Social media sensation Peanut, a squirrel known for his cowboy hat and love for waffles, has been euthanized by New York State officials for rabies testing. Peanut, along with Fred the raccoon, was taken from his owner, Mark Longo, following a raid by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The news has ignited outrage across social media platforms, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk among those condemning the decision.
Mark Longo has confirmed that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation has euthanized his beloved pet squirrel, Peanut, whom he rescued as a baby after its mother was tragically run over by a car seven years ago.
Without a search warrant, the @NYSDEC entered his… https://t.co/cvoEsLAoEd pic.twitter.com/BLP6iP7nUw
— ◉⃤Prometheus (DARK MAGA) (@CaribbeanRythms) November 1, 2024
Mark Longo, who runs a sanctuary for rescued animals, expressed his grief and disbelief over the loss. He stated on social media: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the heartbreaking news: on Oct. 30, the DEC made the devastating decision to euthanize our beloved Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon.” He criticized the DEC’s lack of notification, accusing them of disrespect and insensitivity.
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The government should leave people and their animals alone https://t.co/wFHZHuqJEv
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2024
Reacting on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk expressed his frustration, saying, “The government should leave people and their animals alone.” Musk went further, mentioning former President Donald Trump’s potential involvement in what he described as an “outrageous” move. His post inspired Trump supporters, who began sharing images of squirrels in Trump hats as a tribute.
Andrew Tate, known for his outspoken social media presence, commented on Musk’s post, calling it “peak government,” while Collin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, criticized the incident, saying, “First they were eating the cats, now they’re executing the squirrels. Terrible times.”
Responding to public criticism, the DEC said its actions were based on concerns about “potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies” and stated that keeping such animals as pets is illegal under state law. Longo, however, argued he was cooperating with officials to certify Peanut as an educational animal.
Despite the tragedy, Longo remains determined to continue his mission and announced plans to hold a fundraiser in Peanut’s memory. “I’ll never give up on this nonprofit or those who fell in love with Peanut,” he promised, hoping to build a lasting tribute to the viral squirrel loved by many.
