2 weeks after Peanut the Squirrel's euthanasia, owner is seeking answers, justice
Handwritten cards, trinkets and paintings bearing chipper squirrels and raccoons fill the floor of a bedroom in Mark Longo's New York home.
Just two weeks ago, the bedroom belonged to Peanut the Squirrel, a wild animal turned social media star who was seized from Longo's residence by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Oct. 30 and euthanized to test for rabies the same day. Fred the raccoon was also seized from Longo's home and euthanized.
The case kicked off a national outcry as Longo has been grieving his fur family.
"Losing Peanut and Fred was a travesty and it's going to be hard to live in this house for awhile," Longo told USA TODAY on Tuesday. "Getting justice for these animals and getting justice for animals in the future, it's a big priority for us now."
As the case continues to make waves, draw outrage and officials take turns pointing the finger at each other about what happened, USA TODAY is looking at the timeline of events and the latest developments.
Timeline of Peanut and Fred's seizure dates back to mid-October.
Public complaints
Between Oct. 19 and 23, the Chemung County Health Department and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation got four complaints about the Longos housing a raccoon and squirrel without correct licensure, according to a county news release.
The health department advised the conservation department that if a human had an exposure to one of the animals, like a bite, the animals needed to be tested for rabies.
Days before the conservation department visited the Longo residence in Pine City, New York, Longo got two phone calls about Peanut and Fred. He was told that keeping the animals was not an option, as he did not have the necessary licensure. Longo did not respond to a request for clarity on who made these calls to him.
Seizure
On Oct. 30, nine conservation officers went to the Longo household and spent about five hours "ransacking" it, Longo said, adding that he and his wife were detained during the search, his wife's immigration status was questioned, and the home was checked for cameras. (Longo's wife Daniela is a German immigrant.)
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation did not respond to USA TODAY's request for information about what happened in the Longo household.
Euthanasia
The Chemung County Health Department was notified that the squirrel and raccoon seized from the Longos' house were euthanized on Oct. 30 at Elmira Animal Control to test for rabies, according to the county.
The results from the rabies tests have not been shared publicly.
Who requested the euthanasia?
What agency requested the euthanasia of Peanut and Fred remains unclear.
Rabies reports provided to USA TODAY by the Chemung County Executive indicate that the decapitation of the animals, necessary to conduct a rabies test, was completed by the "city."
"I think it's important to point out that euthanization orders are almost always completed at the request of either the person exposed or an agency who is conducting an animal-related investigation," Chemung County Executive Christopher Moss said in a statement.
However, the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, the union that represents the conservation department, said that the two animals were turned over alive to the Chemung County Health Department. It was the health department that decided to euthanize the animals, the union said.
USA TODAY contacted all of the agencies for clarity about who requested the euthanasia but non immediately responded on Tuesday.
Is it legal to have a squirrel as a pet?
In New York, squirrels are not allowed as pets. If a found squirrel is in need of help, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator should be contacted.
Longo said he and his wife received their Wildlife Rehabilitator Licenses, issued by the conservation department, in August. The license, according to the department, "authorizes a New York resident to rehabilitate or care for injured or young orphaned wildlife for their return back to the wild." The license does not allow for animals to be kept long term.
Longo said he was told that he and his wife needed a different type of "educational certificate" in order to keep Peanut inside their home.
Who was Peanut the Squirrel?
Peanut was a rescue squirrel who lived under Longo's care for seven years. Longo found Peanut as a baby squirrel in the middle of a busy Manhattan street.
After eight months of rehabilitation, Longo tried to release Peanut back into the wild. A day and a half later, Peanut returned. He had been attacked and sustained damage to his tail. From that point forward, Peanut was an indoor squirrel.
"One day, we happened to post a video of Peanut jumping to me and it went viral. Then after that, he gained traction rather quickly," Longo reflected. "It just kind of snowballed effect in a positive way. And then eventually, he was deemed the world's most famous squirrel."
Riding on the wave of Peanut's popularity, the Longos established P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in April 2023. The nonprofit animal sanctuary is located on their 200-acre property in Pine City. Though he couldn't put his finger on an exact number, Longo guessed that up to 400 animals live on the farm.
Longo said that operating the animal sanctuary costs between $20,000 25,000 monthly, and that about 50% of those funds were raised through Peanut's social media accounts. The remainder of the funding, Longo said, has come from the Longos' social media management company.
And who was Fred?
Perhaps less recognized, Fred the raccoon was dropped off at P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary about five months ago by a neighbor, Longo said.
"We wanted him to get strong and old enough to go back in the wild. He was not going to be a pet that stays here," Longo said. "He wasn't going to be an Instagram- or TikTok-famous raccoon. It was just an opportunity for us to give this guy a little bit of care and then release him in our 200 acres of woods."
Keeping the spotlight on Peanut
Longo is featured in most of Peanut's videos, whether it be extending an arm out for Peanut to jump on or feeding him a waffle. But especially the past few weeks, Longo said he likes to keep the focus on Peanut.
"If Peanut could pay the bills and if he could talk, I would have been fired on day one," Longo said with a laugh. "As he gained traction, people started to notice me a little bit more, but again, it wasn't like, 'I'm becoming famous' ... People were starting to call me the squirrel dad. As people came along (and said), 'You're doing this for clout.' (I said), 'Let somebody call you squirrel daddy to your face and see how much clout you really have.'"
Jeff Murray of the Elmira Star-Gazette contributed to this reporting.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Peanut the Squirrel's owner is seeking answers, justice in euthanasia
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