Peanut or P’Nut the squirrel, a beloved pet with over 500,000 followers on Instagram, has been taken away by state officials and there are concerns that he may be euthanized. Peanut is a mascot of P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, a 501c3 animal rescue in New York founded by his owner Mark Longo. His family shared on Instagram that state officials from the New York Department of Conservation took Peanut to be euthanized, leaving them in shock and disbelief. Peanut was found by Longo when he was five weeks old and nursed back to health after his mother was hit by a car, leading him to be very attached to humans and not able to thrive in the wild.
Peanut and Mark have charmed the internet with their videos of domestic life, silly antics, and shared meals, gaining a large following online. They have expanded their work to create an animal rescue in Peanut’s name, P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, where they have rescued over 350 animals with the help of donations from Peanut’s fans. However, with Peanut’s potential euthanasia, the fate of the animal rescue and fundraising efforts are now uncertain. A GoFundMe has been set up to support the farm and donations are being accepted to continue their work in rescuing animals.
The New York Department of Conservation conducted an investigation in response to reports about the unsafe housing of wildlife and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets. They have not provided much information about the ongoing investigation but have stated that additional updates will be shared as they become available. Mark Longo, Peanut’s adoptive father, has expressed shock and frustration about the situation, feeling like he and his wife were treated like criminals during the raid on their home. Longo is seeking answers about the excessive response from state officials and the impact of Peanut’s potential euthanasia on their animal rescue efforts.
A petition on Change.org in support of Peanut’s safe return home has garnered nearly 20,000 signatures, showing the outpouring of support for Peanut and his family. It is against the law in New York to own a wild animal without a license, which may have led to the state’s intervention in Peanut’s case. The fate of Peanut is still uncertain, with his family not knowing whether he has been euthanized or not. The situation has sparked outrage and concern among Peanut’s fans and supporters, who are hoping for a resolution that allows Peanut to return home safely.
