(VitalNews.org) – New York’s extreme government overreach strikes again, this time targeting an innocent pet squirrel named Peanut.
In a shocking display of cruelty, state officials sparked outrage across the nation after seizing and euthanizing the beloved animal.
Peanut’s owner Mark Longo was blindsided when New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided his home, treating him “like a terrorist.”
The government’s forceful approach involved a five-hour ordeal, during which 10 agents ransacked Longo’s property to confiscate a harmless squirrel and a raccoon named Fred.
“They treated me like I was a terrorist. They treated this raid as if I was a drug dealer. They ransacked my house for five hours,” Longo recounted.
The DEC’s actions have sparked a fierce backlash, with Peanut supporters and animal rights advocates crying foul over the unnecessary euthanization.
Peanut was a social media sensation with over 532,000 Instagram followers and 423,000 Facebook fans.
It had become an internet celebrity, using his platform to support animal rescues through P’Nut’s Freedom Farm, a nonprofit sanctuary founded by Longo.
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene did not mince words in her blistering criticism, saying, “The state of New York broke into an innocent American’s house, stole his pet squirrel, Peanut, and then killed it.”
“It’s a shame Peanut wasn’t an illegal alien, because he would have been welcomed in just like the illegal alien thugs who murder Americans every day!” she added.
The DEC justified its actions by raising concerns about rabies, which is meaningless given that squirrels rarely carry the disease.
Longo had been in the process of obtaining the necessary permits and was seeking guidance from the DEC, only to be met with an unnecessarily aggressive response.
“We were ready to comply. We were ready to complete the paperwork. We were in the process of doing that. We needed a little bit of guidance from the DEC,” Longo explained.
The public’s response has been swift and powerful. A fundraiser titled “Call for Justice for Pnut and NYSDEC Reform” has already raised over $79,000.
Longo shared some final words regarding the incident: “Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them.”
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