euthanasia fear of rabies, as Pinata reportedly bit the agent and needed to be tested for the disease.

Mark is reportedly requesting the medical records of officials who were at his home to verify that they did indeed test positive for rabies, according to The Post.

Decision about euthanasia the protein was met with such criticism that Jake Blumencrantz, a state legislator proposed legislation to improve animal rights laws by calling it the Peanuts Act: Humane Protection of Animals Act.

“I’m angry. I’m sad I’m disgusting,” Mark said after the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) removed the squirrel.

Authors of the image: Squirrel peanuts

The Peanut Law requires a 72-hour waiting period before euthanizing a shelter animal and establishes an appeals system to ensure that animal shelter owners have the “right to a humane due process.”

The squirrel became an internet sensation after Mark and Daniela took him into their home seven years ago. The couple created Instagram account for their pet, where they posted pictures of Peanut in various outfits, including a cowboy hat, eating waffles with Mark and doing tricks around the house.

“Peanut faced difficulties, losing half of his tail in a powerful attack. Without developing important wildlife instincts, Peanut has become a house squirrel that cannot be released,” says site of the reserve.

The couple took in Peanut after he lost half of his tail in a severe attack

Authors of the image: Squirrel peanuts

“Remarkably, Peanut became the first squirrel to get more than 1 million and then 2 million followers on TikTok, with a total of more than 3 million social media followers.”

AND GoFundMe page called Call For Justice for Peanut the Squirrel and NYSDEC Reform alleges that DEC agents “failed to follow proper law enforcement procedures.”

According to the fundraiser’s description, officials repeatedly asked “if there were surveillance cameras located in their home and inappropriately asked one of their owners about their immigration status, treating them like criminals because of their pet.”

Mark said DEC agents “raided” his home and treated him like a “terrorist”

“We struggle and work every day to pay our state taxes, and they come back and do it with the family,” said the author of the content.

Authors of the image: Squirrel peanuts

Animals showing signs of rabies must be euthanized to submit samples to a qualified rabies laboratory for testing, in accordance with CDC.

The DEC states that keeping young wild animals as pets is prohibited. If someone finds a young wild animal that is injured or orphaned, department recommends contact a wildlife rehabilitator, who “are the only people legally allowed to take in and treat injured wildlife.”

Bored panda has reached out to the New York Department of Environmental Protection for comment.

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