Who was Peanut? Huge row breaks out in US as star squirrel on social media is euthanized; MAGA converts tragedy into election trick

On By Littum

Peanut the Squirrel, a well-known social media figure, was executed after being confiscated by New York State earlier this week, the Department of Environmental Conservation said.

P'NUT, who spent seven years with Longo, gained fame for his entertaining antics. He was often seen eating waffles while wearing crocheted bunny ears or small cowboy hats.
P’NUT, who spent seven years with Longo, gained fame for his entertaining antics. He was often seen eating waffles while wearing crocheted bunny ears or small cowboy hats.

Fred the raccoon and Mark Longo’s seven-year-old gray rescue squirrel, recognized as “P’Nut” on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, were euthanized together to test the animals for rabies, WETM reported, citing a statement from the agency. The DEC seized them during a raid in response to anonymous complaints about the animals’ living conditions.

P’NUT, who spent seven years with Longo, gained fame for his entertaining antics. He was often seen eating waffles while wearing crocheted bunny ears or small cowboy hats.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection issues a statement

The fate of P’Nut and Fred was confirmed in a statement from the DEC and the Chemung County Department of Health.

“On October 30, DEC seized a raccoon and a squirrel that shared housing with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. Additionally, a person involved in the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized,” the agencies stated, according to CBS News. The animals are undergoing rabies testing and anyone who has come into contact with them has been strongly advised to consult their doctor.

The animal sanctuary’s owner, Longo, claimed to have adopted P’Nut after a car in New York crushed his mother.

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Peanut’s Instagram account shows the squirrel donning little hats, grabbing and munching on waffles, jumping through a hoop and jumping onto Longo’s shoulder.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the heartbreaking news: On October 30, DEC made the devastating decision to euthanize our beloved Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon. Despite our passionate pleas for compassion, the agency chose to ignore our pleas, which left us in deep shock and grief,” read an Instagram post with a video montage of the animals interacting with their happy guardians.

In a heartbreaking post, Longo mentioned that “Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us.”

“RIP MY BEST FRIEND. Thank you for the best 7 years of my life. Thank you for bringing so much joy to us and the world. I’m sorry I let you down, but thank you for everything,” Longo’s said.

In April 2023, Longo and his spouse, Daniela, founded P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary. According to Longo, it currently houses over 300 animals, including alpacas, goats and horses. He claimed he was filling out the necessary paperwork to get P’NUT approved as a training animal when Peanut was taken away.

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Earlier, Longo, 34, who has posted several videos of Peanut on TikTok and Instagram, expressed his grief over the seizure on social media and vowed to do everything in his power to reunite with his beloved pet. He even launched a campaign in an attempt to get his squirrel back. In a post after the seizure of his favorite squirrel, Longo said, “Well, Internet, you won,” assuming the reports that prompted the seizure were from Internet users who disliked him.

Maga converts P’NUT’s death into election trick

Meanwhile, several social media users expressed anguish and outrage over the incident, with MAGA converting the entire incident into election gimmick ahead of the November 5 polls.

“Government officials seized this man’s pet squirrel and killed it,” wrote Ian Miles Cheong on X.

“Without a search warrant, @NYSDEC entered his home, seized Peanut and just two days later put him down,” tweeted Prometheus (DARK MAGA), hoping that “every last one of them gets exactly the punishment they deserve. “

“I’ve been on the fence for a while now. But if the Democrats really came in and killed this guy’s squirrel at 8 YEARS… Bring me the red hat…,” said a third user.