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Pet Squirrel Peanut Creates Internet Rage After Being Killed By New York State

Umito November 4, 2024

Social media users have expressed outrage after American pet owner Mark Longo had his pet squirrel Peanut forcibly euthanized by New York state last week.

Longo took in the squirrel, kept it as a pet and created a social media account for Peanut.

His Instagram account, peanut_the_squirrel12, currently has over 600,000 followers and features various Peanut photos. Some include the squirrel holding a waffle and wearing a cowboy hat.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation reportedly euthanized the squirrel Wednesday after receiving complaints that the wildlife was being “kept illegally and potentially dangerous,” according to an AP report released Saturday.

While the incident occurred less than a week before the US presidential election, social media users and Peanut supporters were quick to express their anger at the state and link the incident to the policies of the current American administration.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, on June 16, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/GONZALO FUENTES/FILE PHOTO)

Trump will “save the squirrels”

Billionaire owner of X/Twitter Elon Musk, who has openly expressed his support for Republican candidate Donald Trump, used

President @realDonaldTrump will save the squirrels ️ RIP P’Nut pic.twitter.com/yoIBV0Okpd

– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2024

Many verified and influential figures agreed with Musk’s post, including American and British social media personality Andrew Tate.

“Breaking down your door because you don’t have a squirrel permit and murdering your pet. Who wins? Who benefits? Who did the police ‘save’?.”

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“And you wonder: Why didn’t people stand up and do something? NOW is your chance! You LIVE in it! DO SOMETHING! VOTE!” Tate wrote.

This is the pinnacle of government. Breaking down your door because you don’t have a squirrel permit and murdering your pet. Who wins? Who benefits? Who did the police “save”? Only death, sadness and wasted money. ZERO net profit. They’re already stealing from children unless you let them…

– Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) November 2, 2024

Musk made additional posts on his X platform, which included altered images of Peanut.

“The government should not be allowed to break into your house and kill your pet! This is f***ed up,” a Sunday X post read.

In addition to Peanut the squirrel, Longo’s raccoon Fred was also reportedly confiscated and shot.

Jews are murdering our pets. RIP #Peanut the squirrel. pic.twitter.com/UPtsqh5fQ2

– Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) November 2, 2024

In an Instagram post, Longo described Peanut as his “best friend” and wrote that he was shocked to learn the squirrel had been “taken away” to be euthanized.

Following the incident, Longo created a fundraiser for people “who would like to donate in Peanut’s name”, in which funds would be sent to Longo’s animal sanctuary named P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary.