In a heartbreaking turn of events, New York’s Animal Police decided to end the life of Peanut, a beloved influencer squirrel. Despite her joyful life with a loving family, Peanut’s story took a tragic twist when environmental advocates reported her owners for animal mistreatment, even though she had never been harmed.
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The Unjust and Sad Story of Peanut the Influencer Squirrel
Mark Longo and his wife, Daniela, are a happy couple in New York who adopted Peanut seven years ago. But Peanut wasn’t just any squirrel—she was an influencer! With her own social media accounts, Peanut’s quirky, adventurous personality attracted over 530,000 followers on Instagram. Who wouldn’t love a squirrel living her best life?
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But when life seemed perfect for Peanut and her family, a group of people reported Mark and Daniela for animal abuse. Despite the influencer squirrel’s enviable lifestyle, keeping squirrels as pets is illegal in New York, which led to animal police intervention. They seized the influencer squirrel, along with a raccoon named Fred, who also lived with the family.
Peanut’s Tragic Ending
Longo recounted how the police visit to his ‘P’nuts Freedom Farm’ lasted five hours, with numerous officers present. “Did they really need so many officers to show up at my door and literally break it down?” he shared. New York state wildlife officials took Peanut and Fred, citing a need to test for rabies. Days later, New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation released a statement on the animals’ tragic fate:
“A raccoon and a squirrel were housed with humans, creating a potential rabies threat. Additionally, an individual involved in the investigation was bitten by a squirrel. After rabies testing, both animals were euthanized.”
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The news devastated Mark and Daniela, who posted a heartfelt goodbye on social media and began a fundraiser to seek justice for their pets.
“Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you,” read the opening of Mark’s post. He is now fighting for justice on behalf of Peanut and Fred.
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Across social media, hundreds have rallied to share in their grief and demand justice from New York authorities for ending the lives of two innocent animals. If you’d like to support the cause, you can donate here.
This article was originally published in Spanish by Nayely Aguilera in Cultura Colectiva.
