The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) ‘s killing of Peanut the squirrel, well-known on Instagram for his enormous and loyal fan base, has sparked indignation among Internet users worldwide.
The government’s move horrified Peanut’s owner, Mark Longo. He lost his squirrel companion Peanut and his raccoon friend Fred when agents from the DEC stormed his home. It was a double murder!
Using Instagram to express his desire for Peanut’s safe return, Mr. Longo vowed to authorities that the DEC would have a “special place in hell” in his heart.
But the authorities said they had to put Peanut the squirrel down because it bit a government employee who was helping with his seizure. During the raid on Mr. Longo’s residence, the DEC also claimed to have euthanized a raccoon named Fred.
“Multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets” prompted the DEC to announce that they were conducting an inquiry.
A petition demanding Peanut’s return had collected over 30,000 signatures by Friday afternoon when word of his demise arrived.
What started as an ordeal turned into a “terrible nightmare,” according to his Friday morning message.
Following Peanut’s passing, Mr. Longo encouraged fans to contact the DEC by posting their phone information online and asking them to “express your feelings” by calling. “We will not let this be Peanuts final memory,” he concluded.
The government should leave people and their animals alone https://t.co/wFHZHuqJEv
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2024
As the news of the DEC killing Peanut the squirrel sparked ire on social media, Musk, the owner of X and a Trump supporter, wrote: “The government should leave people and their animals alone.”
In another post, the Tesla CEO extended condolences to Longo over the death of Peanut. “President @realDonaldTrump will save the squirrels 🐿️ 😢 RIP P’Nut.”
His reaction came as several Trump supporters posted a picture of a squirrel wearing a Trump hat as a tribute to Peanut. Meanwhile, Squirrels for Trump also started trending on X.
Reacting to Musk’s post, Andrew Tate wrote: “This is peak government. Busting down your door because you dont have a squirrel licence and murdering your pet. Who gains? Who benefits? Who did the police “save”?”
“Only death and sadness and wasted money,” he added.
“First they were eating the cats, now, they’re executing the squirrels. Terrible times,” commented Collin Rugg, the co-owner of Trending Politics.
Mr. Longo adopted Peanut seven years ago after seeing the newborn squirrel near the scene of his mother’s vehicle accident.
Despite his best efforts, he could not free Peanut; the next morning, he discovered the animal on his porch with “a chunk of his tail missing.”
More than half a million people have followed Peanut the squirrel on Instagram since then.
Trending News:
Walking Pneumonia Cases Among Children Rises
Walking Pneumonia Cases Among Children On the Rise in Canada
