Mark Longo, owner of Instagram-famous squirrel Peanut, is mourning the loss of his beloved pet.

Longo on November 1 Instagram It was revealed that Peanut was euthanized along with his pet raccoon named Fred by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“Despite our passionate cry for mercy, the agency has chosen to ignore our calls, leaving us in deep shock and grief,” he said online.

In light of the news, Congressman Nick Langworthy took X To express disappointment in how DEC handled the situation.

He said: “The NYS DEC needs a serious reality check on its ridiculously flawed priorities. Instead of focusing on critical needs like flood mitigation in places like Steuben County, where local officials have had to fight to get permission from the DEC to clean up debris – waterways are full , they’re taking over pet squirrels, New York taxpayers deserve better.”

Read on to find out what happened to Squirrel Peanut and why he was euthanized.

Who is Squirrel Peanut?

Squirrel peanut is an internet phenomenon. She is the beloved pet of digital creator Mark Longo, who occasionally eats Peanuts, jumps on his clothes, and shares Instagram videos of him running around his house doing various tasks throughout the day.

Peanut Instagram accountThe app, run by Longo, currently has more than 500 thousand followers. There is a link in your profile P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal SanctuaryAn animal sanctuary named after its little furry friend.

According to the sanctuary’s official website, Longo met Peanut seven years ago, when Peanut was a baby. Peanut, who lost half his tail in a vicious attack, was not skilled enough to survive in the wild, so Longo decided to take care of the squirrel at home.

Who is Fıstık, the owner of the squirrel?

Peanuts owns the squirrel, says content creator Mark Longo. In an interview he gave Elvis Duran and the Morning ShowLongo said that he was also an engineer and worked in construction.

One of his passions is taking care of animals while running. an animal shelter An organization in Pine City, New York, that helps injured or abused animals in desperate need of care.

Why was Squirrel Peanut confiscated?

On Wednesday, October 30, Squirrel Peanut and Longo’s other pet, a raccoon named Fred, were seized from their home by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to NBC News, the DEC received numerous anonymous complaints about Peanut and arrived at Longo’s home with “at least six officers” to take Peanut and Fred away.

DEC and the Chemung County Health Department said in a joint statement that they are “coordinating to ensure the protection of public health regarding the illegal possession of wild animals that may potentially carry the rabies virus.”

December also notes He said it was illegal to keep young wild animals as pets because “they are poorly suited to life in captivity and can also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.”

Longo after Peanut and Fred are taken away Instagram Addressing people who have filed complaints with the DEC.

“Okay internet, you WON. Because of your selfishness, you took one of the most amazing animals from me,” he said online. “For a group of people looking for DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you.”

Why was Squirrel Peanut euthanized?

Peanut and Fred were euthanized, and Longo said the DEC notified the media about the animals’ deaths before the nonprofit P’nuts Freedom Farm did.

says“This shows a disturbing lack of respect and empathy. Their lives were precious and we refuse to accept this loss silently.”

Fred and Peanut were euthanized after a person involved in the investigation was bitten by Peanut, according to the DEC and the Chemung County Health Department.

“Both animals were euthanized for rabies testing,” they said in a joint statement. “The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who comes into contact with these animals is strongly encouraged to consult their doctor.”

After learning of Longo, Peanut and Fred’s death, Instagram He said he was in “deep shock and grief.”

This article was first published on: TODAY.com